I figured WVU wouldn't get the top nod from rivals, but #2 isn't bad at all.

Here's the link...
http://collegefootball.rivals.com/conten...CID=693824

Rivals.com Wrote:Rivals.com Top 50 Countdown: #2 West Virginia

Coach: Rich Rodriguez | Staff
In 2006: 11-2, 5-2 Big East; Beat Georgia Tech 38-35 in Gator Bowl.
Returning starters: 7 offense, 9 defense.
Key losses: C Dan Mozes, WR Brandon Myles, OG Jeremy Sheffey, LB Jay Henry, LB Kevin McLee.
2007 breakdown: Top 10 players | Outlook | Offense | Defense | Special teams | Coaching | Schedule

Breaking down the offense

Overview: West Virginia's ground attack led the Mountaineers to the third-ranked scoring offense in the country and along the way shattered the school record for rushing yards per game (303). A third year with juniors Pat White and Steve Slaton could be another record-setting season. Both will be in Heisman contention as long as the Mountaineers are winning in the Big East.

Best player: RB Steve Slaton. Only Rutgers' Ray Rice has rushed for more yards over the last two seasons than Slaton. Slaton battled wrist problems all season but still finished with 2,104 yards from scrimmage. He's among the most explosive players in the game, averaging 7 yards per carry and scoring 10 touchdowns from at least 30 yards out.

Most overrated: RB Noel Devine. Ask your casual recruiting fan to name two recruits from the class of 2007. Most likely, one will be Jimmy Clausen. The other will be Devine. He has the talent to be a superstar, but don't anoint him as a 1,000-yard back just yet. He'll have at least a year playing behind Slaton. And West Virginia fans don't need to be reminded what happened to the last five-star running back (Jason Gwaltney) to come to Morgantown.

Most underrated: FB Owen Schmitt. A fullback with a tendency to smash facemasks, Schmitt isn't as much of a name as his teammates in his backfield, but for opponents, he's just as notorious. He's a tough blocker who can pitch in on the limited occasions he touches the ball. Those opportunities could grow this year after he played a little tight end during the spring.

Must step up: Slaton's backups. No West Virginia tailback besides Slaton finished last year with more than 19 carries. West Virginia will hope that changes this year, especially if Slaton has injury problems again. True freshmen Devine and Terence Kerns will compete for playing time. Ed Collington, Eddie Davis and Jetavious Best all played during the spring while Slaton recovered from wrist surgery. Collington has the edge right now.

Shoes to fill: C Dan Mozes. Much of West Virginia's success on the ground could be traced to the offensive line. Mozes, the Rimington Trophy winner, executed the Mountaineers' zone-blocking scheme to perfection. Mozes' backup the last two seasons, Mike Dent, will step into the starting role.

Impact newcomer: Devine. Owner of the best high school highlights from the 2007 class, Devine was a late addition to the Mountaineers signing class. He'll provide some depth needed behind Slaton and he'll fit right in at West Virginia with his speed and explosiveness.

Battle to watch: Tight end. Tight end is a seldom-used position on the team, but the tight end could be more involved this year. Mike Villagrana was the primary tight end last year but did not catch a pass. Schmitt (12 catches, 91 yards) could be used at that position as well.

New in 2007: West Virginia was a popular destination for other programs looking for coaches. Wide receivers coach Butch Jones took the head coaching position at Central Michigan. Respected line coach Rick Trickett took the same position at Florida State, and tight ends coach Herb Hand became offensive coordinator at Tulsa. The Mountaineers brought in two assistants from South Florida - Greg Frey (offensive line) and Rod Smith (quarterbacks) - and one from UNLV, Tony Dews (wide receivers) to fill the vacancies.

Grade the units:

QB: A. White continued to improve as a passer last year to go with 1,219 rushing yards. Backups Adam Bednarik and Jarrett Brown both have starting experience.
RB: A. Slaton rushed for 1,744 yards last year but should have more support behind him with Devine and Kerns arriving in the fall.
WR: C. Darius Reynaud, third in the Big East in all-purpose yards, is the best threat in a thin group.
OL: B. All-Big East tackle Ryan Stanchek and Rivals.com Freshman All-American guard Greg Isdaner lead a group that will have to move on without Trickett or Mozes.

Breaking down the defense

Overview: West Virginia's defense didn't quite match the results of the offense. The Mountaineers led the league in rush defense but struggled to stop the pass, especially as the season went on. West Virginia ranked 109th in the country in pass defense as opponents passed for an average of 315 yards per game over the final five. West Virginia returns five starters in its secondary from its 3-3-5 defense along with all-conference defensive tackle Keilen Dykes.

Best player: DT Keilen Dykes. Dykes is one of the top linemen in the Big East with his strength and ability to disrupt the offensive line. He finished last year with 32 tackles and three sacks, helping limit opponents to 93.3 rushing yards per game.

Most overrated: S Quinton Andrews. Andrews earned accolades for leading West Virginia with 80 tackles to go with five interceptions last year, but he struggled in other areas. He made several mental mistakes leading to big plays for opponents, and missed spring practice due to off-the-field issues.

Most underrated: LB Reed Williams. Williams was blocked last year at middle linebacker by senior Jay Henry but still managed to finish fourth on the team with 57 tackles to go with five sacks. He won't be a complementary player this year. He moved ahead of Bobby Hathaway during the spring for the first-string mike linebacker spot.

Must step up: S Franchot Allen. Franchot "Boogie" Allen could make decisions difficult in the secondary for the coaching staff. The sophomore played in a backup role last year but could play a key role in the outside linebacker/safety hybrid position in the West Virginia defense. Any DB that can provide consistency will be a welcome addition.

Shoes to fill: LB Kevin McLee and Jay Henry. What linemen Dan Mozes and Jeremy Sheffey were to the offense, McLee and Henry were to the defense. The two linebackers started a combined 55 games over the past four seasons. The defense is not lacking for leadership and credibility in the locker room though with veterans Eric Wicks and Dykes still on the roster.

Impact newcomer: LB James Thomas. Thomas could have played last year as a true freshman but an ankle sprain forced him to redshirt. A talented blitzer, Thomas will get his chance this year, taking over for McLee at weakside linebacker.

Battle to watch: Cornerback. Three players (Antonio Lewis, Vaughn Rivers and Larry Williams) who started at least seven games at cornerback last year return to the Mountaineers. At least one of them will be left out of the mix after West Virginia was one of the worst teams against the pass last year. Four-star junior college transfer Ellis Lankster also could see some playing time.

Grade the units:

DL: B. Dykes leads a line that helped West Virginia lead the conference in run defense.
LB: C. With all three starters gone, the Mountaineers will need help from freshmen James Thomas and Pat Lazear.
DB: C. Experience and speed is in the secondary, led by All-Big East safety Eric Wicks, but the results have been lacking.

Breaking down the special teams

Overview: Just like the offense and defense, West Virginia's special teams will have the majority of its key players back. Kicker/punter Pat McAfee will be back as will returners Vaughn Rivers and Darius Reynaud. Both Rivers (punt returns) and Reynaud (kickoff returns) ranked in the top three in the Big East. Devine could make these units even more dangerous.

Season outlook with bowl forecast

West Virginia has defeated the SEC champion and the ACC runner-up in bowl games the past two seasons, but the Mountaineers have their eyes set on a bigger prize - the national championship. The Mountaineers face Louisville in Morgantown this year, but they will have to face Big East upstarts Rutgers and South Florida on the road. If West Virginia can make it though the Big East undefeated, it could find itself playing for the national championship.

Best player: K/P Pat McAfee. He's not the best kicker in the Big East, but he's a very good one. McAfee converted all 62 of his extra points and all 14 field goals inside 40 yards, but was 3 of 8 from farther out. McAfee also took over punting duties at the end of last season, averaging 43.2 over the final five games.

Grade the units:

K: A-minus. There's something to be said for automatic inside 40 yards.
P: B. Scott Kozlowski and McAfee split punting duties last year, averaging 41.4 yards per punt.
KR: A. In addition to being the second-leading receiver, Reynaud averaged 27.1 yards per kickoff return.
PR: A. Rivers averaged 10.8 yards per return and had one touchdown.


Breaking down the coaching

Overview: West Virginia got a major boost to its program when Rich Rodriguez rejected overtures from Miami and Alabama for their coaching vacancies. In the last two seasons, West Virginia has become a national power, winning 11 games in back-to-back seasons and winning two bowl games. With White and Slaton, Rodriguez's spread offense is at times unstoppable, and by adding a back like Devine the results could continue. Rodriguez will have three new assistants on his offensive staff this year. Two are already familiar with the Big East after coming from South Florida.

Grade the coaches:

Head coach: A. Rodriguez has established himself as an elite coach with a 47-16 record since 2002.
Offense: A. West Virginia's plan is to run the ball, and there's little opponents can do to stop it.
Defense: B. With nine returning starters including two All-Big East selections, coordinator Jeff Casteel has the personnel to improve off last year's totals.
Special teams: B. Former quarterbacks coach Bill Stewart will supervise the special teams and tight ends. Special teams were a group effort last year.

WEST VIRGINIA TOP 10
Steve Slaton racked up 2,104 yards from scrimmage last season.

1. RB Steve Slaton
2. QB Pat White
3. WR Darius Reynaud
4. DT Keilen Dykes
5. S Eric Wicks
6. OT Ryan Stanchek
7. FB Owen Schmitt
8. OG Greg Isdaner
9. S Quinton Andrews
10. K/P Pat McAfee

West Virginia Schedule

Date Opponent
Sept. 1 Western Michigan
Sept. 8 at Marshall
Sept. 13 at Maryland
Sept. 22 East Carolina
Sept. 29 at South Florida
Oct. 6 at Syracuse
Oct. 20 Mississippi State
Oct. 27 at Rutgers
Nov. 8 Louisville
Nov. 17 at Cincinnati
Nov. 24 Connecticut
Dec. 1 Pittsburgh

David Fox is a national writer for Rivals.com. He can be reached at dfox@rivals.com

It took me a bit, but I finally posted the story here. I had some errands to run first, so it took a while to do.

Congrats on your #2 ranking; too bad Louisville will take it from you when we play.

I keep hearing about how we have a new coach, but think about this: You haven't seen Coach Kragthorpe's offense; he'll be saving some presents just for West Virginia.

....on the other hand, we have seen your offense, and we kept our Defensive Coordinator Mike Cassity. Right now, after seeing your offense for two years, he is putting together a game-plan that will slow you down enough, and we have the studs on defense to do it!

Dream on CardHouse. Your house of Cards will fall in November...

I can't wait for the season to start!