Is Jameis Winston the Answer for FSU?

With the graduation of former FSU standout EJ Manuel, the Seminoles have a huge void to fill at quarterback. Among the signal callers vying for the starting job is redshirt freshmen, and former Alabama high school phenom Jameis Winston. Winston who in 2012 was the #1 rated quarterback prospect by Rivals.com and a project top pick in the 2012 major league baseball amateur draft.  As a dual threat all everything quarterback in high school,  he committed to FSU over many of the other top programs in the country,  home state schools Alabama and Auburn included. 

During his high school career, he passed for close to 7,000 passing yards, and 2,913 rushing yards and scored 103 total touchdowns. Last season, Winston was redshirted so he didn't he any playing time at all, but he did play on the FSU baseball team this past spring, which he was able to finally show many Florida State fans just how strong his arm can be. Various reports of the FSU spring camp have given WInston rave reviews, highlighting his accuracy and arm strength.  Despite all the Winston hype, he isn't necessarily guaranteed to be under center come August. Jacob Coker and Sean Macguire, who both looked impressive throughout spring camp along with Winston. Between Coker, Macguire and Winston, head coach Jimbo Fisher really has an embarrassment of riches at the quarterback position.

In my opinion, I really do want Winston to win the job. I have been hearing about his potential to be a Robert Griffin III clone for close to 2 years now, I would love to see what he is all about in regular season action and as soon as possible. If Winston does win the job and with other dual threat QBs like Braxton Miller and Johnny Manziel, this season could be even more unpredictable and exciting than ever before. 

- Josh Gamez

@itsjoshgamez

josh.projectcfb@gmail.com

Josh's Top Five SEC Defensive Linemen

1) Jadeveon Clowney (South Carolina)
2) Anthony Johnson (LSU)
3) Dominique Easley (Florida)
4) Trey Flowers (Arkansas)
5) Bryan Jones (Arkansas)

Over the last 8 seasons in college football there hasn't been a more dominant conference in the country than the South Eastern Conference. With 7 straight national championships the SEC has become the hot bed of big time players and games. Over the years the SEC has been known as a defensive minded conference, and 2013 is no exception. Lead by Jadeveon Clowney, who might be the best player in the country this year, the SEC has no lack of talent along the defensive line this year.

Clowney is a clear cut #1 on the top defensive linemen list, followed by Anthony Johnson of LSU, who as a sophomore looks to improve on a 10 tackle for loss, and 3 sack season in 2012 and lead the Tigers' defensive line as they push for a 2013 SEC championship. Followed closely by Florida's brash, trash talking interior linemen Dominique Easley who may be ready to break out in 2013 similar to Sharrif Floyd last season.

The final two spots on this list are a part of a very underrated Arkansas Razorback defensive line in Trey Flowers and Bryan Jones. Flowers and Jones are both among the more dominant linemen in the country and coming off strong 2012 seasons look to lead a much improved Razorback team in 2013.

- Josh Gamez
@itsjoshgamez
josh.projectcfb@gmail.com

Jackson's Top Five SEC Running Backs

1. TJ Yeldon, ALA

2. Todd Gurley, UGA

3. Jeremy Hill, LSU

4. Keith Marshall, UGA

5. LaDarius Perkins, MSU

This is a very young group of running backs. Four of the five are sophomores. And although this is a list that is only showing the top running backs for the SEC, I firmly believe that we will see a few of these names being consider for best running back this year, and possibly the Heisman.

TJ Yeldon impressed me day one. The way that he ran over Michigan last season was impressive. Some chalked it up to a poor defensive showing from the Wolverines, but TJ proved it wasn't a fluke by rushing for over 1,000 yards last season and 12 touchdowns.

Todd Gurley is the first of two Georgia running backs on this list. Both are sophomores, and both are rather impressive. Gurley rushed for over 1,300 yards last season, and punched the ball into the endzone 17 times.

LSU's Jeremy Hill breaks up the Georgia duo in the number three spot. Hill carried the ball last season 142 times for 755 yards and 12 touchdowns. He will look to do a lot more than that in 2013.

Our second Georgia Bulldog on the list comes in at number four. His name is Keith Marshall. Marshall didn't quite put up the stats that Todd Gurley did, but he still impressed with 759 yards on the ground as well as eight touchdowns. He had quite a battle with Todd Gurley, but I don't see why Georgia coach Mark Richt wouldn't use both quite often. Having this dynamic duo would definitely be something to take advantage of.

The oldest of the five comes it at number five. Mississippi State's LaDarius Perkins rushed the ball a little over 200 times totally 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns. Perkins will look repeat a 1,000 season and hopefully put his Bulldogs in contention for an SEC Title.

We all know that the SEC is loaded with talent, and this list alone shows that they are stacked with talent just at the running back position. These guys will be very hard to stop. And the kicker is, many of them will be playing across from one another on many Saturdays this fall!

- Jackson McNamara

@jacksonmcnamara

jackson.projectcfb@gmail.com

Josh's Top Five Pac-12 Quarterbacks

1) Kevin Hogan (Stanford)
2) Marcus Mariota (Oregon)
3) Brett Hundley (UCLA)
4) Keith Price (Washington)
5) Taylor Kelly (Arizona State)

With two of the top 10 teams in the country last season, the Pac 12 had no lack of talent on both sides of the ball. Going into 2012, the conference from top to bottom looks just as good, if not better, than 2012. Perennial powers like Stanford and Oregon both were pleasantly surprised by the performances by their signal callers, Kevin Hogan and Marcus Mariota, and both shined on the biggest stages. Between the two of them, you could make a solid case for either being #1 over the other. However, Hogan once he took over as the starter, was among the most effective quarterbacks in the country. Mariota was equally impressive and ran former coach Chip Kelly's up tempo offense to perfection and the leadership he displayed as a freshmen was extremely impressive.

Brett Hundley, who is coming off a phenomenal 2012 campaign, comes in at 3rd on the list who was a major part of the UCLA turn around under head coach Jim Mora Jr, and may be #1 on this list by seasons end. Washington's Keith Price who had an up and down 2012 season looks to return to his 2011 form that was highlighted by an all everything performance in the 2011 Alamo Bowl in which he went throw for throw (and rush for rush) with reigning Heisman trophy winner Robert Griffin III in a losing effort in one of the best Bowl shootouts this side of the 2005 Rose Bowl. If Hundley and Price play as well as they are capable of the Pac 12 should be even more fun to watch in 2013.

Finishing out the list is the Sun Devils' Taylor Kelly, who is coming off of a solid freshmen season is a potential Pac 12 player of the year candidate rounds out the top 5 and with Kelly, Hundley, Hogan and Mariota all sophomores this season, the play from the quarterback position out west should only get better from here on out.

- Josh Gamez

@itsjoshgamez

josh.projectcfb@gmail.com

Matt's Top Five SEC Quarterbacks

1. Johnny Manziel, TAMU

2. AJ McCarron, ALA

3. Aaron Murray, UGA

4. Connor Shaw, USC

5. Tyler Russell, MSU

What do you say about the quarterbacks in the SEC? There are quite a few superstars that its tough to come up with a top five and not second guess it.

Many people feel Johnny Manziel won't be able to have a season like last season. And even if he doesn't, I can't justify not putting him as number one.

I feel that McCarron and Murray can really be interchangeable in the number two and three spots. Both have a lot of talent, and have a superstar team around them.

Connor Shaw has proven that he can make plays with his legs as well as his arm, but you have to question how healthy he can stay. He got beat up quite a bit last season, and I figure it'll be the same this season as well.

Finally I put Tyler Russell at my number five spot. Mississippi State is amidst some controversy currently, and they may be looking at some NCAA and self-imposed sanctions. But I don't see that slowing Tyler Russell down from getting it done on the field.

Florida's Jeff Driskel and LSU's Zach Mettenberger came close to making my list. Both seem to be very good players, which in the SEC, is definitely impressive.

Jackson's Top Five Big Ten Quarterbacks

I can honestly say that coming up with this list was actually a little tougher than I anticipated. The Big Ten has a few quarterbacks who are solid at their position and can not only make a play, but lead their team to victory.

1. Braxton Miller, OSU

2. Devin Gardner, MICH

3. Taylor Martinez, NEB

4. Kain Colter, NU

5. Tre Roberson, IND

I honestly think that there are quite a few ways you could rank the top five quarterbacks in the Big Ten. In my opinion I wouldn't be surprised to see anyone put Braxton Miller, Devin Gardner or Taylor Martinez as the number one QB, and honestly, I wouldn't argue with them. Miller and Martinez are proven to be solid QBs, and Devin Gardner proved he has great abilities at the position as well.

Kain Colter has been an impressive QB at Northwestern, and although Northwestern had a tough schedule this year, I could see him making a difference in a few games.

I have had high hopes for Tre Roberson the past couple of years. He was the first true freshman to start at QB for the Hoosiers. Unfortunately last season in Indiana's game vs UMass, Roberson broke his leg. Indiana fans will be looking for him to make a big difference in their offense this season.

- Jackson McNamara

@jacksonmcnamara

jackson.projectcfb@gmail.com

The First Ever Project CFB Roundtable

This is our first attempt at this, so lets just have fun and see what happens. I'm not sure if anything like this has ever really been done before, but hopefully it's a fairly new and fresh idea.

MATT

First of all I want to go into who we see in the National Championship Game. We are a ways out from the beginning of the season but we can see how close we get.

I can't imagine a National Championship Game that doesn't involve Nick Saban's Crimson Tide again. Alabama has been quite dominant over the past few years and I don't see 2013 being any different. I also feel like Ohio State has another good shot at going undefeated like they did last season. I'm going to go ahead and predict Bama vs OSU in the National Championship, with Alabama coming out victorious.

As far as the Heisman goes, I see Alabama coming away with this as well, as sophomore TJ Yeldon will do incredible things this season.

What do you guys think?

JACKSON

Alabama is a great team, no doubt. But this year I see them finally NOT winning the BCS Championship. And although I do see them getting past Virginia Tech and Texas A&M early in the season, they'll be handed a few defeats in the SEC, most notably by Auburn and LSU.

 

I honestly see Oregon and Notre Dame slipping down in the rankings, and opening up spots for teams like Clemson, Florida State and LSU. I'm going to go with a dark horse pick here (in my opinion), and I'm going to say that Clemson will make it to the National Championship game, taking on the LSU Tigers, and I see Clemson coming out on top!

 

Speaking of Clemson, I have their amazing quarterback Tajh Boyd winning the Heisman. I'm kind of high on Clemson this season if you don't get that already. Lol 

JOSH

Alabama is a great team, and arguably the most talented roster in the country, and I honestly do see them winning the SEC, but I see a team like Georgia or Florida pushing them in the SEC championship coming off a likely very brutal iron bowl. But I see them making in through the SEC undefeated after surviving the championship game and the Texas A&M, LSU and Auburn tests in the conference. Facing off with them is my dark horse pick for the season, and that is UCLA. I see them building on the impressive 2012 campaign and win the Pac 12. But I see Alabama winning a 3rd straight championship.

As far as the Heisman goes, I see Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater having an all time great season for Louisville at the quarterback position, culminating in a Heisman Trophy.

MATT

Could Bridgewater have a disadvantage because he plays at Louisville? I know they don't look at Louisville like they're a league below, but could he get passed up for a player from Alabama, Florida State or Ohio State?

JOSH

I think that even with Louisville might not be among the top teams in the country, at the very least they are in one of the power conferences in the country, unlike Kellen Moore when he was at Boise State (which some still may look at as a lesser program compared to the BCS powers). Which could help him. I could however see Braxton Miller being a name that could give him a run for his money, just look at the last three Heisman winners; Cam Newton, Robert Griffin III and Johnny Manziel. They are all dual threat quarterbacks, which if Miller has a Heisman caliber campaign in 2013, the rushing totals could make his case very convincing versus Bridgewater.

MATT

I think Teddy Bridgewater is an amazing athlete, and I really could see him be in the finalists for the Heisman, but how TJ Yeldon performed last season, even sitting behind Eddie Lacy and being a true freshman, I can't imagine him not coming up with the Heisman. Now that he'll take all the snaps at Alabama, unless he gets injured, I think he'll have it on lock. But that's the great thing about this game, you just never know!

JOSH

Very true. I do think Yeldon will be the preseason Heisman favorite in many peoples' eyes, but if the last few years are any indication, someone can come out of nowhere and take the country by storm. I mean, a year ago we were all think Matt Barkley had the Heisman on lock and the same goes for Andrew Luck the year before then BOOM! That's why we all love this game though, right?