No. 11 Texas Longhorns

Editor’s Note: Beginning every May 1, Athlon Sports counts toward the release of its College Football Annuals by releasing one spot in its Top 25 every weekday for five weeks. The No. 1 team will be revealed June 4. Check AthlonSports.com every day to see who’s next in the countdown. The 2008 College Football Annuals hit newsstands June 3rd.

The Longhorns are entering Year 3 of the Colt McCoy era. McCoy redshirted as a freshman in 2005, then started all 26 games over the last two years. He has thrown for 5,873 yards and 51 touchdowns, and he has completed a school-record 66.4 percent of his passes. His touchdown-to-interception ratio, however, could use some tightening up after taking a dip last season. Limas Sweed and Nate Jones are gone from the receiving corps, but Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley are proven commodities, each with nine career TD grabs. Cosby has 120 career receptions, and Shipley picked up 15.4 yards per catch last season.

The early departure of running back Jamaal Charles for the NFL puts the pressure on sophomore Vondrell McGee, a former Parade All-American who ran for eight scores last year, to step out of Charles’ shadow. Or else the pressure will be on the passing game to carry the load. McCoy is the top returning rusher. Six players saw regular action on the offensive line last season, and four return. Chris Hall started at least one game at each of the five positions, while tackle Adam Ulatoski and guard Cedric Dockery both earned all-conference recognition.

Graduation claimed two All-Big 12 first-teamers from the defense along with third-team All-America tackle Frank Okam, leaving end Brian Orakpo, the reigning Holiday Bowl MVP, and two-time All-Big 12 linebacker Rashad Bobino to lead the unit into 2008. Ryan Palmer will provide veteran leadership in the secondary after breaking up 11 passes and recovering two fumbles in 2007.

There is a three-week stretch in October when the Longhorns will face Colorado in Boulder and Oklahoma in Dallas, then entertain red-hot Missouri in Austin. The finale at home with Texas A&M is preceded by a week off following the game at Kansas.

Climbing the charts With two years left to play, McCoy already stands sixth on Texas’ all-time list with 5,873 passing yards and fourth with 51 touchdown passes.

Going bowling Texas has won four consecutive bowl games for the first time in school history.

Ten-win wonders Texas has won 10 or more games in each of the last seven seasons, more than any other school.

Texas superlatives:

OL Cedric Dockery and DL Brian Orakpo are named First-Team All-Big 12.

LB Rashad Bobino, CB Ryan Palmer and K Ryan Bailey are named Second-Team All-Big 12.

DL Lamarr Houston, LB Roddrick Muckelroy, CB Deon Beasley and KR Quan Cosby join the All-Big 12 Third Team.

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You can read the entire Texas preview in the 2008 Athlon Sports College Football magazine, available for purchase now at the Athlon Sports store.

Also coming to AthlonSports.com this summer:
— Top 25 Heisman Hopefuls
— Live chats with Athlon editors
— Conference-preview videocasts
— Launch of the 2009 Athlon Consensus 100
— Athlon's college fantasy football draft kit

Other in-season offerings:
— Previews for every college football game
— Fantasy games
— Sideline Spirit voting
— Scenes From Saturday
— Updated Athlon 119
— Much more

Be sure to return to AthlonSports.com after June 15 when complete team previews for all 119 teams will be available.

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