2017 College Football Previews

Hello to all my CF members,

Just getting the 2017 College Football preview thread started. I will be doing a google doc again and send everyone the link through private message so they can sign up for teams they want and I will update the list on this thread accordingly once I post it. In the next week or so I will get all of that sorted out but I want to drum up interest and get volunteers once again.

We always have great contributions from Phall, Claimjumper, Jack Lambert, Celticdb to name a few off the top of my head. Heretic also joined in last season and was a great help! I also always like to see new members volunteer and get involved.

Just reply here if you want to take some teams on. I also will post a basic template to work off of so all the write-ups have the historical data since we have been tracking white starters on teams.

I realize we are like 3 months away from the beginning of college football but I feel that it takes about 3 months to get all of these teams done. Complete 100% accuracy is not expected either but getting a good idea of a teams racial make up is the main goal. This is something I look forward to every year because it requires a group effort and contributions and kind of brings the site back to life.

I will take the SEC since probably no one else will want to. I'll try and keep my hype of players that will probably never really see the field to a minimum or maybe because it is the SEC it won't take very long to do a write up. I would argue that the ACC is blacker than the SEC this year. Trust me.

Finally its time! Looking forward to helping out as usual.

McCaffrey Dude said:

I will take the SEC since probably no one else will want to. I'll try and keep my hype of players that will probably never really see the field to a minimum or maybe because it is the SEC it won't take very long to do a write up. I would argue that the ACC is blacker than the SEC this year. Trust me.

Click to expand...

I believe it. Caught far too many ACC games last year. Coal dark teams, spread offenses, and piss poor defenses.

Plus I believe LF noted SEC is loaded with young white QBs leading their squads. Been awhile since we've had that! 9

I'm pretty busy this summer, but I'll take a few of the teams that I usually give write-ups on. I'll take Nebraska, Purdue, Maryland, North Carolina, Army, Michigan State, Indiana, Virginia Tech, Washington, and Notre Dame.

McCaffrey Dude said:

I will take the SEC since probably no one else will want to. I'll try and keep my hype of players that will probably never really see the field to a minimum or maybe because it is the SEC it won't take very long to do a write up. I would argue that the ACC is blacker than the SEC this year. Trust me.

Click to expand...

Once I get the list up I will add your name for the SEC schools besides Ole Miss and Miss St. I always try to save those for Col. Reb who was the original member who did the write ups if memory serves me correct.

I'll start with the Colorado teams (CSU, CU, AFA) and the good ole Black Belt conference lol

I'll take FIU, FAU, UCF and USF.

I don't follow college football much. How would one go about researching the numbers of whites on a college roster?

Extra Point said:

I don't follow college football much. How would one go about researching the numbers of whites on a college roster?

Click to expand...

Plenty of magazines out their provide a run down and two deep depth chart - Phil Steele's CFB Preview, Athlon Sports Preview, Sporting News Preview. Ourlads is an online resource that can also be used for semi-accurate two deep depth charts as well. Many of the school's will also release depth charts as the season approaches.

Try following the below format when doing write ups. If you can go back to the 2016 write up and get the history of the number of white starters. Feel free to put your own input into it as well about certain players, players to watch, players you are a fan of.

Since 2005, Ohio has started 17, 15, 12, 11, 10, 10,12 14, 12, 9 and 9 whites. In 2016 they are projected to start 11 whites.

RB AJ Oullette is the one to watch. He was misused last year so hopefully this season he is their primary RB from the start of the season. If so he should easily eclipse 1k yards rushing.

Players to look out for include WR Jerrid Marhefka, WR Andrew Meyer, TE Mason Morgan, DE Kent Berger, DE Tom Strobel - Michigan transfer, DE Trent Smart, LB Evan Croutch, LB Cody Grilliot, S Grant Cunningham, CB Brad Ellis

Offense
QB J.D. Sprague
RB AJ Oullette
WR Brendan Cope
TE Troy Mangen
LT Joe Lowery
C Jake Pruehs
RT Troy Watson


Defense
DT Casey Sayles
DE Kurt Laseak
MLB Quentin Poling
LB Chad Moore

Leonardfan said:

Try following the below format when doing write ups. If you can go back to the 2016 write up and get the history of the number of white starters. Feel free to put your own input into it as well about certain players, players to watch, players you are a fan of.

Since 2005, Ohio has started 17, 15, 12, 11, 10, 10,12 14, 12, 9 and 9 whites. In 2016 they are projected to start 11 whites.

RB AJ Oullette is the one to watch. He was misused last year so hopefully this season he is their primary RB from the start of the season. If so he should easily eclipse 1k yards rushing.

Players to look out for include WR Jerrid Marhefka, WR Andrew Meyer, TE Mason Morgan, DE Kent Berger, DE Tom Strobel - Michigan transfer, DE Trent Smart, LB Evan Croutch, LB Cody Grilliot, S Grant Cunningham, CB Brad Ellis

Offense
QB J.D. Sprague
RB AJ Oullette
WR Brendan Cope
TE Troy Mangen
LT Joe Lowery
C Jake Pruehs
RT Troy Watson


Defense
DT Casey Sayles
DE Kurt Laseak
MLB Quentin Poling
LB Chad Moore

Click to expand...

Not to nitpick but cb Ellis is listed as the starter or battling for the position everywhere I can find it.

McCaffrey Dude said:

Not to nitpick but cb Ellis is listed as the starter or battling for the position everywhere I can find it.

Click to expand...

That was last year's preview. Was using it as an example of how to do the writeups for this year

Sorry LF. I missed that. I was wondering why there was no Ohio 2017 mentioned. I owe you 10 push ups. On a side note: I have been to Goveneur NY where Brian Leonard grew up. I have been in his house for work while he was at Rutgers and his parents were just the nicest blue-collar people you could ever want to meet. They were not stuck on themselves at all when we asked about their son. I wish more of America was like this.

List of all teams and the member who has volunteered to do the write up is in bold.

Boston College Eagles ACC
Clemson Tigers ACC
Duke Blue Devils ACC - Leonardfan
Florida State Seminoles ACC
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets ACC
Louisville Cardinals ACC
Miami Hurricanes ACC
NC State Wolfpack ACC
North Carolina Tar Heels ACC - Jack Lambert
Pittsburgh Panthers ACC - Leonardfan
Syracuse Orange ACC - Vanilla_Sky - Done
Virginia Cavaliers ACC
Virginia Tech Hokies ACC - Jack Lambert
Wake Forest Demon Deacons ACC
Cincinnati Bearcats The American
Connecticut Huskies The American
East Carolina Pirates The American
Houston Cougars The American
Memphis Tigers The American
Navy Midshipmen The American - Vanilla_Sky - Done
SMU Mustangs The American
South Florida Bulls The American - Dolphins15
Temple Owls The American
Tulane Green Wave The American
Tulsa Golden Hurricane The American
UCF Knights The American - Dolphins15
Baylor Bears Big 12
Iowa State Cyclones Big 12 - Vanilla_Sky - Done
Kansas Jayhawks Big 12
Kansas State Wildcats Big 12
Oklahoma Sooners Big 12
Oklahoma State Cowboys Big 12 - Leonardfan
TCU Horned Frogs Big 12
Texas Longhorns Big 12
Texas Tech Red Raiders Big 12
West Virginia Mountaineers Big 12 - Vanilla_Sky - Done
Illinois Fighting Illini Big Ten - Phall
Indiana Hoosiers Big Ten - Jack Lambert
Iowa Hawkeyes Big Ten - Leonardfan
Maryland Terrapins Big Ten - Jack Lambert
Michigan State Spartans Big Ten - Jack Lambert
Michigan Wolverines Big Ten - Phall
Minnesota Golden Gophers Big Ten - Phall
Nebraska Cornhuskers Big Ten - Jack Lambert
Northwestern Wildcats Big Ten
Ohio State Buckeyes Big Ten
Penn State Nittany Lions Big Ten
Purdue Boilermakers Big Ten - Jack Lambert
Rutgers Scarlet Knights Big Ten - Phall
Wisconsin Badgers Big Ten - Celticdb15 - Done
Charlotte 49ers C-USA - Vanilla_Sky
Florida Atlantic Owls C-USA - Dolphins15
Florida International Panthers C-USA - Dolphins15
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs C-USA - Vanilla_Sky
Marshall Thundering Herd C-USA - Vanilla_Sky
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders C-USA - Vanilla_Sky
North Texas Mean Green C-USA - Vanilla_Sky
Old Dominion Monarchs C-USA - Vanilla_Sky
Rice Owls C-USA - Vanilla_Sky
Southern Miss Golden Eagles C-USA - Vanilla_Sky
UAB Blazers C-USA - Vanilla_Sky
UTEP Miners C-USA - - Vanilla_Sky - Done
UTSA Roadrunners C-USA - Vanilla_Sky
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers C-USA
Army Black Knights Independent - Jack Lambert
BYU Cougars Independent
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Independent - Jack Lambert
UMass Minutemen Independent - Leonardfan
Akron Zips MAC - - Vanilla_Sky - Done
Ball State Cardinals MAC - Leonardfan
Bowling Green Falcons MAC - - Vanilla_Sky - Done
Buffalo Bulls MAC - Leonardfan
Central Michigan Chippewas MAC - Celticdb15
Eastern Michigan Eagles MAC - Leonardfan
Kent State Golden Flashes MAC - Celticdb15
Miami RedHawks MAC - Leonardfan
Northern Illinois Huskies MAC - Celticdb15
Ohio Bobcats MAC - Leonardfan
Toledo Rockets MAC - - Vanilla_Sky - Done
Western Michigan Broncos MAC - Celticdb15
Air Force Falcons Mountain West - - Vanilla_Sky - Done
Boise State Broncos Mountain West
Colorado State Rams Mountain West - Claimjumper
Fresno State Bulldogs Mountain West - Leonardfan - Done
Hawaiʻi Rainbow Warriors Mountain West - Leonardfan
Nevada Wolf Pack Mountain West - Leonardfan
New Mexico Lobos Mountain West - Leonardfan - Done
San Diego State Aztecs Mountain West - Leonardfan - Done
San José State Spartans Mountain West - Leonardfan - Done
UNLV Rebels Mountain West - - Vanilla_Sky - Done
Utah State Aggies Mountain West
Wyoming Cowboys Mountain West - Leonardfan
Arizona State Sun Devils Pac-12 - - Vanilla_Sky
Arizona Wildcats Pac-12 - - Vanilla_Sky
California Golden Bears Pac-12 - Vanilla_Sky
Colorado Buffaloes Pac-12 - Claimjumper
Oregon Ducks Pac-12 - Leonardfan
Oregon State Beavers Pac-12 - Leonardfan
Stanford Cardinal Pac-12 - Vanilla_Sky
UCLA Bruins Pac-12 - Vanilla_Sky
USC Trojans Pac-12 - Leonardfan
Utah Utes Pac-12 - Vanilla_Sky
Washington Huskies Pac-12 - Jack Lambert
Washington State Cougars Pac-12 - Vanilla_Sky
Alabama Crimson Tide SEC - McCaffreyDude
Arkansas Razorbacks SEC - McCaffreyDude
Auburn Tigers SEC - Leonardfan
Florida Gators SEC - McCaffreyDude
Georgia Bulldogs SEC - Leonardfan
Kentucky Wildcats SEC - McCaffreyDude
LSU Tigers SEC - McCaffreyDude
Mississippi State Bulldogs SEC - Col. Reb
Missouri Tigers SEC - McCaffreyDude
Ole Miss Rebels SEC - Col. Reb
South Carolina Gamecocks SEC - Leonardfan
Tennessee Volunteers SEC - McCaffreyDude
Texas A&M Aggies SEC - McCaffreyDude
Vanderbilt Commodores SEC - McCaffreyDude
Appalachian State Mountaineers Sun Belt - Claimjumper
Arkansas State Red Wolves Sun Belt - Claimjumper
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers Sun Belt - Claimjumper
Georgia Southern Eagles Sun Belt - Claimjumper
Georgia State Panthers Sun Belt - Claimjumper
Idaho Vandals Sun Belt - Leonardfan
Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns Sun Belt - Claimjumper
Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks Sun Belt - Claimjumper
New Mexico State Aggies Sun Belt - Claimjumper
South Alabama Jaguars Sun Belt - Claimjumper
Texas State Bobcats Sun Belt - Claimjumper
Troy Trojans Sun Belt - Claimjumper

I've claimed Minnesota, Arizona, Rutgers, and Illinois (as well as my regular pièce de résistance regarding Michigan football).

I think it's great that we are able to cover all D1 teams here (and occasionally a few others!). I like to spend some amount of time crafting clever remarks, but that comes at the expense of free time for other write-ups. Following Leonardfan's simple formula is a terrific and easy way to get the job done.

Phall said:

I've claimed Minnesota, Arizona, Rutgers, and Illinois (as well as my regular pièce de résistance regarding Michigan football).

I think it's great that we are able to cover all D1 teams here (and occasionally a few others!). I like to spend some amount of time crafting clever remarks, but that comes at the expense of free time for other write-ups. Following Leonardfan's simple formula is a terrific and easy way to get the job done.

Click to expand...

Your Michigan is always a favorite of mine. As always thanks for volunteering to take a few more teams too!

I will take the remaining PAC-12 schools and C-USA as well. I'd also be more than willing to help out with the SEC schools.

Also, I would suggest that nobody use OurLads for previews. I've found them to be incredibly inaccurate with regard to collegiate depth charts. Players with expired eligibility listed, whole positions empty, etc. Typically officially charts will be released either by journalists or team pages on twitter, or on their official website in the media guide.

Vanilla_Sky said:

I will take the remaining PAC-12 schools and C-USA as well. I'd also be more than willing to help out with the SEC schools.

Also, I would suggest that nobody use OurLads for previews. I've found them to be incredibly inaccurate with regard to collegiate depth charts. Players with expired eligibility listed, whole positions empty, etc. Typically officially charts will be released either by journalists or team pages on twitter, or on their official website in the media guide.

Click to expand...

Signed you up for the Pac12 and C-USA schools not yet taken. Thanks again for helping out, you are another one of the members that contributes every year to this project. I forgot to mention you in the original post, sorry about that!

I also totally agree with trying to get the official charts from team pages on twitter or official sites. The only issue with that is that they are typically released very close to the beginning of the regular season and with 130 teams to do I personally think that as long as the previews get done most of us college fans can go clean up and add to the threads as the season goes on. If anyone does choose to use Ourlads I would recommend using a second source to compare the two depth charts and if questions arise try to find what you on the official site.

There are alot of teams left - it would be great to get some contributions from other posters - even a team or two will help us who typically shoulder the load.

I'd be happy to take on the MAC.

celticdb15 said:

I'd be happy to take on the MAC.

Click to expand...

You gotta split the MAC with me!!! LOL. Easily my favorite conference to do write ups on - alot of quality QB play that goes overlooked. I felt that Terrell and Rush were draftable prospects last year. You want to split it so we each get 6 teams? If so pick your six and I will claim what is left.

Leonardfan said:

You gotta split the MAC with me!!! LOL. Easily my favorite conference to do write ups on - alot of quality QB play that goes overlooked. I felt that Terrell and Rush were draftable prospects last year. You want to split it so we each get 6 teams? If so pick your six and I will claim what is left.

Click to expand...

My bad go ahead brother with the MAC,looking forward to yours and everyone else's write ups. put me down for rest of American Conference!

celticdb15 said:

My bad go ahead brother with the MAC,looking forward to yours and everyone else's write ups. put me down for rest of American Conference!

Click to expand...

lol we can split the mac man. You can pick your teams and I will take what is left. The American isn't nearly as fun to write up.

Leonardfan said:

lol we can split the mac man. You can pick your teams and I will take what is left. The American isn't nearly as fun to write up.

Click to expand...

Sounds good to me!