2011 Preseason All-Big East Team

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Aug 12, 2011

2011 Preseason All-Big East Team

Geno Smith

Smith set a school record for passing yards in his first year as a starter with 2,763 and should have no problem setting it again in new coach Dana Holgorsen's fast-paced, high-scoring offense.

Isaiah Pead

The conference's lone returning 1,000-yard back from last season rushed for 1,029 yards and six touchdowns as a junior despite missing two games. He averaged 6.6 yards per carry.

Ray Graham

Graham ran for 922 yards, including a 277-yard game, and eight touchdowns as a sophomore -- and he did it all while splitting carries. He should thrive as the lead back in Todd Graham's system.

Tavon Austin

The converted running back caught 58 balls for 787 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore. He'll enter his second season at the position as the No. 1 target in a pass-happy attack.

Mark Harrison

The junior is big (6-3, 230) and fast (4.3 40) and has plenty of big-play ability, as his 10-catch, 240-yard, four-touchdown performance against Cincinnati last year made clear.

Nick Provo

The 6-4, 246-pound Hofstra transfer blossomed into a reliable safety valve for Ryan Nassib, totaling 33 catches for 365 yards and a score. But durability is a concern.

Moe Petrus

Petrus has made 39 consecutive starts since arriving on campus, including 26 at center. At 6-2, 293 pounds he helped paved the way for 174.6 yards per game last year on the ground.

Jeremiah Warren

The Bulls have three new starters on the line, but guard is no concern. Warren, a 6-4, 327-pound, fifth-year senior with 26 starts under his belt, is one half of a formidable guard combination.

Chaz Hine

The other half of the conference's best guard tandem, Hine is a former walk-on who is entering his third year as a starter. He graduated magna cum laude from USF's business school last spring.

Mike Ryan

The hulking 6-5, 333-pound left tackle is the league's only returning first-team linemen. He'll lead a line that's looking to block for a 1,000-yard rusher for the fourth straight year.

Don Barclay

The senior has made 27 starts, and was on the field for more than 860 plays at left tackle in 2010. He's key to a unit looking to bounce back after two disappointing seasons.

Bruce Irvin

The former juco All-America was only used in passing situations last season and racked up 14 sacks, second-most in the nation. The staff has spent the offseason trying to turn him into an every-down player.

Brandon Lindsey

A dominant pass-rusher who had 51 tackles and 10 sacks a year ago, Lindsey will fill the "Panther linebacker" role -- a standup end who can blitz or drop back into pass-coverage -- in Pitt's new 3-4.

Derek Wolfe

The strength of a defense that returns 10 starters is this NFL-ready, 6-5, 300-pounder. Wolfe had 48 tackles last season to go along with four sacks.

Kendall Reyes

Reyes could have left for the NFL after earning first-team all-conference honors with 39 tackles, including 10 for loss, as a junior. A high school safety, he brings plenty of athleticism to the position.

Sio Moore

Moore finished second on the team with 110 tackles, including 11 1/2 for loss, a year ago. Those stats should increase with the junior's standing as the leader of an inexperienced linebacking corps.

Max Gruder

The senior is the Panthers' leading tackler with 84 stops and has shown versatility in playing in the middle and on the perimeter over his career. A starter in 26 straight games, he'll fill the weak side spot this season.

DeDe Lattimore

As a redshirt freshman, Lattimore made 12 starts and finished with 69 tackles, six-and-a-half for loss and two-and-a-half sacks. The 6-2, 237-pounder should only become more of a force in his second season.

Keith Tandy

A two-year starter, Tandy led the conference in both passes defended (17) and interceptions (six) as a junior. A first-team all-league pick in 2010, he's moving to the left side this season.

Blidi Wreh-Wilson

Wreh-Wilson became a shutdown corner as a sophomore, recording 57 tackles, five pass breakups and four picks -- two of which he returned for touchdowns.

Hakeem Smith

Smith burst onto the scene last season, leading the Cardinals with 88 tackles and six tackles for loss on his way to unanimous conference rookie of the year honors.

Jarred Holley

The junior free safety has made 21 starts over the past two seasons. He had 54 tackles in 2010 to go along with five interceptions and has picked off eight passes in the last 18 games.

Ross Krautman

The conference's leader in field goal percentage a year ago, Krautman missed just one of his 19 attempts as a freshman. He connected on 16 straight kicks, tying Gary Anderson's 1981 school record.

Pat O'Donnell

He averaged 41.9 yards per attempt last season, tops among all returnees. O'Donnell is also an imposing specimen at the position: he stands 6-5, 217 and can reportedly bench 335 pounds.

Lindsey Lamar

The league's reining special teams player of the year, Lamar returned two kickoffs for touchdowns as a sophomore and averaged 26.6 yards per return. He's also a former all-Big East track honoree.

Cameron Saddler

The 5-7, 170-pounder has averaged 10.6 yards per return over the past two seasons. He's also fielded kickoffs, coming in at 20.9 per in 2010. He should become a bigger part of the passing game in 2011.

2011 Preseason All-Big East Team