This is part one of an installment that will look at rising sophomores in each BCS conference who are ready to make the leap to stardom for their respective teams...we start with the oft-overlooked Big East.
BIG EAST
Noel Devine—West Virginia
The common retort to his inclusion on this list is, "Pffft every knows Noel Devine will arrive, he was already incredible last year."
While this has truth to it, Devine was the third wheel in West Virginia's vaunted rushing attack last year.
He carried 73 times for 627 yards and six touchdowns.
Decent numbers for a freshman running back of course, but certainly not numbers that warrant mention in a conversation about best running backs.
Unless of course said running back was a freshman last year, and did I mention he averaged 8.3 yards per carry which was boosted by a 65-yard score against Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl—he scored another TD in that game and finished with 108 yards.
Devine will be the best running back in the Big East this season without having to split carries with Steve Slaton, if Pat White wasn't in school Devine would have an outside shot at 2000 yards.
Carlton Mitchell—South Florida
Mitchell is the most talented member of the talented-yet-still-improving receiving corps they have built at the University of South Florida.
He was named to Rivals.com All-Big East Freshman team but his numbers certainly weren't gaudy.
He red-shirted in 2006, but last season he became one of Matt Grothe's favorite targets, catching 37 balls for 537 yards and four touchdowns.
Not eye-popping numbers but still impressive for a team with a balanced offense. In fact he was the team's leading receiver.
He is not a burner, but at 6'4" and 210 lbs., he is a fantastic 15- to 20-yard receiver, and uses his large frame well to aid Grothe.
With all of the impact receivers from last year returning the focus can't shift to Mitchell, and with a year under his belt, and his sure hands and usefulness as a red zone target, expect 50-60 catches and eight TDs from him next year.
Mike Holmes—Syracuse
There are corner backs who are blessed with tremendous speed, fluid hips, and size, and then there are corner backs who are feisty, small guys who play with a chip on their shoulder and aren't afraid to give as much as they receive.
The latter type of corner back is epitomized by Mike Holmes.
One of Greg Robinson's best successes on the recruiting trail, Holmes hails from Jacksonville, Florida.
Although he only stands about 5'10" and weighs about 180 lbs., he made his presence felt for a bad Orangmen team.
He broke up seven passes, but his real value is shown through his ability to come up and stop the run. He finished the season with 64 tackles, an unusually high number for such a small corner back.
He also made two tackles for a loss and always had his eyes in the backfield waiting to come up and play the run.
He should anchor Syracuse's defensive backfield for the next three years and hopefully be one of the centerpiece's for returning Syracuse back to football prominence.
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