Players Who Need To Perform

SI Staff | Aug 9, 2006

Players Who Need To Perform /

Players Who Need To Perform

Ambrose Wooden

A year ago, opponents like USC and Ohio State routinely burned Wooden and fellow first-year starter Mike Richardson for big plays. The pair will need to be more consistent if the Irish hope to run the table.

John Kerr

Four years after making 114 tackles as a freshman at Indiana, the fifth-year senior will be counted on to help fill the void left by departed Buckeyes stars A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel.

John David Booty

Three years after graduating high school early to join the Trojans, Booty finally takes over the reins at USC. All he has to do is live up to the precedent set by Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart.

Zach Anderson

Everyone knows the Cardinals' offense will be scary, but will the defense put pressure on opposing QBs? Anderson, a former juco transfer, takes over for national sack leader Elvis Dumervill.

Steve Breaston

The speedy fifth-year senior has long excelled as a punt returner but struggled as a route-runner, gaining only 291 receiving yards last season. With the departure of Jason Avant, Breaston needs to step up his game.

Herb Grigsby

The Hawkeyes' offense has the opportunity to shine behind QB Drew Tate and RB Albert Young, but the receiving corps got wiped out by graduation. This fleet-footed junior needs to establish himself quickly.

Lorenzo Booker

After three years of sharing carries with Leon Washington, the former all-everything recruit finally takes over as the 'Noles' top ballcarrier, but he'll need to do better than last year's 4.6 yards-per-carry average.

Blake Mitchell

The junior was decent in his first season under Steve Spurrier's tutelage, completing 59 percent of his passes for 2,370 yards. He needs to cut down on his interceptions (12) for the Gamecocks to reach the next level.

Lance Leggett

After a promising freshman season, Leggett struggled mightily last year, catching only 15 passes. With top receiver Ryan Moore suspended for the first two games, Miami needs Leggett to become a factor.

Reggie Ball

Entering his fourth year as the Jackets' starter, Ball's career completion rate is less than 50 percent. With plenty of talent around him, Ball has to put it all together if Tech hopes to be a contender.

Brandon Myles

The Mountaineers went 11-1 last season despite passing for only 1,398 yards. With defenses likely to key on West Virginia's running game, the speedy Myles will need to make some big plays downfield.

Nate Longshore

Led by RB Marshawn Lynch, the Bears have the skill players to field an explosive offense, but they're counting on Longshore, a third-year sophomore with only one career start, to be the guy who leads the attack.

Prechae Rodriguez

After losing their three leading receivers from last season (Ben Obumanu, Devin Aromashodu and Anthony Mix), the Tigers need Rodriguez, who had 13 catches last year, to emerge as one of their top playmakers.

Will Proctor

The Tigers, long stuck in the middle of the ACC pack, have the potential to break through in 2006, but much will depend on the productivity of Proctor, a fifth-year senior who was impressive in his one start last year.

Marlon Lucky

Nebraska's passing game improved considerably in its second year under Bill Callahan, but now it needs the running attack to complement it. The onus will be on Lucky and fellow sophomore Cody Glenn.

Darryl Poston

Having battled injuries for most of his career, the former USC transfer was one of the standouts of Utah's spring camp. The Utes need the sixth-year senior to shine in place of departed star Quinton Ganther.

Published Aug 9, 2006

SI STAFF