C-USA SPRING RECAP


EAST CAROLINA

Best Bet:  WR Dwayne Harris
Harris became the go-to receiver for the Pirates last fall, touching the ball 114 times for over 1,100 yards and 12 TDs.

Sleeper Potential:  QB Brad Wornick
Wornick had the edge for the starting QB job.  Whoever wins the gig will be one to watch in the Pirates' new pass-happy offense.

Big Fantasy Question:  Will new offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley be able to turn ECU into Texas Tech Lite?
Riley is the youngest offensive coordinator in the country.  He worked the last 3 years learning the vaunted Red Raider offense, spending most of his time coaching the receivers.


HOUSTON

Best Bet:  QB Case Keenum & WR James Cleveland
Keenum is the consensus No. 1 fantasy QB in the land while Cleveland is an elite fantasy WR.

Sleeper Potential:  WR Kierre Johnson
In Cleveland’s absence this spring (precautionary), senior-to-be Kierrie Johnson (5’10 175-pounds) was the star of spring ball.  He capped things off by catching 10 balls for 150 yards and 2 TDs in the spring game.

Big Fantasy Question: How much will Houston miss offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen?
Holgorsen left for Oklahoma State, which leaves a little bit of doubt as to whether the offense can be quite as productive in 2010.


MARSHALL

Best Bet:  RB Martin Ward
Ward played backup to Darius Marshall last year and filled in admirably, rushing for 25-136-1 in his lone start on the year.

Sleeper Potential:  WR Antavious Wilson
As a freshman, Wilson finished strong with a 13 catch and 9-catch games in the final month.  Totaled 60-724-3 on the year.

Big Fantasy Question:  Can Martin Ward step in where Darius Marshall left off?
The 5’9 204-pound Ward certainly has shown that the potential is there for a 1,000 yard, double-digit TD season.


MEMPHIS

Best Bet:  To Be Determined
Nobody fits the bill as we head into summer camp.

Sleeper Potential:  QB Tyler Bass
Bass is the favorite to win the Tigers’ QB battle, and has the ability to make a splash on the fantasy scene.

Big Fantasy Question:  Who will replace start RB Curtis Steele?
Wisconsin transfer Lance Smith seemed to be in line for the starting gig before sustaining what could be a season-ending injury.  Gregory Ray will battle Marcus Hightower and Darcel Johnson for carries this fall.


RICE

Best Bet:  RB Sam McGuffie
The Michigan transfer has high expectations heading into the season.

Sleeper Potential:  TE Vance McDonald
Tyler Wardlow has moved on, making room for the athletic McDonald, who caught 5-69-1 in the spring game.

Big Fantasy Question:  Which offense will the 2010 version most resemble:  the ‘09 offense (28 total TDs) or the ‘08 offense (69 total TDs)?
Even if they can get somewhere in the middle - say 40-ish TDs - we’ll have ourselves a nice little fantasy destination to tap into this season.


SMU

Best Bet:  QB Kyle Padron & Aldrick Robinson
Padron outperformed Bo Levi Mitchell last year and is the full-time starter in June Jones’ traditionally pass-heavy attack.  Robinson had a disappointing 2009 campaign (47-800-5) but should rebound given that the Stangs top target, Emmanuel Sanders, is now playing with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Sleeper Potential:  WR Darius Johnson
The 5’9 sophomore-to-be showed flashes of brilliance this spring, and could make a run at the WR2 position.

Big Fantasy Question:  How will the Stangs replace Shawnbrey McNeal?
The big shock last season was the emergence of a big-time running game for June Jones in the form of McNeal.  But the star RB chose to head to the NFL (he went undrafted), leaving a big void.  A void that could actually be good news for the fantasy passing game.


SOUTHERN MISS

Best Bet:  WR DeAndre Brown
Brown is probably the most physically-gifted WR in the land at 6’6 and 231 pounds.  After an outstanding freshman season, he struggled in year two while recovering from an ugly broken leg. 

Sleeper Potential:  QB Martevious Young
Austin Davis is the man when healthy, but he missed time last fall and this spring with a foot injury.  Martevious Young has looked great in his absence.  Could Young supplant Davis as the full-time starter?

Big Fantasy Question:  Who will replace Damion Fletcher at RB?
Fletcher rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons in Hattiesburg.  Kendrick Hardy may have the best pedigree of a trio of hopefuls.


TULANE

Best Bet:  TBD
Andre Anderson and Jeremy Williams are gone, leaving the fantasy cupboard bare.

Sleeper Potential:  WR Casey Robottom & RB Payten Jason
Think of these two as DEEP sleepers.  Robottom could become the team’s top receiving target this fall - a team that could be passing a lot in come-from-behind mode.  Jason showed flashes of talent before injuring his knee early last fall.

Big Fantasy Question:  Can QB Ryan Griffin become fantasy-worthy?
As a frosh last year, Griffin had a couple nice fantasy outings.  With a year of seasoning, he could possibly be a nice stopgap starter when the match up is right (as it often is in the defensive-challenged C-USA).


TULSA

Best Bet:  QB G.J. Kinne & WR Damaris Johnson
For the first time in years, Tulsa heads into the summer without QB controversy.  Kinne is the man.  Damaris Johnson is the team’s top offensive weapon and should have another nice year.

Sleeper Potential:  WR Jameel Owens
The Oklahoma transfer could make an immediate splash for the Golden Hurricane at wideout.

Big Fantasy Question:  What the hell happened to last year’s highly touted RB, Charles Clay?
He’s still around and he could also be viewed as a sleeper.  But it is apparent that his value is only with receptions, as he is not likely to get too many carries in this offense with the presence of RBs Jamad Williams, Alex Singleton and Derrick Hall.


UAB

Best Bet:  TE Jeffrey Anderson
While it remains to be seen whether Anderson can duplicate he steady numbers from a year ago without QB Joe Webb tossing the rock, in a down year for TE’s Anderson is at least worth consideration.

Sleeper Potential:  QB David Isabelle
isabelle is a run-first dual threat who could put up some great numbers on the ground this fall -- if he wins the starting job in fall camp.

Big Fantasy Question: How do the Blazers replace Joe Webb?
Most expect Isabelle to get the first crack.  Like Webb, he posesses great running ability.  However, Isabelle has some work to do in the passing game.


UCF

Best Bet:  To Be Determined
When Brynn Harvey went down to a knee injury this spring, there went the only fantasy-worthy player on their roster.

Sleeper Potential:  RB’s Brendan Kelly, Jonathan Davis and Jeff Brinson
The trio will battle for carries in Harvey’s absence.  Perhaps one can emerge as a viable fantasy threat until he returns.

Big Fantasy Question:  Will stud RB Brynn Harvey’s knee be recovered in time to make a fantasy impact this fall?
The word is that he could be back in the lineup in late September or early October.  If he returns, will he be 100%?  Not likely.


UTEP

Best Bet:  RB Donald Buckram
Buckram shocked the college fantasy football world last fall accounting for over 2,000 yards from scrimmage and 21 TDs.

Sleeper Potential:  QB Trevor Vittatoe
It’s funny putting this tag on Vittatoe.  The Miner QB headed into the 2009 season as one of the top 10-15 fantasy QB prospects in the land.  He was massively disappointing (by his standards), mostly due to Buckram and the running game stunningly stealing the show. 

Big Fantasy Question:  Can Buckram repeat his ‘09 performance?
It’s one of the great fantasy questions as we head into 2010.  If he can, he is a Top 5 fantasy running back.