College Fantasy Football Preview -- The Defending Champ

Last year saw the defending champ put together one of the most impressive seasons we've seen in the history of our young league, 12-2 and the title belt.  He wasn't shy about the title either bantering all year long, running his mouth like his lips don't fit.  He wasn't any different this offseason getting more outspoken in emails and trying to stall the league draft for days.  Why?  Because he's the defending league champion and some owners are quietly talking behind his back about how it's quickly gone to his head.  Others outside the league have also noticed the change and have started calling him Lane Kifflin.  Regardless of how others feel about him, he is the champion until January this year and has a chance to repeat.. maybe.

QB:  He's got bodies galore at this position with 5 on the roster, only 3, however, could help his team this year.  Masoli, as we've all heard, happened to plead guilty to theft AND then they found marijuana on him a few months later.  Awesome.  Cincy's Zach Callaros played well for Tony Pike last year, but it'll be interesting to see if he is the same without Brian Kelly and Mardy Gilyard.  Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden takes over a high powered offense for Zac Robinson.  Don't forget, however, they lost all world WR Dez Bryant and one of their RB's from last year. 

RB:  Question marks surround the league's returning Heisman winner, Mark Ingram.  Is he out or isn't he?  We know he's gone for the season opener, but ESPN originally reported he was out for the year.  Then it was just the opener.  Then he might be out up to 4 weeks.  Then Saban said they are taking it week to week.  With Trent Richardson and that defense, Ingram might take awhile to get back to game shape.  Jamie Harper could be a stud for Clemson and this is his year to shine.  Stepfan Taylor takes over for the battering ram at Stanford.  Rodney Stewart is best known for this.

WR:  A huge advantage and the strongest part of the roster features Randall Cobb and Mohamed Sanu.  Both guys are WR's in Percy Harvin and Dexter McCluster sense.. they aren't that electric, but they play QB and RB as well as WR.  They are tough to stop and get their hands on the ball a lot.  They are jack of all trades.  They need to have huge years because Shakim Phillips, TJ Jones and Robert Woods are all talented.. but freshman.

TE:  Mike McNeil is currently a TE at Nebraska but there are rumors swirling that he could soon be moved to WR.  That would affect this roster big time and leave only Jake Stoneburner to play the position.  I didn't make that up either, his name really is Stoneburner because Grassburner and Garbageburner were already taken. 

K:  Alex Henery is the Nebraska kicker that is going to score in bunches.  This team can't find the end zone with a map, so he figures to kick plenty of FG's especially when the Big 12 season starts.  An underrated value here as long as he's kicking and keeping Screaming Palini happy.

D/ST:  USC has Monte Kifflin.  The guy kept NFL offenses at bay for years.  To think what he can do with the athletes they buy at U$C is simply scary for the rest of the league.

Worst Case:  Mark Ingram is out for the year and Callaros returns to earth.  Cobb or Sanu get knicked up and a freshman has to step up.  That happens and he's looking at a near bottom of the league finish.  No lie.

Best Case:  Ingram is healthy and Sanu/Cobb progress even a bit more.  If everything is sunny in Philadelphia then Jake has a CHANCE to play for the title. 

Overall:  The defending champ won't return to the championship because his head isn't on straight and he can't keep his team in line.  The locker room is floating on clouds right now with no intensity; they expect competition to just roll over because they ran through the league last year.  If I'm Crass; I'm worried about the dramatic fall that's going to happen.