YE OLDE notebook: n Some put two and two together.

In this state, though, we'll be putting one and three together.

In case you haven't noticed, West Virginia now boasts two of the top three rushers in the Bowl Subdivision statistics.

Marshall's Darius Marshall is No. 1, averaging 159.75 yards per game, while West Virginia's Noel Devine is third, averaging 135 yards. Only Fresno State's Ryan Mathews, averaging 148 yards, separates the two statistically.

If the stats remain close to the same, of course, that will be a huge media angle for the Frontyard Brawl between MU and WVU a week from Saturday.

But let's examine the situation now.

Of the top-rated senior backs, according to NFL Draft Scout, only Stanford's Toby Gerhart, the nation's No. 4 rusher, seems to be playing to his potential. No. 1 C.J. Spiller of Clemson is averaging 72 yards. No. 2 Charles Scott of LSU had a big game against Georgia but isn't among the top 100 rushers, averaging 54.8 yards.

Both Marshall and Devine, of course, are juniors. Among the top-rated NFL prospects in that class, Devine is clearly playing at the highest level. California's Jahvid Best is No. 18 (102.8), Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer is No. 46 (81.8), Penn State's Evan Royster is No. 45 (82), Oklahoma's DeMarco Murray is No. 57 (74.75), Oklahoma State's Kendall Hunter has played but two games and USC's Joe McKnight is No. 24 (94.6).

Devine is rated the seventh best prospect for 2011. (Of course, there are many variables to consider. Oklahoma, for instance, has Chris Brown and Murray splitting carries.)

MU's Marshall, though, has to be college football's biggest surprise. He's ranked by Draft Scout as the nation's No. 27 running back prospect for 2011. (The list, by the way, was updated Wednesday.) In fact, he's just one slot above WVU slot man/back Jock Sanders. Yet Marshall leads the nation.

Thundering Herd coach Mark Snyder was asked about the state's national leaders.

"Both are really good backs,'' he said Thursday. "They are both small, but really good in their own ways.

"Noel is faster, but Darius has closed the gap there. Also, Noel can put his foot in the ground and go sideways. He can cut like nobody else in the country. Darius is a bit more physical.

"Also, Darius is more of an upright runner. Noel gets lower to the ground. He just squirts out of there.''

Slice it however you want. The bottom line, though, is West Virginians are being treated to some fine running in 2009.

My question: Huh?

From the outside looking in, it seems as if the Gator made major mistakes. The bowl's committee spurned the Big East's No. 2 offering and then had the Atlantic Coast Conference reject its offer.

So now the Gator, a once proud bowl, will be taking "at least'' the sixth pick from the SEC as well as a Big Ten team that will be - at best - fourth in the pecking order.

In this state, though, we'll be putting one and three together.

In case you haven't noticed, West Virginia now boasts two of the top three rushers in the Bowl Subdivision statistics.

Marshall's Darius Marshall is No. 1, averaging 159.75 yards per game, while West Virginia's Noel Devine is third, averaging 135 yards. Only Fresno State's Ryan Mathews, averaging 148 yards, separates the two statistically.

If the stats remain close to the same, of course, that will be a huge media angle for the Frontyard Brawl between MU and WVU a week from Saturday.

But let's examine the situation now.

Of the top-rated senior backs, according to NFL Draft Scout, only Stanford's Toby Gerhart, the nation's No. 4 rusher, seems to be playing to his potential. No. 1 C.J. Spiller of Clemson is averaging 72 yards. No. 2 Charles Scott of LSU had a big game against Georgia but isn't among the top 100 rushers, averaging 54.8 yards.

Both Marshall and Devine, of course, are juniors. Among the top-rated NFL prospects in that class, Devine is clearly playing at the highest level. California's Jahvid Best is No. 18 (102.8), Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer is No. 46 (81.8), Penn State's Evan Royster is No. 45 (82), Oklahoma's DeMarco Murray is No. 57 (74.75), Oklahoma State's Kendall Hunter has played but two games and USC's Joe McKnight is No. 24 (94.6).

Devine is rated the seventh best prospect for 2011. (Of course, there are many variables to consider. Oklahoma, for instance, has Chris Brown and Murray splitting carries.)

MU's Marshall, though, has to be college football's biggest surprise. He's ranked by Draft Scout as the nation's No. 27 running back prospect for 2011. (The list, by the way, was updated Wednesday.) In fact, he's just one slot above WVU slot man/back Jock Sanders. Yet Marshall leads the nation.

Thundering Herd coach Mark Snyder was asked about the state's national leaders.

"Both are really good backs,'' he said Thursday. "They are both small, but really good in their own ways.

"Noel is faster, but Darius has closed the gap there. Also, Noel can put his foot in the ground and go sideways. He can cut like nobody else in the country. Darius is a bit more physical.

"Also, Darius is more of an upright runner. Noel gets lower to the ground. He just squirts out of there.''

Slice it however you want. The bottom line, though, is West Virginians are being treated to some fine running in 2009.

My question: Huh?

From the outside looking in, it seems as if the Gator made major mistakes. The bowl's committee spurned the Big East's No. 2 offering and then had the Atlantic Coast Conference reject its offer.

So now the Gator, a once proud bowl, will be taking "at least'' the sixth pick from the SEC as well as a Big Ten team that will be - at best - fourth in the pecking order.

Can you say Alamo Bowl? Liberty Bowl? Either now describes the Gator's upcoming stature.

The winner, meanwhile, is the Champs Sports Bowl, which now, essentially, has the Gator's old slot. The ACC has promised to send its No. 3 team there. That's an upgrade. Also, the Champs Bowl gets the No. 2 team from the Big East. The odds are much better of having a Top 25 matchup in Orlando than in Jacksonville.

The Big East, by the way, is buttoning up talks with the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Expect a renewal announcement any day.

The word is Zach Spiker, 33, is to be named the men's basketball coach at Army this weekend. He's been working as an assistant at Cornell.

I spoke to WVU football recruit Barry Brunetti on Thursday.

In case you are unaware, Brunetti is a fine quarterback at Memphis University School, Tennessee's top-rated Class II (private school) team. In his last game, Brunetti left in the first quarter with an injury.

"It's a pulled groin,'' he said. "I'll be out for about two weeks, but we have a bye this week, so it's all right.''

Even with Brunetti out, MUS defeated White Station 55-35 last weekend, which upset the opposing coach.

"It's a sin and a shame to give up 55 points without Barry Brunetti [playing],'' White Station coach Devin Rutherford told the Commercial Appeal. "They're a good team, but if you'd told me [the score would be] 17-14 without Barry Brunetti, I'd have taken that. I'd have bet the house on it.''

Anyway, Brunetti, known for his strong, accurate arm, is planning his official visit to Morgantown for the Marshall game even though he's already committed to the Mountaineers.

Any schools still after him?

"Yeah, Michigan State and Tennessee are still recruiting me,'' he said Thursday. "But they're finally getting the hint.''

Tennessee, his home state school, "should have gotten on me early.''

"Now,'' he said, "I'm very happy with my decision.''

Reach Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827, mitchvin...@wvgazette.com or follow him at http://twitter.com/MitchVingle.