Undrafted Free Agents Getting Ready for the Call

With the NFL season just days away from finally beginning, one group of former Mountaineers are collectivly breathing a sigh of relief. Typically undrafted free agents would be deep into OTA's, and spending or saving their signing bonuses. Sure, the bonuses are much smaller than those of first rounders, but at least its financial security. While drafted players have essentially been supported by their respective agents and waiting for camps to open, the undrafted players have been out in the real world, trying to make a buck or two, waiting for football to start. And now the NFL is back, and a whole bunch of movin' and shakin' is about to go down.

There's reports that have undrafted free agent signings beginning as early as today. This means Noel Devine, Sidney Glover, Scooter Berry, and Jock Sanders will be waiting intently by the phone.

Devine is an outstanding talent. He was a lock to be drafted, but injuries hampered his production in his Senior season. Devine will find it tough to be an every-down back in the NFL, but his quickness and pure speed can make him valuable in the right system. He has good hands too, and could be used as a return man. Durability will be his biggest issue in the NFL.
Possible Locations: Cleveland, St Louis, Carolina

Sanders will be more limited in the NFL due to his size, and the position he plays. At just 5'6", Sanders isn't the prototypical receiver size, but the dude has talent. He could be a dynamic return man, and may find himself in the backfield. If given the chance Sanders could prove his value.
Possible Locations: New York Giants, Pittsburgh, San Fransisco

Glover was a productive safety during his time in Morgantown. He has good size, fair speed, and good hands. Glover showed he could help against the run, and also had eight tackles for loss. His technique probably needs work, but could find a job in special teams, while maturing.
Possible Locations: Buffalo, Indianapolis, Denver

Berry converted from fullback to the defensive line, and prospered under Jeff Casteel. He's very good against the run, and has the athleticism to get after the quarterback. Could use a few more pounds to truly be a solid DT.
Possible Locations: Buffalo, Oakland, Washington

Best of luck to all of these players, and the former Mountaineers that were already drafted. Yes, it looks like the NFL is just about back.

Let's Realign the Conferences, Part Two: Alphabetical Order

People love complaining about the conference structure in college football. Sure, there are some strange combinations, and long roadtrips, but it could be worse. And I'm here to show you how worse(or awesome) it could be.

Here is part two of many to come. Part one can be found here.

This is a pretty simple strategy; just line them up by name. No thought put into it at all...well, other than trying to decide what name to use (ie Mississippi vs Ole Miss). Let's just say the travel cost could get a little out of control.

1. This is an interesting collection. A few SEC and PAC-12 schools highlight the group, but watch-out for Air Force. The Academy could be the wildcard in this conference. Travel could be worse, though West Point to Arizona possibly twice-a-year would be fun.

Air Force

Akron
Alabama
Arizona
Arizona State
Arkansas
Arkansas State

Army
Auburn

Ball State

Baylor

2. It's a battle of East vs West in this conference. Nothng like a trip for California to Boston in December to spice things up. The closest trip for Clemson? Cincinnati. Ouch.

Boise State

Boston College

Bowling Green

BYU

Buffalo

California

Central Michigan

Cincinnati

Clemson

Colorado

Colorado State

Connecticut

3. Well, someone was going to be stuck with Hawaii. I'm not sure the Warriors would be able to afford this conference. Numerous trips to the East Coast could prove quite costly. Florida, FSU, Georgia, and Tech actually make this conference quite competitive.

Duke

East Carolina

Eastern Michigan

Florida

Florida Atlantic

Florida International

Florida State

Fresno State

Georgia

Georgia Tech

Hawaii

Houston

4. What a boring conference. It's like taking the most lame teams from their respective conferences and throwing them together. This is a basketball conference.

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Iowa State

Kansas

Kansas State

Kent State

Kentucky

Louisiana-Lafayette

Louisiana-Monroe

Louisiana Tech

5. Now, this is a conference. Traditional programs, mixed with emerging schools. Many of these colleges have BCS experience, and lots of promise for the future. Obviously I'm talking about Memphis and Miami (OH).

Louisville

LSU

Marshall

Maryland

Memphis

Miami

MIami (OH)

MIchigan

MIchigan State

Middle Tennessee

Minnesota

Mississippi State

6. This actually looks like a traditional Notre Dame schedule. Lots of "who cares" teams, a few solid programs, and Navy. Now, only if Purdue had snuck in.

Missouri

Navy

NC State

Nebraska

Nevada

New Mexico

New Mexico State

North Carolina

North Texas

Northern Illinois

Northwestern

Notre Dame

7. Another pretty tough group. Could be one of the deepest with 10 out of the 12 from BCS conferences. Good luck to Rice and Ohio...they will need it.

Ohio

Ohio State

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State

Ole Miss

Oregon

Oregon State

Penn State

Pittsburgh

Purdue

Rice

Rutgers

8. Talk about some travel. California to Florida to New York to everywhere in between. Actually, it's quite a nice group of traditional programs. Nice to see Texas and Stanford in together, considering the two schools are top-5 in overall NCAA championships in all sports.

San Diego State

San Jose State

SMU

South Carolina

South Florida

Southern Miss

Stanford

Syracuse

TCU

Temple

Tennessee

Texas

9. Let the bragging rights begin between California and Texas. This is a also a very dirty conference, with the likes of USC, UCF, Toledo, and Texas TEch in the mix. Who am I kidding? They all cheat.

Texas A&M

Texas Tech

Toledo

Troy
Tulane
Tulsa
UAB
UCF

UCLA

USC
Utah
Utah State

10. Well, WVU and Virginia Tech would be rivals again. Other than that, not much to talk about. Lots of travel, and lots of subpar programs.

UTEP

Vanderbilt
Virginia
Virginia Tech
Wake Forest
Washington
Washington State
West Virginia
Western Kentucky
Western Michigan
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Big East Fantasy PK Rankings

Who doesn't love a good kicker? Nobody! We here at the Flying Dub love kickers so much, we will give them their own column. We won't throw them in with the defense or just completely ignore them. No! The kickers deserve their day. And, Friday is for kickers.


Late Rounders (Never pick a kicker early)

Dave Teggart (UConn): Can hit from anywhere, and is automatic on PATs. However, a new QB and starting tailback could hurt his draft stock.

Ross Krautman (Syracuse): Missed just one field goal in 2010, and is poised to continue his excellence. Certainly a possibility to start, especially with the early-season schedule

Chris Philpott (Louisville): The duel-threat kicker should be one of the best in the Big East again this season. Philpott is worth a look in bigger leagues.

Maikon Bonani (USF): If the Bulls' offense can be more consistent, Bonani could have a solid year. The USF kicker drained 17 field goals last season. However, the Bulls need to score more TDs to give Bonani more value.


Projects:

Tyler Bitancurt (West Virginia): He regressed in year two, missing seven field goals. Bitancurt should put up some big PAT numbers, but has to get more consistant to be worth playing.

San San Te (Rutgers): Automatic from close, Te needs to find some accuracy from distance. He could be worth picking up a few weeks in, if Rutgers is scoring.


Beyond Projects:

Kevin Harper (Pittsburgh): The first-year kicker will have to prove something before being worth drafting.

Tony Miliano and Danny Milligan (Cincinnati): Neither have any value at this point, considering neither has won the job yet.

Other Neutral Fields for WVU?

The announcement yesterday of WVU playing James Madison in Washington DC in 2012 got me thinking...which can be dangerous. I started to wonder where else could be a good neutral field game for the Mountaineers? The recruiting region, facilities, and level of alumni would have to be taken into consideration. For instance, FedEx Field is solid, the alumni base is very good, and the Mountaineers are always recruiting the DC area. Plus, Jame Madison is far enough away that it wouldn't be mistaken for the home team.

So, here is my list of other possible destinations that fit the criteria.


Location: Baltimore, MD
Stadium: M&T Stadium (Capacity: 71,008)
Opponent: Delaware
Distance for Opponent: 59 miles
Alumni Level: Outstanding
Recruiting Region: Solid

Baltimore is not only close to Morgantwon, but is a hotbed for WVU alums. It's also close enough to Morgantown for a capacity crowd. The recruiting region has treated the Mountaineers well, with players like Tavon Austin and Ryan Clarke, who are currently on the team. With a game every other year in College Park, having a game in Baltimore would envelope the region. Meanwhile, Delaware is usually a very competitive team in the CAA.


Location: Orlando, FL
Stadium: Florida Citrus Bowl (Capacity: 70,000)
Opponent: Bethune-Cookman
Distance for Opponent: 56 miles
Alumni Level: Solid
Recruiting Region: Outstanding

Who wouldn't want to have a few more games in Florida? The recruiting climate is top-notch, and the alumni number is higher than one might think. Plus, Orlando is a vacation destination. Have the game in November, and watch hoards of Mounty fans roll down for the game and a few days at the Magic Kingdom. Bethune-Cookman did share the MEAC title last season.


Location: Cleveland, OH
Stadium: Cleveland Browns Stadium (Capacity: 73,200)
Opponent: Youngstown State
Distance for Opponent: 73 miles
Alumni Level: Solid
Recruiting Region: Solid

Ah yes, have to make a trip to the "Mistake by the Lake". Cleveland offers a pipeline to Ohio recruiting, which has been one of the more underrated regions in the country. It would also be a good location for the midwestern alums from not only Cleveland, but the surrounding areas. Youngstown used to be a premier school in the FCS. Though, they are now known mostly for Jim Tressel dirtying up the program.


Location: New York, NY
Stadium: Yankee Stadium (54,251)
Opponent: Stony Brook
Distance for Opponent: 56 miles
Alumni Level: Solid
Recruiting Level: Solid (for basketball)

Why not? Its the number one market in America, has a boatload of basketball recruits, and is loaded with former Mountaineers. Maybe Amos Zereoue can even cater the event? Football games are great for recruits for any sports, so a game at Yankee Stadium would be ideal. Plus, it opens up the door for alums from New England and parts of Canada as well. Stony Brook is not known for football, but is within striking distance of the Bronx.


Location: Philadelphia, PA
Stadium: Lincoln Financial Field (69,144)
Opponent: Temple Delaware State
Distance for Opponent: 76 miles
Alumni Level: Outstanding
Recruiting Level: Solid (for basketball)

It's another basketball hotbed, and also a city loaded with Mounties. It's close enough to Morgantown to get the fan train rolling. There is some football talent in and around Philly, but Western PA has always been more flashy. Villanova could be the opponent, but that would be way too much of a home game for them. So, give me some Delaware State!


Location: Charlotte
Stadium: Bank of America Stadium (Capacity: 73,778)
Opponent: Wofford
Distance for Opponent: 76 miles
Alumni Level: Very Solid
Recruiting Level: Solid

Who wouldn't love to travel down to Charlotte for a game? Great city, solid alumni base, and an ever improving recruiting region. This would be a very nice fit for the Mountaineers, who haven't played at the Bank since 2008. Wofford is usually a competitive squad that has played at Mountaineer Field before.


Location: Portland, ME
Stadium: Fitzpatrick Stadium (6,300)
Opponent: Maine
Distance for Opponent: 137 miles
Alumni Level: Like four People
Recruiting Level: Ummm

Yeah, I just put this on here, because I want to be able to walk to WVU games again. A man can dream, can't he?

Big East Fantasy TE Rankings

Our College Fantasy Football rankings will focus on the Tight ends today. It's not a very deep group, and West Virginia won't even employ one in the Holgorsen Offense. However, there are a few valuable picks, and maybe a steal or two.

Early Round Value:

Josh Chichester (Louisville): The former wideout has tremendous size and ability, and continues to improve at the position. Chichester should be one of the top pass-catchers for Louisville this season, so the touchdown numbers will most likely improve as well. Could end up being a Top-10 fantasy TE.

Pros: Size, Ability, Hands

Cons: WR by Trade, Route-Running

2010 Stats: 22 Rec, 317 Yards, 5 TDs


Middle Round Value:

Nick Provo (Syracuse): 2010 proved to be a breakthrough year for Provo, who finished with 33 receptions. However, he will need to find the endzone much more to be a top fantasy TE. Provo has the ideal size and strength to dominate, and should have solid numbers in 2011.

Pros: Size, Strength, Route-Running

Cons: Injury-Prone, Explosiveness

2010 Stats: 33 Rec, 365 Yards, 1 TD

Possible Late Round Steal:

D.C. Jefferson (Rutgers): He has the ideal size to be a beast, but hasn't lived up to the potential. Having a more mature QB could help him find some of that potential. Jefferson could be one of the best steals this season if he performs.

Ryan Griffin (UConn): He's a very solid pass-catcher, and will be one of the most important targets for the Huskies. However, the QB situation in Storrs will hurt his draft stock. Griffin could be a wait-and-see guy.

Projects:

Andreas Shields (USF): He will take over the starting roll in Tampa, and will look to be one of B.J. Daniels' top targets. Not a lot of value at this point.

Blake Annen, Adrien Robinson, Travis Kelce (Cincinnati): They are all fighting for the starting job. Follow this closely, because Zach Collaros will use the position.

Hubie Graham (Pittsburgh): The Illinois transfer will be the Panthers' primary TE target. Hard to tell how much Todd Graham will use the position in his offense.

Las Vegas Classic Teams Announced

The 2011 Las Vegas Classic lineup has finally been announced, and WVU should have an excellent opportunity to make some noise. The Mountaineers will be joined by Missouri State, Baylor, and Saint Mary's as the top programs for the tournament. Each team will be play two games against lesser opponents before heading to Sin City for the Semi's. WVU is yet to hear who their first two opponents will be from a group that includes Kennesaw State, Tennessee State, Bethune-Cookman, and Texas A+M Corpus Christi.

The young Mountaineer team will be facing some more veteran-laden teams when the tournament shifts to Vegas. Baylor returns most of their key players, and is expected to be ranked fairly high to start the season. Missouri State is always tough in the MVC, and return most of their key players as well. And Saint Mary's lost only one starter from a team that was very competitive in the WCC.

This should be a good test for Bobby Huggins, who will have a handful of games with the youngsters before this tournament kicks off. The Mountaineers will certainly be relying on Kevin Jones and Truck Bryant, especially early on. Kevin Noreen missed most of last season with an injury, and Deniz Kilicli battled inconsistency. That's it for returners. Jabarie Hinds, Keaten Miles, and the rest of the 654 new Mountaineers will be asked to step up early and often.

This will be a very fun team to watch. Huggins continues to build towards his ideal team, full of superior athletes, and straight-up hustlers. However, a lot rides on this giant recruiting class to work out, considering there isn't much to show from the last two recruiting seasons.

Big East WR Fantasy Rankings

As we get closer to the fantasy season, it's time to take a look at the wideouts in the conference. This is always the toughest to rate, considering there's probably four or five guys that nobody has ever heard of that will have good years. Here's a look at the guys we have at least heard of.


Zeus Level:

Tavon Austin (West Virginia): The 2010 break-out start should put up monster numbers. Austin is the top returning WR for Geno Smith, in a new pass-happy system. Look for huge numbers and double-digit touchdowns in 2011.

Pros: Speed, Hands, QB

Cons: Size, Route Running

2010 Stats: 58 Rec, 946 Total Yards, 9 Total TDs

D.J.Woods (Cincinnati): A very productive WR for the Bearcats, and can also boost a special teams' unit. Look for double-digit TDs this season, especially with his QB improving in the Cincy System. Woods' biggest downfall? Fumbles. He could be a top-10 fantasy receiver if he holds onto the damn ball.

Pros: Speed, Versatility, QB

Cons: Hands, Fumble-Prone

2010 Stats: 57 Rec, 985 Total Yards, 10 Total TDs

Early Round Value:

Mohamed Sanu (Rutgers): His receiving numbers were pretty good last year, but Sanu capitalized in other ways. He ended up throwing for three scores, and had four more on the ground, as the Wildcat QB for the Knights. 2011 should bring more success for him on the outside, with being healthy and Chas Dodd getting more used to college football.

Pros: Versatility, Hands, Size

Cons: Durability, QB

2010 Stats: 44 Rec, 887 Total Yards, 9 Total TDs

Mark Harrison (Rutgers): Benefited from Sanu's injuries last season. Harrison ended up being a scoring machine for Rutgers in 2010, and will undoubtedly be right there again. Don't be surprised if you hear "Sanu to Harrison" a few times. There will be a lot of pressure on Dodd with all this receiving talent.

Pros: Size, Hands

Cons: QB, Route Running

2010 Stats: 44 Rec, 829 Total Yards, 9 TDs

Mike Shanahan (Pittsburgh): He will benefit from Jon Baldwin being gone. Shanahan has great size, great ability, and now just has to find the endzone. He put up great PPR numbers last season, but has to be more of a TD machine to improve his fantasy value. Of course, a lot of that falls on his QB.

Pros: Size, Hands, Ability

Cons: Explosiveness, QB

2010 Stats: 43 Rec, 589 Total Yards, 1 TD

Middle Round Value:

Van Chew (Syracuse): Who doesn't want a dude named Chew on his team? He ended up with pretty solid numbers in 2010. As Ryan Nassib gains more confidence, look for Chew to be the primary beneficiary.

Stedman Bailey (West Virginia): It's hard to gauge who will be the secondary target for Geno Smith this season. But, certainly Bailey will be in the mix. Geno's high school teammate proved he can be a big time playmaker with four TD's in his Freshman year.

Josh Bellamy (Louisville): There's a question about the Cardinals' QB right now(sharing the job is never good), but when it is figured out Bellamy will be there to clean up. Look for the speedy wideout's TD numbers to improve in 2011.

Evan Landi (USF): He'll probably slide in the draft due to his 2010 numbers, which were just okay. But, those numbers should be much better with BJ Daniels being more comfortable in Todd Fitch's offense.

Marcus Sales (Syracuse): Two consistent seasons has many believing Sales will truly break through in 2011. Could be good value later in the draft.

Possible Late Round Steal:

Brad Starks (West Virginia): He only had 19 receptions last season, but four went for TDs. He is one to watch in the Holgorsen offense.

Kashif Moore (UConn): With Michael Smith being out for 2011, The Huskies will primarily rely on Moore. He did lead the UConn WRs in TDs last year. Could be a late steal if UConn finds a suitable QB.

Andrell Smith (Louisville): Missed the whole Spring due to injury. If healthy, Smith could be a nice late pick, considering he has proved he can score.

Devin Street (Pittsburgh): He had a very respectable Freshman season, and looks to truly explode in 2011.

Anthony McClung (Cincinnati): Will benefit with so many leaving the program. McClung showed solid promise in 2010.

Alec Lemon (Syracuse): He may be behind a few receivers, but watch for his numbers to steadily improve. A great offseason has a lot of people buzzing about this kid.

Projects:

A.J. Love and Sterling Griffin (USF): Both missed 2010 with injuries, and could be nice late round steals, especially if Daniels is going to bounce back in 2011.

Isiah Moore (UConn): Moore will be one of the go-to guys in Storrs this season. However, everything will rely on the new QB.