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SI Conference Report: Big East
How They'll Finish
  Conference Overall
  W-L PCT W-L PCT
West Virginia 6-1 .857 11-1 .917
Louisville 6-1 .857 11-1 .917
Rutgers 5-2 .714 10-2 .833
South Florida 4-3 .571 8-4 .667
Cincinnati 3-4 .429 7-5 .583
Pittsburgh 2-5 .286 5-7 .417
Connecticut 1-6 .143 5-7 .417
Syracuse 1-6 .143 3-9 .250

Bob Rosato/SI
 
Players To Watch
Top performers from unranked teams in the conference
Donald Brown
Running Back :: Connecticut
The 5' 11", 214-pound back had an instant impact with the Huskies as a redshirt freshman in '06, turning in dazzling performances against Rutgers (199 yards, two touchdowns) and Pittsburgh (205 yards, two scores).
Terrill Byrd
Defensive Tackle :: Cincinnati
The 6' 1", 270-pound junior, who was voted first team All–Big East, was the vital cog in a Bearcats defense that relied more on speed than power to rank in the top 25 nationally against the run last season.
Matt Grothe
Quarterback :: South Florida
An adept scrambler, the 6-foot, 200-pound passer was named Big East freshman of the year in 2006 after he threw for 2,576 yards and rushed for 622 more. He is one of 20 returning starters from a team that went 9–4 last season.
Jameel McClain
Defensive End :: Syracuse
Now a senior, the 6' 1", 256-pound pass rusher was moved from linebacker to defensive end before his junior season and led the Big East in sacks, with 9 1/2. He should merit All-America consideration.
Oderick Turner
Wide Receiver :: Pittsburgh
After catching 44 passes for 660 yards and eight touchdowns as a freshman, he'll play an even bigger role in the offense with the loss of Derek Kinder to a season-ending knee injury in the team's first full-squad workout.
 
Big East Notables
Best Offensive Player
Brian Brohm :: QB :: Louisville
The senior has ranked in the top 10 nationally in pass efficiency for the past two seasons and could be the top pick in the NFL draft next April.
Best Defensive Player
Eric Foster :: DT :: Rutgers
Often described as the heart and soul of a defense that ranked fourth in the country last season, the senior had six sacks and 14 tackles for loss.
True Freshman to Watch
Noel Devine :: RB :: West Virginia
The ultrafast Florida native could be a playmaker as a slot receiver and return man.
Coach on the Rise
Steve Kragthorpe :: Louisville
He's coming off a four-year stint at Tulsa during which the Golden Hurricane, 2–21 in the two seasons before his arrival, went to three bowls.
Coach on the Hot Seat
Greg Robinson :: Syracuse
He has won just one conference game in his first two seasons, and the immediate prospects look bleak.
Sleeper
South Florida
Coach Jim Leavitt's start-up program (the Bulls are beginning just their seventh season in Division I-A) has knocked off Louisville and West Virginia in the past two seasons.
Extra Points
Linebacker Willie Williams, the once-infamous Miami recruit, is now enrolled at Louisville following a brief juco stint at West Los Angeles College. He will have two years of eligibility remaining and is expected to challenge for a starting job.... West Virginia raided conference foe South Florida for two of its assistants, offensive line coach Greg Frey and quarterbacks coach Rod Smith. Frey replaces the highly regarded Rick Trickett, who left for Florida State; Smith played quarterback for Mountaineers coach Rich Rodriguez at Glenville State in the mid-'90s.... Cincinnati quarterback Dustin Grutza , a starter for the past two seasons, will have to fight off Wake Forest transfer Ben Mauk to keep his job. Mauk is believed to be a better fit in the no-huddle spread offense of new coach Brian Kelly .... Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt is counting on highly touted freshman LeSean McCoy of Harrisburg, Pa., to contribute immediately. McCoy, a top 10 running back in the high school class of 2006, originally committed to Miami before spending a year at prep school. Another highly ranked Panthers recruit, quarterback Pat Bostick of Lancaster, Pa., could also play as a freshman.
-- Kate Macmillan
 
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