Offense
QB: Joe Cox, Georgia, Sr., (Charlotte Independence): Passed for 375 yards, 5 TDs last week vs. Arkansas.
RB: Montario Hardesty, Tennessee, Sr., (New Bern): Briefly a UNC commit before changing his mind, he's averaging 115 rushing yards per game.
OL: Carl Johnson, Florida, Jr., (Durham Southern): A leader on the line that powered the Gators to 2008 BCS title.
OL: Peter Lusk, Air Force, Sr., (Raleigh Enloe): Second-year starter for Falcons.
OL: Chris Hairston, Clemson, Jr., (Winston-Salem Carver HS): Tigers' second-best OL is a second-year starter.
OL: Landon Walker, Clemson, So., (East Wilkes HS): Won starting job in Tigers' preseason camp.
OL: Xavier Nixon, Florida, Fr., (Fayetteville Jack Britt HS): One of nation's most talented freshman linemen.
TE: Weslye Saunders, South Carolina, Jr., (Durham Riverside): Leads Gamecocks with 13 catches for 153 yards.
WR: Brandon Banks, Kansas State, Sr., (Garner HS): Half-brother of track phenom Gabby Mayo was Big 12 offensive newcomer of the year last season; leads team with 16 catches.
WR: Jarrett Boykin, Virginia Tech, So., (Butler High): Leads Hokies with 9 receptions.
WR: Scott Long, Louisville, Sr., (South Brunswick HS): 9 catches and 157 receiving yards lead the Cardinals.
Defense
DE: Kerry Neal, Notre Dame, Jr., (Bunn HS): 18 career starts.
DT: Travian Robertson, South Carolina, Jr., (Scotland County HS): First-year starter has 8 tackles.
DT: Melvin Ingram, South Carolina, So., (Richmond County HS): Former LB a key part of deep, talented Gamecock front.
DE: Kevion Latham, Penn State, So., (Greensboro Page HS): Reserve has 1 tackle for loss and half a sack.
LB: Max Gruder, Pittsburgh, So., (Charlotte Country Day): First-year starter tied for fifth on team with 14 tackles.
LB: Brandon Spikes, Florida, Sr., (Crest HS): 2008 Bronko Nagurski finalist may be the nation's best linebacker.
LB: Barquell Rivers, Virginia Tech, So., (Anson County HS): Leads Hokies with 27 tackles.
DB: Chris Culliver, South Carolina, Jr., (Garner HS): All-SEC candidate ranks fourth on team in tackles and is an excellent kick returner.
DB: Stephan Virgil, Virginia Tech, Sr., (Rocky Mount HS): 6 interceptions in 2008; cornerback battling bruised left knee.
DB: Crezdon Butler, Clemson, Sr., (Asheville HS): Cornerback has 196 career interception yards, third-most in Clemson history.
DB: Marcus Gilchrist, Clemson, Jr., (High Point Andrews HS): Starting cornerback has 17 tackles, 2 PBU in 2009.
Specialists
PK: San San Te, Rutgers, So., (Hickory HS): 6-for-9 on field goal attempts in second season as starter.
DS: Marc Yerry, Oklahoma State, So., (Weddington HS): Second-year starter regarded as a top deep-snapping specialist.
KO: Jon Teague, Navy, So., (Fred T. Foard HS): Strong-legged kickoff specialist has 10 touchbacks in 78 career kicks.
Reserves
QB: Jonathan Crompton, Tennessee, Sr., (Waynesville Tuscola); Zach Maynard, Buffalo, So., (Greensboro Grimsley).
OL: Quinn Barham, Penn State, So., (Durham Hillside); Brian Simmons, Oklahoma, Sr., (Southeast Raleigh HS); Pierre Andrews, South Carolina, Jr., (Charlotte Independence); Hutch Eckerson, South Carolina, Jr., (Lumberton HS).
TE: Austin Monahan, Vanderbilt, So., (Charlotte Country Day); Jimmy Graham, Miami, Sr., (Charis Prep).
RB: Josh Oglesby, Virginia Tech, So., (Garner HS).
FB: Austin Johnson, Tennessee, So., (Hickory HS).
WR: Jason Barnes, South Carolina, So., (Charlotte Independence); Mario Washington, Navy, Jr., (Crest HS); Trent Guy, Louisville, Sr., (West Charlotte).
PK: Chris Hinkebein, Virginia, So., (Charlotte Providence HS).
DE: Byron McKnight, South Carolina, So., (Scotland County HS).
LB: Daryl Vereen, Tennessee, So., (North Mecklenburg HS).
DB: Robert Blanton, Notre Dame, So., (Butler HS); Brandon Woods, Virginia, Jr., (Southern Durham); Kevin Edwards, Navy, Jr., (Charlotte Vance HS); Mario Hill, Navy, Sr., (Greensboro Grimsley); Raeshon McNeil, Notre Dame, Sr., (Davie County HS).
Ken Tysiac
