Anyone see this....recruiting was good!
National Title Contenders
Teams going into 2005 with an honest shot at the national title
1. USC 2004 Record: 13-0 Pac 10
USC is going to be everyones preseason number one yet again led by the 1-2 running back punch of Reggie Bush and LenDale White behind a big-time offensive line. The receiving corps will be flat out frightening with Steve Smith and Dwayne Jarrett each ready for the NFL now. Oh yeah, and the Heisman Trophy winner/number one pick in the draft is back for another year. On the down side, there are huge losses on defense especially at tackle and linebacker.
Biggest offensive loss: G John Drake Biggest defensive loss: DTs Shaun Cody and Mike Patterson
2. Tennessee 2004 Record: 10-3 SEC
The Vols will be back among the elite of the elite as long as the defense can take a little overall step up in production. The offense will be a juggernaut with what many consider to be Tennessees most talented receiving corps ever (which is obviously saying a ton for this program). RB Gerald Riggs Jr. and QBs Erik Ainge and Brent Schaeffer are ready to be big-time college football household names. The defense will lose star linebacker Kevin Burnett, but theres more than enough talent to come up with a killer D helped by the return of CB Jason Allen.
Biggest offensive loss: RB Cedric Houston Biggest defensive loss: LB Kevin Burnett
epper: