Big East

Players to Watch

Top performers from unranked teams in the conference

PITTSBURGH
H.B. BLADES, MLB

The son of former NFL defensive back Bennie Blades is a two-time first-team all-conference pick and a tackling machine for the Panthers. A 6-foot, 240-pound senior, Blades should get strong consideration for the Butkus Award.

RUTGERS
BRIAN LEONARD, FB

The 6'2", 235-pound senior teams with Ray Rice to form a feared backfield duo: Sir Sturdy and Sir Speedy ran for 1,860 yards in '05. "If you get used to taking on Leonard," says one coach, "the next thing you know, Rice will have blown by you."

SOUTH FLORIDA
STEPHEN NICHOLAS, LB

Slotted as a mid-round pick, the 6'3", 225-pound Nicholas passed on the '06 NFL draft to return to USF and raise his stock. As a junior he had a team-leading 151/2 tackles for loss on a defense that ranked 17th in the country.

UCONN
TERRY CAULLEY, RB

The 5'7" 185-pounder rushed for 1,247 yards as a freshman in 2002 but hasn't been the same since suffering a right knee injury the following September. He'll look to regain his magic after averaging 59.9 yards a game last season.