Whether or not we realize it, we are coming up on the 2008 college football season already. Spring practices will be closing in before we know it. In a year where schools seemingly jumped out of birthday cakes with surprise players tossing party favors around, 2007 may be a year in which we look back upon and realize it changed our train of thought concerning college football. Since Kansas, Missouri, South Florida, and Boston College were apart of the Bowl Championship Series landscape at one point or another, we have to rethink how we evaluate players from here on out.

Even though the 2008 collegiate football season appears to be ions away, we are staring down the barrel of another controversy-ridden season where schools and players will throw their names into the ring of fire and be acknowledged for unprecedented play at this point in 2009. The following series of players should be watched with a careful eye as they are bound and determined to improve on their tremendous 2007 season or breakout as a terrific prospect in 2008.

Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s QB Sam Bradford will be a sophomore next year. He will be looking to improve on a year where he stood out among all other freshman QBs plus prove to be more consistent than he was while the Sooners marched to another BCS bowl bid. QB Bradford’s mistakes behind center may have cost the Sooners a national championship tilt but Oklahoma HC Bob Stoops’ knows that with starting a freshman QB comes growing pains. Bradford passed for 3,121 yards, 36 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. He was able to find time and move around inside of the pocket as well.

Oklahoma’s success in 2007 hedged on Bradford. In two of the Sooners three losses, Bradford threw just 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. In the other loss, Bradford completed just two of three passes as he was injured early on and never returned. He also had 3 games of four touchdowns or more, including a 5 touchdown performance against rival Texas A&M.

The Sooners chances of landing in the BCS National Championship game rely on whether or not Sam Bradford can take that next step as a sophomore. We seen Florida’s QB Tim Tebow do it in 2007, but the Gators missed out on a BCS bid while QB Tebow won the Heisman Trophy. Oklahoma will have an even better chance at running the table since Clemson dropped them from their 2008 schedule several years ago. You really can’t beat a 69.5% completion percentage, so if Bradford does improve from his freshman year, look out Radio City Music Hall as he will be looking to accept a Heisman Trophy candidate nomination plus guide the Sooners to the BCS National Championship.

Max Unger, OL, Oregon
Oregon will have one of the finest offensive linemen returning as a senior in 2008. OL Max Unger, a Hawaii native, helped Oregon blow out USF in their bowl game and pile up more than 500 yards on offense. With the departures of QB Dennis Dixon and RB Jonathan Stewart, many may expect the Ducks offense to wade in the waters of mediocrity but with Max Unger towing the front five, look for a big season offensively from the returning Oregon playmakers.

Max Unger was named to the All-Pac-10 team by several media outlets after guiding RB Jonathan Stewart to a career season as a junior and a possible first round selection in this April’s NFL Draft. Unger stands at  6’5” and 296 lbs. Oregon finished 6th in the nation in rushing offense.

In 2008, look for the Ducks to rely on RBs Jeremiah Johnson, Andre Crenshaw, and Remene Alston to carry the pigskin. Even without a guy like Dennis Dixon behind center, the Oregon Ducks should look to be a top 15 rushing offense in the country, primarily due to Max Unger’s effect on the offensive line. Max Unger has made national headlines as a junior in 2007, but he is still flying a little under the radar, but we do consider him to be a big-time player that will have an even larger impact in 2008.

Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
The Georgia Bulldogs were ecstatic when they found out that RB Knowshon Moreno committed to Athens, Georgia. With the hype that was suffocating USC’s RB Joe McKnight, who committed around the same time as Moreno did to Georgia; no one expected that any freshman RB would have a larger impact than McKnight. One did though. Moreno was able to trample opponents on his way to 1,334 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. Throw in a tad of 253 receiving yards and we are staring face to face with one big time player that will make an even bigger splash on the national scene in 2008.

With Georgia expected to have a top five ranking come August, the Bulldogs will look to rely heavily on Moreno’s legs to open up the defense and stretch the field with senior QB Matt Stafford. He helped guide Georgia to a blowout in the Sugar Bowl against Hawaii, despite toting the rock for only 9 carries (but he added two scores).

Georgia RBs are usually a dime a dozen and carry the title of “one-year wonder” around. Most recently, expectations were set high for the likes of both Danny Ware and Kregg Lumpkin. Both are now considered has-been’s. Moreno will have to avoid that trend, despite battling with superior talent in the SEC week in and week out. Look for Moreno to raise the bar some more, despite being more of a focal point, and push for Georgia to make a return to the BCS and possibly earn a national title game bid.

Sean Lee, LB, Penn State
Penn State’s LB Sean Lee is on the verge of breaking the all-time tackles record at Penn State, which was most recently broke by Dan Connor. Lee, formerly considered to be undersized, has excelled at Penn State at both the inside and outside positions. As a junior, he had 54 solo tackles but assisted in 83 more. Getting after the QB was nothing either as Lee piled up 3.5 sacks from the middle most of the time.

After being involved with 10 tackles or more a game (on average), Lee was asked if he would enter the NFL Draft as a junior. He blatantly refused. Like the most recent LBs before him (Paul Posluszny and Connor), Lee will remain at Penn State to finish out his final year of NCAA eligibility. He will be expected to win numerous awards next year, plus break a few school records.

Lee will continue to see more time as an OLB as a senior but a transition to being the full-time MLB may be in his future. Expect to see a bulkier Sean Lee in 2008 as well. He is currently listed at being 232 lbs. Ironically enough, he made a name for himself by stepping in for Paul Posluszny in the 2006 Orange Bowl when Posluszny left the game with a major knee injury. He will truly be instrumental for Penn State as they will push Ohio State, Illinois and Michigan for the Big Ten crown in 2008.

Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
Texas Tech’s WR Michael Crabtree lived up to the hype in 2007 and was truly a freshman sensation. Surprisingly enough, most of the country has no idea who he is and apparently after 22 touchdowns, neither does the Heisman Trophy Committee. All of that will be forgotten in 2008 when WR Crabtree continues to build up an “occult-like” fan base.

Can WR Crabtree improve on 134 receptions, 1,962 yards, and 22 touchdowns? Why can’t he? Those numbers came from a phenomenal freshman that caught everything thrown his way, burned numerous defenders, while learning a complicated offense. In his first game since his senior prom, Crabtree reeled in 12 receptions and 3 scores. Naysayers think he has to credit the system he is in. Doubters believe he is a one-hit wonder. Everybody else just sees the real deal in Crabtree with room to improve.

Granted, repeating a season like he had in 2007 will be difficult as he will be double or triple covered every time he hits the field but to even come close to those numbers, which we think he will, is a great achievement for a player like Michael Crabtree. To his credit, QB Graham Harrell will be back to toss him the rock but if Crabtree fails to get Heisman consideration with similar numbers in 2008, we need to boycott the Heisman Trophy presentation.

Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
HC Ron Zook’s ability to haul in top notch recruits is paying off and CB Vontae Davis is a prime example. Despite having a few relapses in 2007, Davis was able to grab 4 interceptions and 54 tackles. 2008 will be a coming out party for Davis. He has the ability to do well in isolation with the Big Ten’s best wide receivers.

2007 was Davis’ first year starting and the Fighting Illini finished 83rd nationally in pass defense. That is a significant drop from 2006 where they finished 31st nationally. That doesn’t sound too good for Davis and his supporting cast though does it? Well, Davis is the kind of player that will have a profound effect on the Illinois defense in 2008. Coming down the stretch in 2007, Davis showed his leadership ability, especially in their upset of number 1 Ohio State.

He was the only underclassman to finish in the top five in tackling for his team. Against Indiana and star WR James Hardy, Davis showed considerable improvement in just his fourth start accumulating seven tackles and one interception. We may not see Vontae Davis named to many pre-season award lists but come November, opposing offensive coordinators will know his name well.

Sam Shields, WR, Miami (FL)
Since QB Ken Dorsey led the Miami Hurricanes to a national championship, the Hurricanes offense has looked putrid. We may be witnessing the progression of the next great Miami WR though. WR Sam Shields, a sophomore in 2007, was second in receiving for the dismal Hurricanes offense. He tallied 27 receptions for 346 yards and 3 scores.

With the departure of QB Kyle Wright, we can expect to see a renewed offense with QB Robert Marve leading the play-action pass happy Hurricanes. The direct benefactor will be Sam Shields. He is extremely gifted in the leaping department plus he has outstanding breakaway speed. Shields had a few drops as a sophomore but most of them came over the middle. That is an area he will have to improve on.

We can not doubt the Hurricanes when it comes to talent. Not since Andre Johnson have they had a WR with as much potential as Sam Shields. He apparently matured as a sophomore and grew accustomed to HC Randy Shannon’s approach to team rules. Shields runs routes well and will immediately help the Hurricanes regain ground in the ACC after a 5-7 season. Look for him on the highlight reels in 2008 as the Hurricanes offense is sure to surprise some folks and explode in the ACC.

Terrill Byrd, DT, Cincinnati
The Cincinnati Bearcats were truly a surprise in 2007 when their defense finished 12th nationally in scoring and 19th nationally in stopping the run. Most of the credit has been handed over to DE Anthony Hoke but DT Terrill Byrd may have something to say about that. As a junior in 2007, Byrd racked up 8 sacks, 17 tackles for a loss, and 37 solo tackles.

With an emphasis being placed on finding suitable run-stuffers for the next level, expect to hear Byrd’s name emerge in similar fashion to North Carolina DT Kentwan Balmer’s in 2007. Byrd would do himself well to strengthen up but that is just a minor flaw compared to his run stopping abilities.

Cincinnati is expected to make a run at the Big East championship in 2008. The ability to stop the running backs of the Big East will hinge on Byrd’s ability to perform like he did in 2007. At 6’1”, 270 lbs., Byrd will not be named to any pre-season watch lists due to being under-evaluated by major media outlets but opposing HC’s will know who he is and game plan around him. Limiting Byrd the opportunities to make plays will be stressed in opposing locker rooms in 2008 but he is just too good to get run over by offensive linemen.

Reggie Arnold, RB, Arkansas State
Who? Oh, just some guy that piled up 130 rushing yards and 1 touchdown against Tennessee at Rocky Top in 2007. Arnold, one of the most unknown running backs in the nation will be a senior in 2008. Look for him to build on a year where he rushed for 1,060 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns. If there can be any fair comparison for Arnold, look no further than RB Chris Johnson from East Carolina and how he emerged as a star in 2007.

Arnold began to garnish attention after his performance at Tennessee but his name began to stand out when he rushed for 225 yards and one touchdown against Louisiana-Lafayette. He is smaller than the average RB (5’9”) but like former UCLA RB Maurice Jones-Drew, Arnold packs a heavy punch (217 lbs.).