Time to move on in our preseason countdown of the top 25 players in the Big East.
If you need a quick refresher, I am projecting the best of the best in the league for this upcoming season, and I am including freshmen and transfers as well.
No. 11 Ryne Giddins, DE, USF
Making the case: Giddins emerged as a starter last season for USF, and used his terrific speed to his advantage as a rush end for the Bulls. While many of you remember his terrible penalty at the end of the West Virginia game, keep in mind he did have a solid season overall for USF, with 44 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, three pressures, a pass breakup, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
That was good enough to earn him Big East second team honors. Going into this year, expectations are higher for even more. Giddins already is on the preseason watch list for the Lombardi Award, presented annually to the best lineman in college football. The USF defensive line should be one of the strongest positions for the Bulls this season and big reason why is Giddins.
The countdown
No. 12 Montel Harris, RB, Temple
No. 13 DeDe Lattimore, LB, USF
No. 14 Sio Moore, LB, UConn
No. 15 Walter Stewart, DE, Cincinnati
No. 16 Duron Harmon, S, Rutgers
No. 17 Mario Benavides, C, Louisville
No. 18 Jarred Holley, S, Pitt
No. 19 Scott Vallone, NT, Rutgers
No. 20 Ryan Griffin, TE, UConn
No. 21 Adrian Bushell, CB, Louisville
No. 22 Alec Lemon, WR, Syracuse
No. 23 Steve Beauharnais, LB, Rutgers
No. 24 Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB, UConn
No. 25 Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse
