Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas

Note: The Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas will be doing team previews of one team from the Big 12 and one team from the Big Ten each week leading up to college football’s kickoff in the beginning of September. Today we start with last year’s bowl participants, Baylor and Illinois.

Baylor Bears

2010 Record: 7-6, 6th in Big 12

Returning Starters: Offense (8), Defense (5)

Overview: Hoping to build on their most successful season in over a decade, the Bears return 13 starters on offense and defense but will also have to replace a few key contributors. Both defensive tackle Phil Taylor and offensive lineman Danny Watkins were picked in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, and leading rusher Jay Finley (1,218 yards) is gone as well after being drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 7th round.

Despite those losses, Baylor and 2nd year head coach Art Briles still return one of the most electrifying players in the Big 12 in quarterback Robert Griffin III. Griffin recovered from a torn ACL two seasons ago, accounting for over 4,000 total yards and 30 touchdowns while leading the NCAA’s 12th ranked offense last year. On defense, new coordinator and former SMU head coach Phil Bennett arrives after directing a dominant Pittsburgh defense that finished last season ranked 8th in total defense. He is tasked with replacing Taylor and leading tackler Byron Landor, but former blue-chip safety recruit Ahmad Dixon figures to have a large impact after seeing limited playing time last year. Bennett, who oversaw Texas A&M’s “Wrecking Crew” defenses of the late 90’s, hopes to bring a similar attacking style to Baylor, emphasizing blitzes that will increase pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Key Matchup: TCU @ Baylor, September 2nd: While most teams open their seasons with schools that will be a guaranteed win and will let them put the second string in by the fourth quarter, Baylor leads off with the TCU Horned Frogs, last year’s Rose Bowl Champion. Although they lost star quarterback Andy Dalton, TCU is still ranked in the preseason top 15 by most pollsters around the country. A win would give the Bears confidence in their ability to compete with the elite teams in the Big 12.

Impact Newcomer: Ahmad Dixon, S: As mentioned earlier, Dixon is expected to be used extensively in Bennett’s defense. The safety was rated as the number 15 player in the country by ESPN in 2010 after graduating from Waco’s Midway High School, and is the highest rated recruit signed by Baylor in recent history. Dixon appeared in a backup role and on special teams in 11 games in 2010, but has performed exceptionally well in spring practices while playing a hybrid safety/linebacker position that will allow him to make plays all over the field.

Coach’s Quotes: “I hope you guys were looking at them (the defense) saying ‘boy, those guys are strong, fast, mean and tough,’ because that’s what those guys need to be. They need to be aggressive and physical with a bad temper.” – Head Coach Art Briles

Illinois Fighting Illini

2010 Record: 7-6, tied for 4th in Big 10

Returning Starters: Offense (7), Defense (6)

Overview: The Illini’s 7-6 season in 2010 could have easily ended up 10-3, as three of their losses were by less than five points. But the up and down season did end on a positive note with a convincing bowl victory over the Baylor Bears last season at Reliant Stadium, and the Fighting Illini hope to build on that momentum and become a contender in the newly reconfigured Big Ten. To do so, however, they will have to replace both their leading rusher in Mikel LeShoure and defensive standouts Corey Liuget and Martez Wilson after all three were drafted in the first four rounds of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Senior Jason Ford seems to have the head start at running back as the Illini look to replace LeShoure.  Ford averaged 4.9 yards per carry last year in limited appearances and may get a majority of the playing time this year, but could be threatened by senior Troy Pollard, speedy sophomore Bud Golden and incoming freshman Donovonn Young. The Illini also return dual-threat quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase , who threw for 1,825 yards and rushed for 859, and his leading receiver A. J. Jenkins. Free safety Trulon Henry Jr. is the main returning starter to a defense that lost two NFL caliber players and will need a number of young players to step into more prominent roles to build on last year’s success.

Key Matchup: Ohio State at Illinois, October 15th: Ohio State has been the pace-setter over the last few years in the Big Ten, but this year could give other members their best chance in a long time to unseat them, as they will be playing their first five games without quarterback Terrelle Pryor and four other starters. In addition, the head coach and figurehead of Ohio State’s program has stepped down and handed the reins to the relatively inexperienced Luke Fickell, who served as the team’s co-defensive coordinator prior to the promotion. The Buckeyes trip to Champaign in week seven will be their second game at full strength and should give Illinois their first test after a relatively easy first half of the schedule. It will also be the Fighting Illini’s first game against a division opponent in the newly created Leaders Division of the Big Ten.

Impact Newcomer: Jon Davis, TE: Ranked as the number 138 player in the country by ESPNU, Davis did just about everything in high school, from lining up at halfback to returning punts. But the versatile athlete’s big impact in Champaign will be at the tight end position. Measuring 6’ 3” and 235 pounds, Davis will give Scheelhaase a big target to look for across the middle and in the red zone.

Coach’s Quotes: “We don’t have that many seniors leaving. That’s a great thing. We may lose a couple of guys because they may come out. We’ve got a great nucleus coming back. We’ve got a quarterback that will do nothing but get better.” – Head Coach Ron Zook