Utah quarterback Brian Johnson, offensive MVP of the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl, is throwing pain-free after off-season surgery to repair his right shoulder, which he separated in the first game of '07. The senior, who averaged 337 total yards per game as a sophomore before tearing his left ACL in the 10th game, will continue to give way to sophomore Corbin Louks on rushing plays out of the spread.... Florida Atlantic coach Howard Schnellenberger has an NFL-style quarterback in 6' 5", 230-pound junior Rusty Smith. The Sun Belt player of the year in 2007, Smith threw 32 touchdowns against nine interceptions.... Paul Johnson left to coach Georgia Tech, but Navy won't abandon the triple option. With quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, slotback Shun White and fullback Eric Kettani returning, the Midshipmen will look to lead Division I-A in rushing for a fourth straight year, this time under newly promoted coach Ken Niumatalolo.... Rice wideout Jarett Dillard enters his senior season as the Division I-A active career leader in receptions (205), yards (2,828) and touchdown catches (40).... Ronald Hilaire, a 6' 0", 288-pound defensive tackle, is one of 18 returning starters at Buffalo. Selected by the Calgary Stampeders with the 27th pick in the Canadian Football League draft in May, the Quebec native decided to return to upstate New York to build on his 45-tackle breakout season. The Bulls look to have their first winning season since joining Division I-A in 1999. -- Kevin Armstrong