Let's enter the top 10!
No. 10 Lyle McCombs, RB, UConn
Making the case: Lyle McCombs made an impressive debut last season. Remember all the talk going in was how D.J. Shoemate would impact the running game? After Shoemate got hurt, all eyes turned to McCombs, who was the only consistent part of the offense last season. Though teams loaded the box every week to try to put the game in the hands of the quarterback, McCombs still finished second in the conference with 1,151 yards rushing. His 95.92 yards per game average ranked him No. 2 among all freshmen last season.
Folks have taken notice. McCombs was listed on the preseason watch lists for the Doak Walker Award (top running back) and Maxwell Award (best football player). McCombs got the majority of the carries last season with 275 -- the next highest went to Wildcat quarterback Scott McCummings with 74. Developing depth behind McCombs has been a big key this fall for coach Paul Pasqualoni, but he is a coach known for sticking with one back and riding with him. McCombs will once again be that man this year.
The countdown
No. 11 Ryne Giddins, DE, USF
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
