Rivals.com 2009 Top 100 Players

 This jumbo-sized linebacker delivers jumbo-sized production. Norwood is South Carolina’s career leader in tackles for loss (43), and he is the SEC’s current leader in career tackles for loss and sacks (22). Norwood made a seamless transition to linebacker last season after setting a school record with 19.5 tackles for loss as a defensive end in 2007. Norwood tied an NCAA record two years ago by scoring on two fumble returns in a win over Kentucky.

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 Verner has good size and can run. He is solid in run support – he was second on the Bruins with 73 tackles last season – and had two interceptions and 18 pass breakups, a number that led the nation. Verner is one of two returning starters in the secondary and heads into his senior season with eight interceptions, 39 pass breakups, 207 tackles and three forced fumbles. Verner, an excellent student, is majoring in mathematics/applied science

 Carter has become one of the best linebackers in the nation, but he has been overshadowed for much of his career – not just nationally but in his own city. Carter has 145 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles the past two seasons. He’s a physical presence and has good instincts. Carter played on the outside last season, but he is moving back to his more natural position of middle linebacker this season

Rivals.com 2009 Top 100 Players

 Don’t let the relative lack of size fool you – Hughes is a big-time player. He is coming off a breakout season in which he led the nation in sacks with 15 and forced fumbles with six. He also had two interceptions, with one returned for a touchdown, and 19.5 tackles for loss. He was an all-state running back in high school but was moved to end as soon as he arrived at TCU.

 Williams, who began his career at Arkansas, led the Trojans in receptions and receiving yardage last season. He caught 58 passes for 869 yards (15 yards per catch) and nine touchdowns in his first season with the Trojans. Williams has good size, and though he’s not necessarily a burner, he has great hands, runs good routes and knows how to get open. A 70-catch season is a legit goal even though USC has a new quarterback

 Williams is the Sooners’ only returning starter on the offensive line, though he is moving to the left side after playing right tackle last season. Williams has good quickness and possesses a mean streak. Numerous NFL draft analysts said he would’ve been a first-round pick had he left school after his junior season. He and Oklahoma State T Russell Okung could be the two best college linemen this season

 Keenum is the nation’s returning total offense leader after he threw for 5,020 yards last season. He has thrown for at least 300 yards in 13 consecutive games and had five 400-yard games last season; he also had nine three-touchdown games last season. Keenum has 58 TD passes and 16 touchdown runs in his two seasons. He should put up more monster numbers this season, and a 5,000-yard, 40-TD season will be easily attainable

 Why doesn’t he get more national attention? Briscoe caught 92 passes for 1,407 yards and 15 touchdowns last season to set school records in the latter two categories. Briscoe also set school records for most 100-yard games in a season (seven), consecutive 100-yard games (four) and receiving yards in a game (269) while tying a school record for catches in a game (14). Briscoe and Kerry Meier give Kansas arguably the nation’s top receiving tandem.