Devine adds preseason accolades

Two more preseason magazines believe West Virginia is a preseason top 25 team. That makes the Mountaineers a top 25 choice in three of the top four preseason annuals.

Lindy's Sports believes the Mountaineers are the 19th-best team, easily the highest of all magazines. Phil Steele also ranks WVU at No. 22 – the highest of all Big East Conference teams.

Here's a closer look at what both magazines expect for West Virginia this season:

Lindy's Sports

The magazine expects the Mountaineers to finish second in the Big East behind Pitt, who it ranks at the 14th-best team in the country.

West Virginia running back Noel Devine is on the Heisman Trophy watch list, though the magazine believes Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor will win the award. Lindy's also predicts Devine to be the 30th-best draft-eligible player and the third-best from the Big East. He was also rated as the fourth-best running back in the country behind Mark Ingram from Alabama, Dion Lewis from Pittsburgh and Jaquizz Rodgers from Oregon State.

In addition, Devine was named a second-team all-American. He was the lone West Virginia player on the two all-American teams. He was also on the first-team all-Big East team.

Also on the first-team all-Big East team were wide receiver Jock Sanders as an all-purpose player and kicker Tyler Bitancurt.

Outside linebacker J.T. Thomas is considered the 12th-best outside linebacker in the nation. Safety Robert Sands is the eighth-best safety, as well. Both Sands were on the first-team all-Big East team.

Behind Sands, Lindy's expects the Mountaineers' secondary to be one of the best in the nation. The magazine ranks it as the No. 5 group in the country behind Texas, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Nose tackle Chris Neild and cornerback Brandon Hogan also made first-team all-Big East. Hogan was named the best cover corner in the Big East.

On the second all-Big East team were wide receiver Tavon Austin as all-purpose player, defensive tackle Scooter Berry and defensive end Julian Miller.

West Virginia plays five games to watch this season, including contests against LSU, Connecticut, Cincinnati and Rutgers.

The Mountaineers' recruiting class was highly touted by Lindy's.

The magazine expects offensive lineman Quinton Spain to be the best pro prospect in the Big East from this class, receiver Ivan McCartney is the conference's newcomer of the year. WVU's coaching staff was named the best recruiters in the Big East, as well.

Phil Steele

The magazine selects West Virginia and Pitt to tie for first in the Big East, but the Panthers grabbing the BCS bowl slot with a head-to-head win over the Mountaineers. WVU would then play in the Meineke Car Care Bowl against Clemson, according to Steele.

The Mountaineers are also a team that will surprise, according to the magazine.

Devine was named a fourth-team all-American and the seventh-best in the country.

Sanders was named the 20th-best punt returner and 21st-best receiver. Joe Madsen was named the 44th-best center, Josh Jenkins and Eric Jobe were named the 38rd-best and 42nd-best guard.

Sands was named a second-team all-American. He is the fourth-best free safety.

Miller was named the 44th-best defensive end. Neild and Berry were the 33rd-best and 38th-best defensive tackles. Thomas was the 25th-best outside linebacker and fellow linebacker Pat Lazear was named the 40th-best at the outside spot. Hogan was the 22nd-best cornerback and fellow starter Keith Tandy was the 67th-best at the position, as well.

Top individual rankings for WVU include running backs at No. 14, defensive line at No. 14, linebackers at No. 30 and defensive backs at No. 25.

First-team Big East members include Devine, Neild, Thomas, Hogan, Sands, Bitancurt and Sanders (at returner).

Second-team members are Sanders (at receiver), Jenkins, fellow offensive lineman Don Barclay, Miller and Lazear.

Third-team members are receiver Bradley Starks, Jobe, Berry, Tandy and receiver and kick returner Tavon Austin.

Fourth-team members are offensive lineman Joe Madsen, safety Sidney Glover and punter Corey Smith.