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Newcomers to Watch
By Travis Richmond, CNNSI.com Every collegiate football team would love to be returning at every position a player who already has pro scouts drooling. Every coach would love to be able to say, "Well, we're set at ..." However, when that doesn't happen, the pressure on top programs to win doesn't subside. When stars leave early for the NFL, coaches are expected to find players who can come in and compete immediately. Easier said than done, one might think. Yet many coaches have been able to do just that (they hope). Heading into the 2001 season, several high-profile teams are set to give freshmen significant playing time at key positions. At the top of the list is Virginia Tech, where coach Frank Beamer has the task of replacing quarterback Michael Vick, the No. 1 pick of the NFL Draft. While junior Grant Noel and redshirt freshman Jason Davis will get the first shots, expect incoming freshman Bryan Randall to be a factor before the season ends. Randall became the first high school player in Virginia to top 1,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing in a single season, and he did so twice. The Hokies also have talent arriving at running back, although the return of All-American Lee Suggs should ease the transition for freshman Kevin Jones. Still, expect Jones, who some rated as the No. 1 high school player in the country, to see carries early because Virginia Tech likes to use two running backs. Texas also brought in a talented rookie running back in Cedric Benson to possibly replace the graduated Hodges Mitchell, a two-time All-Big 12 pick. Benson, the three-time Texas high school player of the year, could step in sooner rather than later after rushing for 8,423 yards and 127 touchdowns in his storied prep career, including five scores in each of the past three state title games. Another school looking to reload at running back is Tennessee, which must find a replacement for all-time leading rusher Travis Henry. Senior Travis Stephens is next in line, but also sure to get looks are blue-chip freshmen Jabari Davis and Cedric Houston. Michigan must replace running back Anthony Thomas, and freshman Kelly Baraka could help fill out a backfield set behind sophomore Chris Perry. Two teams that could get immediate help at receiver are Washington and Clemson. While the Huskies must settle on a replacement for QB Marques Tuiasosopo, whoever takes over under center will throw to freshmen speedsters Reggie Williams and Charles Frederick . Clemson welcomes two heralded wideouts who could all be early targets of quarterback Woody Dantzler. Roscoe Crosby and Airese Currie could help shoulder the load left by Rod Gardner's departure to the NFL. Though skill players are often able to contribute sooner as freshmen than their defensive counterparts, no list of impact newcomers would be complete without acknowledging the few stud defenders who do appear ready to play at the Division I-A level. At Arkansas, cornerback Ahmad "Batman" Carroll, who was rated as one of the top two high school cornerbacks by four recruiting services, should help shore up the Razorbacks defense. Michigan also adds a talented defensive back in safety Ernest Shazor. Linemen should get playing time at Oklahoma and USC. The Sooners will use freshman defensive tackle Tommie Harris early as they try to defend their national title, while the Trojans are expected to utilize the pass-rushing skills of defensive end Shaun Cody. For some teams, help comes not from high school recruits but by way of the junior colleges. That is especially true at the quarterback position, where two years at a junior college can provide much needed experience for a young signal- caller. Oklahoma found Josh Heupel two years ago at a Utah juco, and he went on to lead the Sooners to the national championship. This year, Kansas State hopes quarterback Mark Dunn from Ricks (Idaho) College can help the Wildcats. Dunn will compete with sophomore Ell Roberson to replace the departed Jonathan Beasley. Iowa State and Washington have also brought in JC quarterbacks to compete for starting positions. Taylor Barton from City College of San Francisco will get a shot at replacing the Huskies' Tuiasosopo, while the loss of Sage Rosenfels in Ames could be minimized by the arrival of Seneca Wallace, a first-team JC All-American at Sacramento City College. Though these newcomers may be unknowns before the season begins, expect many of them quickly to endear themselves to their schools' fans.
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