No. 10 on our countdown is one of the biggest surprises from this past season.

No. 10, Travis Kelce, TE, Cincinnati

Making the case: Kelce emerged as the best tight end in the Big East in 2012, a notion validated by his first-team All-Big East recognition from both the conference and ESPN.com. Kelce led Cincinnati in catches (45), receiving yards (722) and receiving touchdowns (eight), and he finished ninth in the Big East in receptions per game (3.5) and sixth in receiving yards (55.5). The 722 yards are the most in a single-season by a Bearcats tight end. The senior was crucial down the stretch as Brendon Kay was handed the keys to the offense, leading Cincinnati to a 4-1 record to close out the year and earn a share of its fourth Big East title in the past five seasons.

Preseason ranking: NR

The countdown

• No. 11 Yawin Smallwood, LB, UConn

• No. 12 Greg Blair, LB, Cincinnati

• No. 13 Ray Graham/Jawan Jamison, RBs, Pitt/Rutgers

• No. 14 Mario Benavides, C, Louisville

• No. 15 Adrian Bushell, CB, Louisville

• No. 16 Sio Moore, LB, UConn

• No. 17 Shamarko Thomas, S, Syracuse

• No. 18 Scott Vallone, DT, Rutgers

• No. 19 Jerome Smith, RB, Syracuse

• No. 20 Devin Street, WR, Pitt

• No. 21 DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville

• No. 22 Matt Brown, RB, Temple

• No. 23 Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville

• No. 24 Tyler Matakevich, LB, Temple

• No. 25 Aaron Donald, DT, Pitt