Let's move on in our countdown of the top 25 players in the Big East in 2012.
No. 7 Alec Lemon, WR, Syracuse.
Making the case: Lemon was the best receiver in the Big East this season without question -- the only player to reach 1,000 yards in 2012. He led the league in receiving yards per game (89.2) and receptions per game (six). In all, he set career highs with 72 receptions (a Syracuse single-season record) for 1,070 yards and seven touchdowns. He also set the school record for career receptions en route to being named to the All-Big East first team.
Lemon had five 100-yard games, including three straight weeks topping the mark. Of those stellar games, the most memorable came in a 31-27 win over Missouri that clinched bowl eligibility for the Orange. Lemon had 12 catches for a whopping 244 yards and two touchdowns -- and both scores helped the Orange rally for the win. His 13-yard catch tied the game at 17 early in the fourth quarter, erasing a 17-3 deficit. Then his 17-yard score with 20 seconds left won the game.
Previous ranking: No. 22.
The countdown
No. 8 George Winn, RB, Cincinnati
No. 9 Montel Harris, RB, Temple
No. 10 Travis Kelce, TE, Cincinnati
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
