No. 10 on our countdown is one of the biggest surprises from this past season.
No. 10, Travis Kelce, TE, Cincinnati
Making the case: Kelce emerged as the best tight end in the Big East in 2012, a notion validated by his first-team All-Big East recognition from both the conference and ESPN.com. Kelce led Cincinnati in catches (45), receiving yards (722) and receiving touchdowns (eight), and he finished ninth in the Big East in receptions per game (3.5) and sixth in receiving yards (55.5). The 722 yards are the most in a single-season by a Bearcats tight end. The senior was crucial down the stretch as Brendon Kay was handed the keys to the offense, leading Cincinnati to a 4-1 record to close out the year and earn a share of its fourth Big East title in the past five seasons.
Preseason ranking: NR
The countdown
No. 11 Yawin Smallwood, LB, UConn
No. 12 Greg Blair, LB, Cincinnati
No. 13 Ray Graham/Jawan Jamison, RBs, Pitt/Rutgers
No. 14 Mario Benavides, C, Louisville
No. 15 Adrian Bushell, CB, Louisville
No. 16 Sio Moore, LB, UConn
No. 17 Shamarko Thomas, S, Syracuse
No. 18 Scott Vallone, DT, Rutgers
No. 19 Jerome Smith, RB, Syracuse
No. 20 Devin Street, WR, Pitt
No. 21 DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
No. 22 Matt Brown, RB, Temple
No. 23 Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville
No. 24 Tyler Matakevich, LB, Temple
No. 25 Aaron Donald, DT, Pitt