50 Best of the Non-BCS: Number 47

Yes, technically we've already broken our promise and skipped a weekday, but c'mon, you didn't think we were going to relegate Phil Steele to playing second fiddle on a Monday morning in favor of the 47th best Non-BCS conference player in the country? That being said, we continue our countdown today with one of the most promising sophomore receivers to play for any team in the country.

#47: WR Briggs Orsbon, Ball State

The Verdict: It would be easy to chalk up Orsbon's success as a freshmen last season to any number of extenuating factors, not the least of which being the fact that he was catching balls from arguably the best Mid American Conference quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger. That being said, it would be a mistake to label the 6-foot, 189-pound Orsbon as merely a possession receiver who just happened to be the unlikely beneficiary of a year in a well stocked and well designed offense. The fact of the matter is that Orsbon posses the rare and coveted ability to connect his God-given physical talent with the mental aspect of the game, a fact more than apparent to anyone who took the time to watch him lead the Cardinals in receiving during 2009. Orsbon certainly has good speed and hands, but it is his body control and field awareness which set him apart from most sophomore to be receivers in the game. Considering the graduation of Nate Davis as well as four full-time starters on Ball State's offensive line from a year ago, Orsbon may not top his 68 catches for 813 yards in 2008, but we're more than willing to bet that the Ohio native rewrites the record books in Muncie by the time his career is over.

Past Players: [#50: Navy LB Ross Pospisil] [#49: Fresno State RB Ryan Mathews] [#48: Wyoming DT John Fletcher]