The real pre-draft jockeying began this week, with practice for the first of three college all-star games. The East West Shrine game kicks things off tomorrow at 3 p.m. at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

The Shrine Game is the oldest of the games (it has 62 NFL Hall of Famers – and Tom Brady and Brett Favre – as alumnus) and has coaching staffs the NFL helps put together. This year, the West coach is 21-year vet Marty Schottenheimer, who in 2004 was the NFL’s Coach of the Year. The seven Big East players in the game, meanwhile, have been put through their paces by Romeo Crennel, a five-time Super Bowl winner as an assistant coach.

NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock was kind enough to go over those seven prospects with me earlier. So, without further ado, here’s a look at the Big East players, what folks are saying about them down in Orlando and what their NFL prospects look like right now.

Connecticut Running Back Andre Dixon (6-0, 200)

Reports out of Orlando have identified a decent buzz about Dixon. CBS Sports’ Chad Reuter wrote that his quick feet have made him one of the week’s risers and the experts at DraftGuys.com highlighted his efforts in each of their daily practice reports. Mayock said that will all be very important as right now, “there are a bunch of running backs that kind of fit into the same mold as him. He has average speed and there’s nothing that really screams about him. It’s hard to distinguish yourself when you’re in that category.”

Dixon does have a strong first step, he runs with good pad level and his footwork has absolutely improved. He knows where and how to cut and his production this year (1,093 yards, 14 touchdowns) was irrefutable.

Projection right now: Fifth Round  (more…)

The newest Senator uses his victory speech to try to get a date for his basketball-playing daughter; she laughs it off… This telethon features some heavy hitters… The end of Wall Street as we know it…

Brian Kelly got the kid to commit to UC last summer. Will he now get him to commit to Notre Dame? (Cincinnati Enquirer)

The Bearcats will have three Senior Bowl participants this year. (GoBearcats.com)

Charlie Strong’s making believers out of high school kids. (The L Yes! Report)

Is Strong the best hire of the off-season? (Dr. Saturday)

If Rutgers fires Fred Hill, the coach with nine Big East wins – in four years – will walk away a very rich man. A fascinating look at his contract and what Rutgers could be on the hook for. (Scarlet Scuttlebutt) 

The Jim Leavitt-Joel Miller story is not going away. Still. (Tampa Tribune)

Meanwhile, USF could be losing a DT commit. (Tampa Tribune)

Is West Virginia a football school or basketball school? (Times West Virginian)

Breaking down all the recruiting in the league thus far. (ESPN.com)

Get ready for even more unabated vitriol during campaigns… Who wouldn’t want $45 million to go away?… Shocker here. The bigger shocker is that Elizabeth is STILL with him… Cindy and Meghan oppose John, very publicly…

Recruiting expert Tom Lemming’s take on who’s piling up the best prospects. (Hartford Courant)

Charlie Strong’s building a pipeline from the Sunshine State up to Louisville. (ESPN.com)

Five breakout players from this past season; two did their arriving in the Big East. (Dr. Saturday)

The league’s “most bankable winner.” (Dr. Saturday)

Pitt needs a linebackers coach. (MLive.com)

Kenny Britt was back at Rutgers yesterday. (Scarlet Scuttlebutt)

Kenny, meanwhile, just posted bail for a childhood friend accused of… murder. (Hudson Reporter)

Are Tim Brown and Devin McCourty being disrespected? (Daily Targum)

Wow. South Florida actually targeted another Big East coach early in its hiring process. (Tampa Tribune)

Could Jason Pierre-Paul be going to Tim Tebow’s home town? (Tampa Tribune)

Skip Holtz’s former players say his current ones are lucky. (St. Petersburg Times)

Jarrett Brown’s in the Senior Bowl. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

A look at the Big East’s top coaches of the past decade. One guess at who’s on top. (ESPN.com)

This poor country can’t catch a break… Far as I can tell, this Globe columnist is comparing electing Scott Brown to a drunken hook-up… Good thing the White House isn’t ever going on the market. I hope…

Three of the 21 coaching changes in the FBS thus far this season have been in the Big East. Mark those three an A+, A- and A-. (SI.com)

Cincinnati’s three Senior Bowl participants. (The News Record)

As good as Cincinnati’s been, Butch Jones could make them better. (The Bleacher Report)

Pulling out Todd McShay’s thoughts on UConn DE Lindssey Witten. (Sox & Dawgs)

UConn has its January enrollees on campus. And a very likely desire to join the Big Ten. (Hartford Courant)

Get well soon, Coach Calhoun. (ZagsBlog.com)

Charlie Strong picked up an 11th commitment, bringing Louisville’s total to 26. (Louisville Courier-Journal)

It’s not too soon to express pleasure at the job Strong’s doing. (The L! Yes Report)

A thorough run-down of the season of every Scarlet Knight in the NFL. Except for the three still playing. (Bleed Scarlet)

Checking in on Rutgers’ commits. (Bleed Scarlet)

Rivals’ Rutgers beat writer Bobby Deren could have himself a bestseller. (Daily Targum)

Sabbath Joseph used to joke about Haitian players taking over South Florida. Time like this, there’s only comfort in their shared bloodlines. (SNY.tv)

It’s not only the football players: hoops star Melissa Dalembert can’t raise money like her brother Sam, but she’s asked all her teammates to weed clothes for donating out of their closets. (St. Petersburg Times)

Meet the Bulls’ new assistants. (GoUSFBulls.com)

A USF executive athletic director went ahead and said it: a lot of agents lie when they “leak” that their clients are coaching candidates. (St. Petersburg Times)

Syracuse will get tailback Delone Carter back next year. In a shocker, Mike Williams won’t be back. (Syracuse Post-Standard)

Is Marshall-West Virginia really that big? (Times West Virginian)

Doc Holliday’s family will still wear West Virginia gear. (Charleston Daily Mail)

Mark Cuban wades into the NBC late night mess… I’m SO sending this to my boyfriend… If you live in Massachusetts, your vote today will absolutely count… A Big East basketball brawl. A Big East women’s basketball brawl…

Six years ago he left Rutgers for UConn. Now he’s leaving UConn for Georgia. (The Day)

One of Skip Holtz’s new staff additions is a UConn great. (Hartford Courant)

The secret to Charlie Strong’s recruiting prowess: bowling. (Louisville Courier-Journal)

Two of the country’s four-biggest winners in draft declaration season are from the Big East. (SI.com)

Kenny Britt was arrested. Pay those parking tickets, kid! (Tennessean)

It’s been exactly a month since the St. Petersburg Bowl, but the Daily Targum’s been on winter break. Here’s their welcome back highlight reel. (Daily Targum)

Great story about a former USF athlete giving back. (Tampa Tribune)

Current USF coach Skip Holtz is filling out his staff. (Rivals.com)

Meanwhile, could Jim Leavitt fill out Bob Stoops’ staff? (St. Petersburg Times)

A couple days after former assistant Doc Holliday stole a couple WVU recruits away to Marshall, Bill Stewart may be losing another to Mississippi State. (Commercial Appeal)

A look back at the decade that was - and a prediction that this next one will be stronger. (ESPN.com)

Now the Times wants to charge for online readers? Nooooo!…. Haiti’s president isn’t talking to his people; ours, thankfully, is… On a day that should officially be one of service, some of MLK Jr.’s strongest sentiments…

Here’s how UConn’s always had a strong running game, without a high-profile running recruit. (Hartford Courant)

UConn football fans still have plenty of questions. (Hartford Courant)

A Georgia QB originally headed to Florida is now coming to Louisville. (Louisville Courier-Journal)

Charlie Strong isn’t only poaching recruits: Miami’s top recruiter is set to join his staff. (Orlando Sun-Sentinel)

Skip Holtz is keeping four of Jim Leavitt’s coaches and saying good-bye to five. (Tampa Tribune)

Holtz’s first commit is a 6-foot-9 offensive tackle from New Jersey. (St. Petersburg Times)

Holtz is making a rock star impression already. (St. Petersburg Times)

Syracuse freshman Torian Phillips is transferring closer to home. (Syracuse Post-Standard)

Syracuse has enrolled six new football players this semester. (Syracuse Post-Standard)

Two one-time WVU commits are now following Doc Holliday to Marshall. (Charleston Daily Mail)

Today is obviously Skip Holtz’s day. We’ll dispense with the usual current events and just get right to him then.

When Holtz got off the plane in Tampa last night, he went straight to his new players. Whose emotions are still raw. (ABC Action News)

Holtz will definitely have to a lot of healing. (St. Petersburg Times)

Of course, a lot of those kids are just relieved there’s a new coach in place. (St. Petersburg Times)

Holtz will be collecting a pretty impressive paycheck. (Tampa Tribune)

Holtz is a “really good” choice and he’ll definitely set a new tone. (Tampa Tribune)

Holtz was once a QB. And a Notre Dame flanker. (Tampa Tribune)

Maybe Holtz was destined to coach in the Big East. (ESPN.com)

Five year hiring plans are a good idea. (Bonesville.net)

USF’s recruiting should get a boost. (Orlando Sentinel)

SI.com’s very early preseason Top 25 rankings are out. The Big East yet again has no impressively ranked teams. Sigh. (SI.com)

UConn’s tight ends coach is headed to Morgantown. (Hartford Courant)

Rick Pitino thinks kids may be getting too much power. (SNY.tv)

Another early look. This one’s at Rutgers’ 2010 depth chart. (Bleed Scarlet)

Devine and Sanders back is the biggest recruiting coup for West Virginia this year. (Wheeling News Register)

Devine wants that degree. Really. (nflmocks.com)

The tsunami apparently taught aid organizations how to cooperate. Here’s a list of ways YOU can help. That is, of course, if you don’t believe Pat Robertson’s correct in saying this is the consequence of Haiti’s “pact with the devil.” Again, prayers to the people and nation of Haiti… Our government’s leaving no stone unturned when it comes to terrorists; we’ve got an eight-year old on the watchlist… The key to the Obamas’ marriage? Sportscenter…

Cincinnati’s new president talks about his new football coach. (News Record)

Cincinnati owes Brian Kelly thank you. (SI.com)

Charlie Strong keeps bringing familiar faces into his staff. This time it’s the new line coach. (Louisville Courier-Journal)

It just might be fun to be a Cardinals fan again. (Card Game)

Two weeks in, Dave Wannstedt’s calling it a smooth off-season. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

A bunch more notes from that media session with Wannstedt, including Pitt’s scholarship numbers. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Checking in with former RU QB Mike Teel, who now has a new coach up in Seattle. (Home News Tribune)

The attorney for the kid who said Jim Leavitt hit him, then that he didn’t and then again that he did will have a news conference today. (Tampa Tribune)

Here’s another witness to the alleged incident saying Jim Leavitt got railroaded. (St. Petersburg Times)

Skip Holtz interviewed. So did former Grambling coach Doug Williams. Tommy Bowden may and Miami offensive coordinator Mark Whipple might too. This USF job really is hot. (Tampa Tribune)

Holtz may still be the guy in the lead, though. (St. Petersburg Times)

Calm down Cuse fans. Doug Marrone’s not going to Tennessee. (Syracuse Post-Standard)

Oh boy. Syracuse is going back to the West Coast Offense. Maybe it won’t be the same one Greg Robinson thought he was putting in. (Syracuse Post-Standard)

Any chance any other assistant in the league has an action figure on eBay? (Syracuse Post-Standard)

It’s a WVU prof leading the research on football-related brain injuries. (West Virginia Public Broadcasting)

Top 10 moments in the Big East’s 2009 season. (ESPN.com)

Crazy night in Big East hoops. Pitt upsets UConn… St. John’s upends Cincinnati…Rutgers’ Greg Echenique is transferring to Creighton…

Our prayers to the people of Haiti… Wyclef Jean’s already started raising relief money… A junky trunk’s apparently better than love handles… I don’t really get it; has Lane Kiffin won anything yet?…

Summarizing the Cincinnati bloodlines on Brian Kelly’s new staff. (The Observer)

Of course, Kelly’s just one of the new breed of suspect role models masquerading as coaches. (The Stanford Daily)

But that’s the past; Cincinnati has its new offensive coordinator. (GoBearcats.com)

More and more recruits are seeing UConn as the big time. (Hartford Courant)

Charlie Strong will open his first spring at Louisville with four QBs. (Louisville Courier-Journal)

Tracking Rutgers’ commits. (Bleed Scarlet)

Meanwhile, could Rutgers’ hoops program be in any more disarray? (SNY.tv)

There’s a lot of musts for the new USF coach. Could Skip Holtz be the man to meet them? (Tampa Tribune)

Holtz’s buyout at East Carolina won’t hold him back. (Tampa Tribune)

And Holtz definitely wants the job. (St. Petersburg Times)

But wait. Bucs’ assistant head coach Rich Bisaccia may really be the best choice. (St. Petersburg Times)

Meanwhile, why was Coach P let go in Miami? (Syracuse Post-Standard)

Losing his recruiters hasn’t fazed Bill Stewart. (Times West Virginian)

A redshirt nose guard’s leaving WVU for ODU. (Charleston Daily Mail)

The takeaways from the Big East bowl season. (ESPN.com)

The New Jersey State Senate presented a resolution Monday saluting Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer’s entrance into the Naismith Hall of Fame. Then it made medical marijuana legal… Looks like the Fed made a boatload of money for the government… Guess it doesn’t matter how strong you are if a minivan comes at you… What the baseball world’s saying about Mark McGwire’s “startling” admission…

The highs and lows of the Big East bowl season. (ESPN.com)

Cincinnati’s Lance Stephenson is coming home. And expecting boos. (Zagsblog)

USC calling Randy Edsall? (Hartford Courant)

A new Louisville QB was at Freedom Hall last night. (Louisville Courier-Journal)

Pitt WR Jonathan Baldwin’s been cleared off all the charges associated with the alleged butt-smacking last April. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

Paul Zeise again has a Pitt football roundup chockfull of info: Phil Bennett’s not going to A&M, WR coach Bryan Bossard is moving on, Jonathan Baldwin shouldn’t have been arrested, and more. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Heckuva debut for Titans rookie - and Rutgers product – Kenny Britt. (Bleed Scarlet)

South Florida is not lacking for big names or big interest in its search to replace Jim Leavitt: Skip Holtz, Phil Fulmer, Calvin Magee, Kevin Sumlin, Dan McCarney, Larry Fedora, on it goes. (Tampa Tribune)

Jim Leavitt says the allegations against him are “misreported” and promises he’s going to fight. (St. Petersburg Times)

Not that there’s any chance of him getting his job back now. (St. Petersburg Times)

Could former Syracuse great Rob Moore be Doug Marrone’s new WR coach? (Syracuse Post-Standard)

Former Orange coach Paul Pasqualoni was relieved of his duties as Miami’s defensive coordinator. Could he be interested in South Florida’s job? (Miami Herald)