College Football’s Super Seven

Now that spring football is over and the NFL draft is behind us, I thought it was time to come up with my super seven teams. Things can change a great deal before the season starts, so this ranking could look very different when the season starts, but this is where things stand now.

1. The Florida Gators: The defending National Champions return their entire starting defense, 2007 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Tim Tebow, and have a favorable schedule in 2009. Can Florida be the first team to repeat as National Champions since the 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers?

Roadblock to success: Some might say complacency, but I think there is more than enough leadership on this team. The biggest roadblock will be the loss of the dynamic wide receiver/running back Percy Harvin. Someone will have to step up and fill his mighty big shoes.

Team Strength: Leadership. How hungry will this team be? The off-season will be as important to this team’s success as the preseason. Having Tim Tebow back will be huge, but don’t underestimate the value of Brandon Spikes and what he means to this team on an emotional level.

Toughest game: At LSU on October 10. The winner of this game has won the last three National Championships.

Trap Game: At Mississippi State on October 24. Florida has lost the last two times they visited Starkville.

MVP: This is an easy one, Tim Tebow.

Surprise player: Andre Debose. The true freshman receiver/running back out of Sanford, Florida will get the first crack to replace Percy Harvin

2. The USC Trojans: They lost quarterback Mark Sanchez and the bulk of their defense to the NFL, but I think this is the year USC puts it all together. It doesn’t hurt that the BCS title game will be played in Pasadena (motivation anyone?).

Roadblock to success: Inexperience. The Trojans will break in a new quarterback, a redshirt sophomore Aaron Corp or true freshman Matt Barkley, and eight new starters on defense.

Team Strength: Depth. No team in the country has recruited better then USC over the last few years and it will show this year.

Toughest game: At Ohio State on September 12. Not the best way to break in all the new starters.

Trap Game: September 19 at Washington. A week after going to Columbus to face the Buckeyes, the Trojans travel to face their former offensive coordinator.

MVP: Safety Taylor Mays. No player is more intimidating than the Ronnie Lott clone.

Surprise player: Linebacker Malcolm Smith. The younger brother of New York Giants receiver Steve Smith could be the next great linebacker at USC

3. The Texas Longhorns: Texas fans feel they should have played for the title last year instead of Oklahoma. Could they get their chance this year? They will if 2008 Heisman Trophy runner-up quarterback Colt McCoy has anything to do with it.

Roadblock to success: The defensive line. Texas will break in four new starters up front on defense. Outside linebacker Sergio Kindle moved to defensive end this spring to improve the pass rush.

Team Strength: Colt McCoy. The offense should be explosive again this fall lead by quarterback Colt McCoy. Can he win the Heisman and lead Texas to a national title?

Toughest game: October 17 vs. Oklahoma in Dallas. Will a Texas victory lead to a Big South title? It didn’t last year.

Trap Game: November 14 vs. Baylor in Waco. Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin could give the Longhorns fits.

MVP: Quarterback Colt McCoy. All he has left to do is get his team to the national title game.

Surprise player: Cody Johnson. The 255-pound running back will add power to the running game.

4. The Oklahoma Sooners: They lit up the scoreboard in 2008, but they came up short in their chase for the national title. 2008 Heisman trophy winning quarterback Sam Bradford returns for his junior season and could be one of six NFL first-round draft pick quarterbacks in 2010.

Roadblock to success: The offensive line. The four senior starters from the 2008 season have moved on, and it might take time for the new line to gel.

Team Strength: Firepower. The offense was fantastic in 2008 led by running back DeMarco Murray, tight end Jermaine Gresham, and quarterback Sam Bradford. 2009 should be just as explosive.

Toughest game: October 17 vs. Texas in Dallas. Will an Oklahoma victory lead to a Big South title? It did last year.

Trap Game: October 3 at Miami. The Hurricanes would love nothing better than to take down the Sooners.

MVP: Sam Bradford. He put up amazing statistical numbers in 2008, but his team came up one win short of the title. He’s back at Oklahoma wanting a second chance at the title.

Surprise player: Adron Tennell. The big senior wide receiver had a great spring and could become one of Bradford’s favorite targets.

5. The Virginia Tech Hokies: The two-time defending ACC champions return 16 starters including dynamic quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Could this be the year that the ACC champions get a shot at the national title? The Big 12 and the SEC are going to have to stumble, but Virginia Tech should be there if they do.

Roadblock to success: Tyrod Taylor. When he is healthy, this quarterback can be very dangerous. His health and his development as a passer are critical to the Hokies success.

Team Strength: Tyrod Taylor. No other player in the ACC can match the skills that he brings to the table each game.

Toughest game: September 5 vs. Alabama in Atlanta. This game won’t determine Tech’s fate in the ACC standings, but it might determine the fate of the ACC in the national standings.

Trap Game: October 17 at Georgia Tech. Hard to call this game a trap, but Tech better ready for the Yellow Jackets and their smash-mouth style of football.

MVP: Tyrod Taylor. Notice a theme here: as Taylor goes, so go the Hokies.

Surprise player: Running back Ryan Williams. He had a huge spring (153 total yards in the spring game) and hopes it will carry over to the fall.

6. The Ole Miss Rebels: The rebels were the surprise team in 2008. They were the only team to beat Florida (and they did it in Gainesville), and they easily handled Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl. They lost two first-round draft picks to the NFL, but they have tons of talent returning to Oxford.

Roadblock to success: Expectations. It’s one thing to sneak up on people, but it’s another thing to win when there’s a target on your back. How does Ole Miss handle the role of the hunted?

Team Strength: Talent. They have perhaps the deepest defensive line in the country, led by Greg Hardy, and the talent on the offensive side of the ball is just as good. Quarterback Jevan Snead could be a first-round draft pick in 2010.

Toughest game: October 10 vs. Alabama. This game could be for the SEC Western Division title. The good thing for Ole Miss is that the Tide has to come to Oxford.

Trap Game: October 31 at Auburn. Winning on the plains is no easy task. The Rebels better not overlook the Tigers.

MVP: Quarterback Jevan Snead committed to play at Florida before Tim Tebow chose Gainesville, and Snead ending up in Austin where he sat behind Colt McCoy. Could this be the year he proves to be the best prospect of the three?

Surprise player: Linebacker Patrick Trahan. You might not know him now, but I assure you coaches in the SEC and NFL know who he is.

7. The Oklahoma State Cowboys: It’s the story of the good and the bad for the Cowboys. The good is that they return 14 starters from a team that won nine games, and they might have one of the best offenses in the country. The bad for the Cowboys is that Texas and Oklahoma are just as loaded and they are all in the Big 12 South. Only one team from that division can play for the conference title. Can the Cowboys be that team?

Roadblock to success: The Big 12 South. If three of the top seven teams in the country are in the same conference, it is a problem for two of them. But, if they are in the same division of the same conference, that is a nightmare.

Team Strength: Offense. The Cowboys might have the best quarterback (Zac Robinson), running back (Kendall Hunter), wide receiver (Dez Bryant), and offensive tackle (Russell Okung) combination in the country. The problem is Oklahoma is their competition in that category as well.

Toughest game: November 28 at Oklahoma. Not only is this a huge rivalry game, but it might decide the Big 12 South and much more.

Trap Game: September 5 vs. Georgia. This game will lay the foundation of the Cowboys season, but just how sturdy a foundation is the question.

MVP: Dez Bryant. This wide receiver is a Terrell Owens clone. Imagine how hard Owens would be to stop in college. You now have an idea of the type of player Bryant is.

Surprise player: Richetti Jones. On a team desperate for a pass rush, the sophomore defensive end could make a huge impact.

Other teams that could steal the spotlight: Alabama, Oregon, Ohio State, TCU and Boise State.

Take a closer look at the top seven. Notice that you’ve got three teams from the Big 12, two from the SEC, and one each from the ACC and the Pac 10. Wouldn’t it be great to have the champion from each conferences play in a playoff format… wait I’m getting ahead of myself. The season is still months away and not one game has been played. Oh well, these top seven should be enough food for thought to hold you over till the season starts. Remember, a lot can change between now and September.

Bryan Glass is responsible for Franchise Development for Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club®. Prior to joining the Kennedy’s team he oversaw the School to work program at Tavares High School and was the Men’s Varsity Basketball coach.

Bryan graduated from the University of Florida with Bachelor or Science degree in History. As an undergrad Bryan was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. In his spare time he enjoys coaching basketball, watching football and spending time with his wonderful wife Lindsay.

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