The NFL EDGE:
     PRE-SEASON 2002

24. LOUISVILLE: tough guy QB Dave Ragone will lead The Cardinal's offense. The defense will be very stout, and should have Louisville competing for the Conference USA title, which the Doc thinks they will win.

23. NOTRE DAME: An incredibly tough offseason will bring this team together. The early schedule is really challenging, and there are lots of question marks. But the talent is there, and Ty Willingham will get the Irish to play ball.

22. MARSHALL: QB Bryan Leftwich is a one of the very best in the nation. The offense will be very explosive, and the D will surrender lots of points. Should be fun to watch this team try to gain the respect of the pollsters.

21. TEXAS A&M: The Aggies return eighteen starters from a year ago, including QB Mark Ferris. The defense will return to Wrecking Crew form and set the tone for a successful season. The schedule is tough, and will present problems.

20. WISCONSIN: Senior QB Brooks Bollinger and RB Anthony Davis should have huge seasons for Barry Alvarez' Badgers. The tricky part is on the other side of the ball, where the D was torn apart by graduation. I'm going to give Barry, a longtime defensive guy, some credit here and say that the defense will be shored up enough to get the Badgers into a bowl.

19. NC STATE: QB Phillip Rivers will lead the Wolfpack again. If they find a go-to running back, the offensive will be deadly. DB Terrence Holt is one of the very best. Very easy non-conference schedule should equal nine wins.

18. Illinois: The Illini must replace four-year starter Kurt Kittner, but have plenty of talent otherwise. The defense should be better than last year, and will be able to carry the team until the offense finds its groove.

17. VIRGINIA TECH: The Hokies have stud tailback Lee Suggs back, as well as a stable of other thoroughbred runners to spell him. Grant Noel will be the QB if his torn ACL heals. The defense is stacked - a staple down in Blacksburg. If Noel can play, Frank Beamer's team will be vying for the Big East title.

16. WASHINGTON STATE: Heisman candidate Jason Gesser returns to lead the Cougars potent attack. Some publications have picked the Cougars to win the PAC-10, a feat they haven't accomplished in forty-one years. The Doc feels that the defense has too many holes for that to happen, but that this team will still have a successful season.

15. MICHIGAN STATE: Let the Doc be the first of many this season to say "Smoker to Rogers - Touchdown!" The Spartans need to replace TJ Duckett at tailback, but the defense will be strong and they have eight home games. A run at the Roses isn't out of the question.

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14. USC: The Trojans have all the talent in the world, but are still looking for that breakthrough season. This could be the one, with QB Carson Palmer and a very talented receiving corps leading the way.

13. NEBRASKA: The Doc is not ready to call for the demise of Husker football, though it seems many of my peers have. Frank Solich is not real well liked by Husker fans, and he has to do a stellar coaching job this year with his young team. The Doc says the Huskers will be fine - just keep running that option, baby.

12. MICHIGAN: Lloyd Carr is anxious to get his team back on the field after a disappointing '01 campaign. John Nevarre is back at QB, and needs to step up his play this year. Look for Ronald Bellamy to have a big year as the go to receiver. The defense has all the makings of a great one.

11. MARYLAND: This team really looks good on paper. Ralph Friedgen's boys will not sneak up on anyone this season, but the talent and system seem to be in place for a serious run at another BCS game. Chris Kelley hopes to return from an offseason knee injury in time to lead the Terps as the starting QB. The offense should be balanced, and the defense will have star linebacker EJ Henderson along with loads of young talent. An early test against Notre Dame will set the tone for the season.

10. TENNESSEE: Call the Doc an old curmudgen, but I'll stick with the traditional powers, thank you. Tennessee has Casey Clausen returning at QB, and Kelly Washington at receiver. The offensive line should be great as usual. The real question for the Vols is in their defensive front seven. The whole line will be new this year, and if the unit doesn't gel the defense will be vulnerable. The Doc sees this group improving throughout the year, and being a force by the time bowl season comes around. They have the advantage of playing Florida and Miami at home.

9. MIAMI: Miami will begin defense of its fifth national championship since 1983 with only four returning starters. Luckily for coach Larry Coker, one of the four is quarterback Ken Dorsey. Dorsey has thrown 58 touchdown passes so far and is poised for a stellar senior effort. Andre Johnson is back at receiver. Tailback Clinton Portis jumped to the NFL after last season, so a running threat must emerge. The line lost three starters, but should still be rock solid. The defense is solid up front, with William Joseph at tackle and DJ Williams at linebacker. The secondary is starting over this year, with Ed Reed, Mike Rumph, and Phillip Buchanan gone to play with the big boys. Still, the Hurricanes should win ten games and be playing in a BCS game when all is said and done.

8. OREGON: Can Joey Harrington be replaced? That is the question that Mike Bellotti hopes to answer in the affirmative with junior Jason Fife. Fife is very fast and agile, but it will be a tall order for anyone to play at Harrington's level. Onterrio Smith returns at tailback, and should continue to be a force. The receiving corps returns it's top two starters from last season. . The defense will again be tough if not spectacular. Fife will be the key - if he plays adequately the Ducks will soar to another BCS game.

7. OHIO STATE: Yeah, yeah, I'll admit that Jim Tressel has impressed me. The Buckeyes are a force to be reckoned with on and off the field, as Tressel has all but locked up the state of Ohio for recruiting. The big question mark is at QB, where Craig Krenzel and Scott McMullen are competing for the job. Luckily, whoever wins will be surrounded by veteran talent on this offense. Jonathan Wells is gone, but TB Lydell Ross will step in nicely after gaining over 400 yards as a backup last year. The receivers, led by Chris Vance, are talented and experienced. The line will be monstrous. Jim Thorpe candidate Michael Doss leads the defense, which is also a veteran unit. The Buckeyes get Michigan at home this year, and hope to build on last year's win in the Big House.

6. GEORGIA: The Doc believes that Georgia is ready to return to the elite after taking a decade off. David Greene is a solid quarterback, with plenty of big, talented receivers to throw to. The offense will need to find a tailback, but Musa Smith is a good one if he stays healthy. The defense is very solid, led by Ken Veal at nose guard and a great linebacking crew. A trip to South Carolina will test these Dawgs early.

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5. FLORIDA: New coach Ron Zook has some pretty big shoes to fill in Gainsville. The Gators are expected to continue in their high flying, fun n gun ways with Rex Grossman at the helm. Grossman is a true stud and will be the difference in some tough games. All you need to know about senior tailback Ernest Grahm is that Florida was 10-0 with him last season and 0-2 without him. He'll have around a thousand yards this year. The line has some holes, but tons of talent waiting to emerge. A couple of receivers need to step up. Defensively, this team is talented but young. That isn't necessarily bad when adjusting to a new system. The old ways aren't as engrained. Look for nose tackle Ian Scott to have a big season. The SEC schedule, plus games with in state rivals Miami and FSU will be brutal.

4. COLORADO: The Buffs will again have an awesome running game with multiple weapons to choose from. Tailbacks Chris Brown, Bobby Purify, and Marcus Houston will share the load in Gary Barnett's backfield. Craig Ochs will be back as QB after missing the final five games of last year. The question mark is along the line, where three starters plus line coach Steve Marshall have departed. The talent is there, and should gel into a fine unit. On defense, the secondary will hope to improve from a disastrous '01. The linebackers will be the leaders of this group. Look for the Buffs to again play for the Big 12 championship.

3. OKLAHOMA: Bob Stoops is gunning for his second national title in only four years as head coach. He should have an improved offense and a ferocious defense to take into battle this season. Nate Hybl will be the starter, but fans will quickly look for back up Brent Rawls if he stumbles early. Quentin Griffin had over eight hundred yards last season and should have an even bigger season this year. Trent Smith is a force both catching and blocking at tight end. Defense is where Stoops' genius really shines through. Oh, and by the way, the Sooners are just dripping with talent as well. Tommie Harris and Kory Klein, both Tackles, are the foundation for what is still a championship caliber defense. Rocky Calmus will be missed at linebacker, but transfer Lance Mitchell has been turning heads as his replacement. The Sooners have a relatively easy schedule, but tough games at Texas and Texas A&M await.