John Walters, one of the top college football writers around, touted us to Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree early last year. The 6-3, 208-pounder  set NCAA freshman records for receptions (134), receiving yards (1,962) and touchdown receptions (22). And in one of the quotes of the season before it starts, Red Raider coach Mike Leach says of his phenom, ""He doesn’t know ESPN from WKRP." We can only hope that will last. Keep your eyes on Crabtree and TT.

Tech’s last football title came in 1955 when the school played in the Border Conference. They put up lots of points and tons of yards. Will this be the year they break through and win the big ones?

Another intriguing Red Raider is Rylan Reed. The offensive tackle is a former Chicago White Sox minor league pitcher who once retired Barry Bonds in spring training. The 26-year-old is a cancer survivor, made the Red Raiders as a walk-on tight end, broke the school’s bench press record and protected the back side of an offense that gave up just 18 sacks on 763 pass attempts. In the Gator Bowl, Reed stifled Virginia DE Chris Long, the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL draft, and held him without a sack, despite suffering a broken right ankle in the fourth quarter that eventually required surgery.