Kirk Herbstreit's lists of the top 2012 college football players and picks for conference winners feature several local players and teams. WVU's Tavon Austin comes in as the second-best wide receiver in the country, behind USC's Marqise Lee. The man throwing to Austin, Geno Smith, comes in as the fourth-best pocket passer. Austin also tops the list of most exciting players, while Smith ranks second on the list of players who don't get enough respect. Herbstreit also thinks Austin will be the Big 12's top player this year (although he picks Oklahoma to win the conference).
↵Herbstreit also picks Pitt to win the Big East, and Pitt running back Ray Graham to be the conference's top player.
↵It sounds like Herbstreit is excited about WVU's offense, as just about everyone is, and likes Pitt's chances this year better than most, as the Panthers adjust to life under a new head coach and try to wrangle with weaknesses in their offense.
↵Via Cardiac Hill, SB Nation's Pitt blog.