2011 Big East Preview: Preseason Awards

The Big East may not be the most esthetically pleasing of the BCS Conferences but they will have a representative come New Year’s Day. They’ll also have a few sleeper prospects in the 2012 NFL Draft along with a bunch of games on Thursday night on ESPN. Don’t act like you won’t watch -and bet- on all of them throughout the season! Here are how we see the post-season awards shaping up:

Offensive Player of the Year: Zach Collaros QB, Cincinnati

I’m going to stay positive for the remainder of this post but Zach Collaros wouldn’t be the offensive player of the year in ANY other BCS conference, the Mountain West, the WAC or Conference USA. But let’s stay on track. Collaros is the type of player in the type of conference that can make a difference between his team going 10-2 or 4-8. He’ll be given the keys to the Bearcats car out of the gate and should put up huge number, both through the air and on the ground week in and week out.

Defensive Player of the Year: Brandon Lindsey DE, Pittsburgh

West Virginia’s Bruce Irvin might be the better NFL prospect and definitely put up the best numbers of any returning defensive player in the conference but he will be doubled and tripled throughout the season coming off the line. Lindsey will get a little more freedom in the Panther’s 3-4 attack, manning the “James Harrison” position for Pitt.

Rookie of the Year: Teddy Bridgewater QB, Louisville

Charlie Strong is going to have people behind him regardless of whether he decides to play the freshman or have him sit but it would be shocking to watch Bridgewater sit behind a former walk-on who is 5’10″ for an entire season. Bridgewater will have the wide receivers to make a difference and -if Victor Anderson can return to form- a stable running game.

Coach of the Year: Skip Holtz, South Florida

If the Bulls win the Big East -which I fully expect them to- there won’t be much of a fight for the Coach of the Year award. Holtz will have one of the conference’s best running attacks to go along with the most athletic and experienced quarterback. He’ll also have a defense that will be in its second year of a new scheme, when the thinking usually stops and the reactions become much quicker. Everything is there for Holtz, including the fact that his team is not the hands down favorite to win the Big East.

Special Teams Player of the Year: Dave Teggart K, UConn

Teggart hit a number of big kicks for the Huskies, including a 52-yard field goal that put UConn in its first BCS Bowl ever. He is already the school’s all-time leader in field goals with 52 and will only add to that number this season. Considering the Huskies were in distress at the kicker’s position before Teggart became an actual weapon and now have one of the best high school kickers in the country committed to them for 2012, you can literally call Teggart a program-changing player at his position.

Top NFL Prospect: Keith Tandy CB, West Virginia

Other cornerbacks will put up bigger numbers but his lack of interceptions and chances to make plays are a testament to his ability. Tandy will be the premier corner in the Big East this season and should hear his name called in the late-First or early-Second Round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

Most Over-Rated: Geno Smith QB, West Virginia

It’s not Smith’s fault that people are crowning him the Big East’s best chance to win the Heisman this season and he’s done a good job deflecting the praise but that doesn’t mean he isn’t over-rated. Smith is a good college QB but struggles to get rid of the ball on time and isn’t ready to be mentioned with the elite QB prospects in the college game.

Most Under-Rated: Mark Harrison WR, Rutgers

The 6’3″, 230lb junior is a victim of circumstances at Rutgers, with a QB situation that isn’t ideal but he makes the best of it. Harrison is the type of player that will test well at the Combine and force scouts to re-evaluate his game tape. Harrison uses his big frame to play Power Forward on deep balls and come down with the ball over smaller defensive backs.