2012 Preseason All-Big East Team

SI Staff | Aug 17, 2012

2012 Preseason All-Big East Team /

2012 Preseason All-Big East Team

Teddy Bridgewater

The Big East Rookie of the Year threw for a Louisville freshman record 2,129 yards (with 14 touchdowns) after becoming the school's first true freshman starting quarterback since 1976.

Ray Graham

Before tearing his ACL eight games into the 2011 campaign, Graham's 134.14 yards per game were second nationally and first in the conference. The junior still garnered All-Big East recognition with 958yards and nine touchdowns despite his injury-shortened year.

Lyle McCombs

A Freshman All-America last season, McCombs totaled 1,151 yards and seven touchdowns, the 14th Huskies player to reel off a 1,000-yard season. His 95.92 yards per game were second in the Big East.

Sterling Griffin

Griffin was the top target for USF quarterback B.J.Daniels in 2011, leading the team with 530 yards and 43 receptions despite missing four games.

Alec Lemon

Lemon started every game for Syracuse last fall, setting the Orange's single-season record with 68 receptions. His 834 receiving yards were the most by a Syracuse junior in school history.

Ryan Griffin

Griffin's was the Big East's most prolific tight ends in 2011, snagging three touchdowns and 499 yards, but his substantial blocking skills might be his most overlooked trait.

Justin Pugh

The leader of the Syracuse line, Pugh started every game the last two seasons for the Orange.

Adam Masters

The 6-foot-4, 298-pound guard has made 23 starts for Connecticut and will be the anchor of the line that helped tailback Lyle McCombs surpass 1,000 yards rushing in 2011.

Mario Benavides

The senior is a staple of the Louisville offensive line, starting 34 of 38 games in his three-year career. Benavides slimmed down in the offseason to add to his agility and conditioning.

Mark Popek

The 6-foot-7, 300-pound Popek powered a line that plowed the road for the Bulls' Big East-leading 183.2 rushing yards per game in 2011.

Chris Jacobson

Jacobson has suffered season-ending knee injuries twice in his Pittsburgh career -- including 2011 -- but will bring an NCAA-issuedsixth year of eligibility to new coach Paul Chryst's pro-style offense.

Ryne Giddins

South Florida's biggest threat on one of the Big East's best defensive lines should build on the 44 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss he posted last fall.

Scott Vallone

Vallone is defined by his durability: The senior has started every game (38) of his Rutgers career, the most of any returning player in the Big East.

Aaron Donald

The junior played every lineman position in Pittsburgh's 3-4 scheme last season and ranked seventh nationally with 0.85 sacks per game.

Trevardo Williams

Williams registered 12.5 sacks last season as a junior -- fifth nationally -- and needs only nine more to become Connecticut's all-time career sacks leader.

Khaseem Greene

The Big East's co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2011 totaled 141 tackles, fifth most in Rutgers history and 12th nationally.

DeDe Lattimore

Lattimore lead the Bulls with 94 tackles and seven sacks last season while tallying five double-digit tackle games.

Steve Beauharnais

Khaseem Greene's right-hand man on the Rutgers' defense, Beauharnais completes the Big East's best linebacker duo. He finished 2011 second on the team with 77 tackles and five sacks.

Logan Ryan

The Knights' leading defensive back nabbed three interceptions last season, taking one of his two picks against Pittsburgh 45 yards for a touchdown.

Hakeem Smith

Smith paced the Cardinals with nine pace breakups and has made 24 consecutive starts, the most by any Louisville player.

Jarred Holley

A three-year starter in the Pitt secondary, Holley was second on the Panthers with 67 total tackles last year.

Adrian Bushell

The versatile Bushell had 50 tackles and one interception for Louisville last season and also made noise on special teams, returning a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against UConn.

Maikon Bonani

Bonani's 51 career field goals are a South Florida record.

Pat O'Donnell

O'Donnell helped the Bearcats lead the Big East in net punting in 2011 with his 43.8 yards per kick.

Ralph David Abernathy IV

His 90-yard kick return in the fourth quarter helped Cincinnati overtake Vanderbilt in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

Nick Williams

Williams rang up 123 yards on 22 returns for the Huskies.

Published Aug 17, 2012

SI STAFF