All-College Football Insiders Team

New York, NY—College Football Insiders releases its First Annual All-College Football Insiders teams. Eleven players on offense, 11 on defense and four on special teams are honored as first team, second team and third team selections. An additional 125 players received honorable mention honors—50 on offense, 50 on defense and 25 on special teams. In total, 77 players were selected on the first, second and third team (Clemson’s C.J. Spiller was both a first team All-College Football Insiders kick returner and second team All-College Football Insiders running back).

The first team unit covers 22 teams from eight different conferences, as well as independent Notre Dame. Florida led all teams with three players on the first team. Alabama and Florida State had two players represented on the first team. Stanford’s Toby Gerhart is College Football Insider’s Offensive Player of the Year and Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska is College Football Insider’s Defensive Player of the Year. Alabama’s Nick Saban is College Football Insider’s Coach of the Year.

Offensive Player of the Year: RB Toby Gerhart, Stanford

Defensive Player of the Year: DL Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska

Coach of the Year: Nick Saban, Alabama

CFI FIRST TEAM

Offense
QB-Kellen Moore (Boise State)
RB-Mark Ingram (Alabama)
RB-Toby Gerhart (Stanford)
WR- Mardy Gilyard (Cincinnati)
WR-Golden Tate (Notre Dame)
TE-Aaron Hernandez (Florida)
OL-Russell Okung (Oklahoma State)
OL-Bryan Bulaga (Iowa)
OL-Mike Iupati (Idaho)
OL-Rodney Hudson (Florida State)
OL-Maurkice Pouncey (Florida)

Defense
DL-Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska)
DL-Derrick Morgan (Georgia Tech)
DL-Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma)
DL-Jerry Hughes (TCU)
LB-Greg Jones (Michigan State)
LB-Navorro Bowman (Penn State)
LB-Rolando McClain (Alabama)
DB-Eric Berry (Tennessee)
DB-Joe Haden (Florida)
DB-Patrick Peterson (LSU)
DB-Earl Thomas (Texas)

Special Teams
KR-C.J. Spiller (Clemson)
PR-Greg Reid (Florida State)
PK-Kai Forbath (UCLA)
P-Drew Butler (Georgia)

CFI SECOND TEAM

Offense
QB-Colt McCoy (Texas)
RB- C.J. Spiller (Clemson)
RB- Dion Lewis (Pittsburgh)
WR-Jordan Shipley (Texas)
WR-Freddie Barnes (Bowling Green)
TE-Dennis Pitta (BYU)
OL-Matt Tennant (Boston College)
OL- Jon Asamoah (Illinois)
OL-Mike Johnson (Alabama)
OL-Anthony Davis (Rutgers)
OL-Charles Brown (USC)

Defense
DL-Adrian Clayborn (Iowa)
DL-Robert Quinn (North Carolina)
DL-Terrance Cody (Alabama)
DL-Jared Odrick (Penn State)
LB-Pat Angerer (Iowa)
LB-Brandon Spikes (Florida)
LB-Eric Norwood (South Carolina)
DB-Syd’Quan Thompson (California)
DB-Brandon Harris (Miami)
DB-Robert Johnson (Utah)
DB-DeAndre McDaniel (Clemson)

Special Teams
KR-Chris Owusu (Stanford)
PR-Trindon Holliday (LSU)
PK-Leigh Tiffin (Alabama)
P-Zoltan Mesko (Michigan)

CFI THIRD TEAM

Offense
QB-Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame)
RB-John Clay (Wisconsin)
RB-Ryan Mathews (Fresno State)
WR-Danario Alexander (Missouri)
WR-Demon Briscoe (Kansas)
TE-Dorin Dickerson (Pittsburgh)
OL-John Jerry (Ole Miss)
OL-Zane Beadles (Utah)
OL-John Moffitt (Wisconsin)
OL-Jason Pinkston (Pittsburgh)
OL-Trent Williams (Oklahoma)

Defense
DL-Von Miller (Texas A&M)
DL-Brian Price (ULCA)
DL-Tyson Alualu (California)
DL-Greg Romeus (Pittsburgh)
LB-Sergio Kindle (Texas)
LB-Sean Weatherspoon (Missouri)
DB-Dominique Franks (Oklahoma)
DB-Amari Spievey (Iowa)
DB-Chad Jones (LSU)
DB-Mark Barron (Alabama)

Special Teams
KR-Brandon Banks (Kansas State)
PR-LaVon Brazill (Ohio)
PK-Blair Walsh (Georgia)
P-Chas Henry (Florida)

CFI Honorable Mention:

Offense: QB Sean Canfield (Oregon State), QB Any Dalton (TCU), QB Jerrod Johnson (Texas A&M), QB Case Keenum (Houston), QB Dan LeFevour (Central Michigan), QB Josh Nesbitt (Georgia Tech), QB Tony Pike (Cincinnati), QB Tim Tebow (Florida), RB Donald Buckram (UTEP), RB Noel Devine (West Virginia), RB Jonathan Dwyer (Georgia Tech), RB Anthony Dixon (Mississippi State), RB LaMichael James (Oregon), RB Bernard Pierce (Temple), RB Jacquizz Rodgers (Oregon State), RB Evan Royster (Penn State), RB Curtis Steele (Memphis), RB Daniel Thomas (Kansas State), RB Keith Toston (Oklahoma State), RB Ryan Williams (Virginia Tech), WR Jonathan Baldwin (Pittsburgh), WR Ryan Broyles (Oklahoma), WR James Cleveland (Houston), WR Eric Decker (Minnesota), WR A.J. Green (Georgia), WR Shay Hodge (Ole Miss), WR James Rodgers (Oregon State), WR Emmanuel Sanders (SMU), WR Greg Salas (Hawaii), WR Demaryius Thomas (Georgia Tech), WR Damian Williams (USC), TE Ed Dickson (Oregon), TE Garrett Graham (Wisconsin), TE Anthony McCoy (USC), TE Tony Moeaki (Iowa), TE Cody Slate (Marshall), OL Clint Boling (Georgia), OL Gabe Carimi (Wisconsin), OL Selvish Capers (West Virginia), OL Brandon Carter (Texas Tech), OL Anthony Castonzo (Boston College), OL John Estes (Hawaii), OL Jason Fox (Miami), OL Colin Madison (Temple), OL Nate Porter (Boise State), OL Matt Reynolds (BYU), OL Dace Richardson (Iowa), OL Nate Solder (Colorado), OL J.D. Walton (Baylor), OL Stefen Wisniewski (Penn State)

Defense: DL Sam Acho (Texas), DL Nate Collins (Virginia), DL Jared Crick (Nebraska), DL Carlos Dunlap (Florida), DL Brandon Graham (Michigan), DL Everson Griffen (USC), DL Cameron Heyward (Ohio State), DL Lamarr Houston (Texas), DL Ryan Kerrigan (Purdue), DL Brandon Lang (Troy), DL Bruce Miller (Central Florida), DL Dontay Moch (Nevada), DL Stephen Paea (Oregon State), DL Jason Pierre-Paul (USF), DL Ricky Sapp (Clemson), DL O’Brien Schofield (Wisconsin), DL Brandon Sharpe (Texas Tech), DL Dan Williams (Tennessee), DL Mick Williams (Pittsburgh), DL Lindsey Witten, DL Willie Young (North Carolina State), LB Reggie Carter (UCLA), LB Rennie Curran (Georgia), LB A.J. Edds (Iowa), LB Ross Homan (Ohio State), LB Cardia Jackson (Louisiana-Monroe), LB Luke Kuechly (Boston College), LB Travis Lewis (Oklahoma), LB Roddrick Muckelroy (Texas), LB Darryl Sharpton (Miami), LB Jesse Smith (Iowa State), LB Stevenson Sylvester (Utah), LB Quan Sturdivant (North Carolina), LB Daryl Washington (TCU), DB Nate Allen (USF), DB Prince Amukamara (Nebraska), DB Javier Arenas (Alabama), DB Morgan Burnett (Georgia Tech), DB Kendric Burney (North Carolina), DB Barry Church, DB Kurt Coleman (Ohio State), DB Perrish Cox (Oklahoma State), DB Ras-I Dowling (Virginia), DB-Van Eskridge (East Carolina), DB-Shiloh Keo (Idaho), DB Taylor Mays (USC), DB Devin McCourty (Rutgers), DB Deunta Williams (North Carolina), DB Trevin Wade (Arizona), DB Kyle Wilson (Boise State)

Special Teams: KR Tyron Carrier (Houston), KR Ray Fisher (Indiana), KR Mardy Gilyard (Cincinnati), KR Dwayne Harris (East Carolina), KR D.J. Monroe (Texas), KR Titus Young (Boise State), PR Javier Arenas (Alabama), PR Antonio Brown (Central Michigan), PR Ryan Broyles (Oklahoma), PR Jeremy Kerley (TCU), PR Jordan Shipley (Texas), PR Damian Williams USC, PK Tyler Bitancurt (West Virginia), PK Matt Bosher (Miami), PK Kevin Goessling (Fresno State), PK Craig Ratanamorn (Marshall), PK Grant Ressel (Missouri), PK Brett Swenson (Michigan State), PK Matt Waldron (Virginia Tech), P Bryan Anger (California), P Brent Bowden (Virginia Tech), P Matt Dodge (East Carolina), P Derek Epperson (Baylor), P Adam Miller (New Mexico), P Rob Long (Syracuse)

Photos Courtesy of David Gonzales, College Press Box, SEC Sports Media

BCS Postgame Central

Get all the postgame quotes from the BCS Championship game, including both head coaches, as well as the offensive and defensive MVPs.

Alabama Crimson Tide:

Nick Saban talks about winning his second BCS Championship and more.

Click Here To Read Q&A

Mark Ingram speaks after winning Offensive MVP.

Click Here To Read Q&A

Marcell Dareus speaks after winning Offensive MVP.

Click Here To Read Q&A

Texas Longhorns:

Losing Head Coach Mack Brown speaks to the media.

Click Here To Read Q&A

Senior speaks after posting a game-high receptions and yards.

Click Here To Read Q&A

Photo Courtesy of Dennis Hubbard

Q&A: Marcell Dareus Postgame

Alabama sophomore defensive end Marcell Dareus, a rising star and a key cog to Nick Saban's 3-4 defense, spoke to the media following Alabama's victory in the BCS Championship. He made the pivotal play of the game when he returned an interception 28 yards for a touchdown to give the Crimson Tide a 24-6 lead heading into halftime earning him defensive MVP honors.

I just wondered if you could talk about the big plays you had, the one where you did knock out Colt McCoy when you hit him, if you knew he was hurt, and then obviously the interception return, as well.

When it came to the first play of McCoy, I really didn't try to hit him that hard. I didn't want to hurt him. It was a part of the game. You don't think, you just react, and I just reacted to what I saw. It is a part of the game. I didn't really try to hurt him.

But they tried to shuffle pass and Brandon Deaderick caught the running back while he was fumbling it, and my first reaction was grab the ball, and then after that I blanked out, and all I was thinking about is Mark Ingram and Javier (Arenas) and just doing moves I didn't think I could do. I was like, I can't believe I pulled off that screen. I saw that lineman coming for my legs, and my first reaction was to spin. I looked to my left and I saw Eryk Anders, I knew it was a touchdown. I could not wait to get to the end zone.

Could you just talk about the emotions of accomplishing what you set out to accomplish? You win the National Championship, it's a perfect season, your names are engrained in at least the minds of National Championship fans forever. What does it mean, this accomplishment?

Coach always talked about working hard. It's always good to bring it back. We worked all year for it, and we put in the time, we put in the sweat, and we all hurt. As you can see, I have a knee brace and an elbow brace on the left side of my body. It was pretty hard, but we pushed through it.

Coach always told us work hard. If you're hurt, sit down. If you feel like you can play, go out there and play and give it your all. Don't go out there and half step because you think you're hurt. Give it your all, and we just went out there and played our best, not taking anything from Texas.

Coach Saban talks a lot about process and about buying into his system he has over the past couple of years. Tell me, was there one particular moment for the players, the athletes, the team, a turning point when you knew it was going to work, when you really started to believe?

I would say last year when me and Mark were freshmen, and we saw a lot of the seniors and upperclassmen bought into the system. They had the same team we had the year before and bought into the system and turned our whole program around. We will always be remembered as the team that turned the University of Alabama program around. As they bought into the system, we were like we were going to make it our thing to buy into the system, and it took a little bit of – now we won the National Championship. We got our first Heisman Trophy winner, and me, I can't believe I got Defensive MVP. We just came so far and worked so hard, and that's why we bought into the system, and we knew it was going to work.

When Colt went out of the game and you're facing the opponent, are you seeing, are you smelling fear, or did you see more determination in them?

I really didn't know that Colt was hurt. He wasn't playing anymore until I got to the sideline a couple plays after. It wasn't about seeing the fear, I saw determination. They were like, man, we're not going down without a fight. Just because our leader is down, we're still going to play hard, we're still going to give them a fight.

I mean, I saw more determination in them. They weren't going to give up. I knew they weren't going to give up. The quarterback just had to work his way – when he got in, he warmed up, and he started doing better. He did hurt us and stuff like that, but we fought through that. I knew he wasn't going to stop, so we couldn't stop ourselves.

Marcell, coming from the Birmingham area, do you have anything you want to tell your friends and family back home watching the game, and the second part of that is, when you came out of Huffman High School are these the things that you envisioned?

Of course not. You know, I came out of Birmingham, I was a mediocre recruit. I felt like I was always better, but I mean, it is what it is. I didn't think I was going to work hard and get to where I am today, where I am now, and accomplish the things that I have accomplished.

I mean, my coaches always told me hard work isn’t going to hurt nobody, and I always worked hard for everything. I knew it wouldn't come easy and I knew what it was going to take to get it.

And so as for everybody back home watching the game, Roll, Tide, Roll, and I'll be back in the house before this weekend.

Q&A: Jordan Shipley Postgame

Texas Longhorns star wide receiver Jordan Shipley spoke with the media following the BCS Championship game. In his final game as a Longhorn, the senior caught 10 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns.

What was going through your mind when Colt McCoy got hurt?

Well, I think all of us were definitely concerned when Colt went out. But I think the good thing is that Coach Davis spent so much time preparing here that he came in, and obviously started a little bit slow, but I can't imagine what it was like for him to be throwing there in the National Championship Game.

But I think Colt had an unbelievable career and Garrett played really well tonight.

After you scored the second touchdown, the two point conversion and got within three, were there thoughts of what happened five seasons ago going through your head as well as the rest of the team about the tremendous comeback?

I think everybody on our team believed that we were going to win the game, and it's been that way since I've been here. I think that's something that that team helped to establish was just that belief that we're going to win the game no matter what.

To come back from – especially at halftime with the play right before the half, and I'm just really proud of everybody, and I think we fought really hard and just came up a little short.

When did you all officially make the transition to the way Garrett threw the ball, because he obviously throws it a lot harder than Colt does. How difficult was it for you, and what pass do you think kind of turned it?

Well, I think both quarterbacks throw the ball really well, and I think both of them were capable of getting the job done tonight. You know, I think you've got to give a lot of credit to Garrett for coming in and playing as well as he did, especially in the second half. I was really impressed, and I think we were all really impressed.

What do you make of – Alabama will return a lot of guys next year. What do you make of their potential so to speak?

I think Alabama definitely is a great team, and I guess we've got a lot of respect for them, and I think they showed that they're definitely the best. With a lot of guys returning I'm sure they've got a chance to be really good again next year.

You've got to give a lot of credit to them for what they accomplished tonight, and it was a hard fought game.

Is it more empty feeling, the fact that you guys really don't know what would have happened because of Colt's injury? I mean, does this make it a tougher loss just because you'll really never know?

Well, I think there's always – with anything that happens in life, any loss, there's always things that you can look back on and wish they were different. But I think Sergio and I were talking about it, I think sometimes you've just got to look at all the ways you've been blessed. And I think we've been blessed in so many ways and just thankful for those. It was a great opportunity to be here, and we're thankful for that.

Photo Courtesy of Dennis Hubbard

Heisman Ballot

This week’s Heisman Ballot is our determination of the most outstanding players in college football.

Outside Looking In: Golden Tate, Colt McCoy, C.J. Spiller

3. Mark Ingram, Running Back, Alabama Crimson Tide

Last Week: 28 rushes for 113 yards and three touchdowns; 2 receptions for 76 yards in a 32-13 victory over Florida.

Analysis: Ingram led the way for Alabama as the Crimson Tide physically dominated the Gators to clinch the SEC Championship and earn a berth in the BCS Championship Game.

The sophomore from Flint, Michigan finished the season fifth in the nation with 1,542 rushing yards. Ingram has been the best offensive weapon in America’s toughest defensive conference this season. He is the SEC’s leading rusher by more than 150 yards.

Clearly, Ingram was outstanding in a number of games this season (172 yards at Ole Miss, 246 against South Carolina, and 144 against LSU). However he was also inconsistent with just 30 yards at Auburn and a late fourth quarter fumble against Tennessee that almost cost the Crimson Tide a shot at the title.

While Ingram is third on our ballot, we believe that he will go on to be the actual winner on Saturday night, becoming the first player from Alabama to win the Heisman Trophy.

2. Ndamukong Suh, Defensive Tackle, Nebraska Cornhuskers

Last Week: 12 tackles (10 solo), seven tackles for loss; 4.5 sacks; two quarterback hurries in a 13-12 loss to Texas.

Analysis: It is generally considered that a defensive player, let alone a defensive tackle, cannot win the Heisman Trophy because he will never have the statistics or star power of his offensive counterparts.

That theory could be de-bunked on Saturday night in New York. Suh was a dominating force in the Big XII Championship game against Texas. He has been doing that to opponents all season: constantly disrupting the line of scrimmage and getting consistent pressure on the quarterback.

Suh sacked Texas quarterback and fellow Heisman finalist Colt McCoy 4.5 times. The Longhorn offensive line had been allowing just over two sacks per game. Suh doubled their average by himself.
In a season supposedly devoid of “Heisman Moments,” Suh was a revelation Saturday night in Dallas, giving us plenty of Heisman-worthy memories.

Before the game, Suh was a fringe candidate for the Heisman; clearly he’s had a great year, but maybe not good enough to get an invitation to New York. That all changed with his performance against the Longhorns. Not only did he earn the invite, but we believe he has a legitimate chance to win.

1. Toby Gerhart, Running Back, Stanford Cardinal

Last Week: Idle

Analysis: Gerhart deserves the Heisman Trophy because he fulfills two requirements that we see as essential in determining the winner: In addition to his dominance, Gerhart has been incredibly consistent this season.

The senior from Norco, CA leads the nation in rushing yards (1736) and points per game (13.3). He is also second in the nation in rushing yards per game with 144.7.

Gerhart uses his physicality and brutish running style to literally take over games. He is the best offensive player in college football. We have had Gerhart at the top of our ballot for the past two weeks and believe he should stay there.

Due to his consistently dominating body of work, Gerhart deserves to join Jim Plunkett and become the second Heisman Trophy winner from Stanford University.

Photos Courtesy of College Press Box

Colt McCoy named 2009 O'Brien Winner

FORT WORTH, Texas (Dec. 10, 2009) - The Davey O'Brien Foundation added another member to its elite group of quarterbacks today when they named Colt McCoy as the 2009 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award Winner. McCoy was selected as a Finalist for The O'Brien along with Houston's Case Keenum and Florida's Tim Tebow. Troy Aikman, the 1988 O'Brien Winner, presented the award during The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show from Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

"Colt McCoy has led his team to an undefeated season and berth in the BCS National Championship game. As a starter, he's led Texas to more wins than any other college quarterback. Ever. And, he's a great student. Those are just a couple of reasons why Colt McCoy is a richly deserving winner of the 2009 O'Brien Award," said Verne Lundquist, chair of the national selection committee.

This season, McCoy led the undefeated No. 2 Texas Longhorns to their first Big 12 Championship since 2005 and secured a berth in the 2010 Citi BCS National Championship game. The Longhorns will square off against No.1 Alabama on Jan. 7, 2010 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

In the final season of his Longhorn career, McCoy completed 70.5 percent of his passes for 3,512 yards and 27 touchdowns. The quarterback from Tuscola, Texas holds 46 school records including total offense (14,815), yards (13,244) and touchdowns (112). Additionally, McCoy's 45-7 career record is the most victories by a starting quarterback in NCAA history.

McCoy is the third O'Brien Winner from the University of Texas preceded by Earl Campbell, the inaugural winner of the O'Brien Memorial Trophy (1977), and Vince Young (2005).

The Davey O'Brien National Selection Committee, an elite group of journalists, broadcasters, commentators and former winners, selected The O'Brien Winner, with the Fan Vote accounting for 5 % of the total vote. The Selection Committee is asked to evaluate each candidate on the criteria of his quarterback skills and athletic ability, academics, his reputation as a team player, character, leadership and sportsmanship. For a complete listing of the Selection Committee, visit www.DaveyOBrien.org.

About The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award®
The O'Brien honors the nation's best college quarterback of the year and inspires student-athletes to triumph both on and off the field. By recognizing and honoring athletes who excel in both sports and academics while exhibiting strong character and leadership, The O'Brien aims to help instill a lifelong moral fiber in each candidate. The O'Brien is overseen by the Davey O'Brien Foundation, which was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. The Foundation has given away more than $770,000 in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life. For more information, visit www.DaveyOBrien.org.

National College Football Awards Association
The O'Brien is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game's predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association's official Web site, www.NCFAA.org.

Photo Courtesy of College Press Box

Tim Tebow Wins 2009 William V. Campbell Trophy

The prolific Gators' quarterback now adds the nation's premier scholar-athlete award to his resume, as Florida becomes the first school in history to boast three Campbell Trophy winners.

NEW YORK, December 8, 2009 - University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, arguably one of the most decorated players in college football history, became the 20th recipient of the William V. Campbell Trophy, endowed by HealthSouth, at The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame's Annual Awards Dinner in New York City tonight.

The Campbell Trophy (formerly known as the Draddy Trophy) is one of college football's most sought after and competitive awards, recognizing an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership. The award comes with a 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship. A total of $300,000 was awarded to Tebow and the other 15 Campbell Trophy finalists, who each claimed $18,000 scholarships for their post-graduate educations.

"Tim Tebow is a once in a lifetime student-athlete," said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. "Tim's unparalleled accomplishments and charisma have transcended the playing field, capturing the imagination of both young and old. We could not be prouder to have Tim as an ambassador of this award and our sport."

Boasting a 3.66 grade point average as a Family, Youth & Community Sciences major, Tebow has twice been named the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American of the Year. Based on his combined scholastic achievement and campus involvement, Tebow also recently earned induction into the university's Hall of Fame, one of the most prestigious honors awarded to students by the Division of Student Affairs at the UF. The Jacksonville, Fla., native is a three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and a two-time First Team Academic All-American.

As the only sophomore to ever win the Heisman, Tebow boasts two national championship titles and has also won the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, the Manning Award, back-to-back Maxwell awards in 2007 and '08, and the Sullivan Award, which is annually presented to the nation's top amateur athlete. As the undisputed leader of the nation's No. 5 team, he is the only player in NCAA history to rush and pass for at least 20 touchdowns in a season (2007) and entered his senior campaign with four NCAA, nine SEC and 23 school records. Tebow leads the Gators in both rushing and passing, accounting for more than 11,000 yards of total offense and 140 touchdowns in his career.

Tebow has spent nearly every summer of his life preaching the word of God around the country and participating in mission trips abroad. In 2009 alone, he has dedicated nearly 700 hours to community service efforts and appearances, including hospital and orphanage visits, and was named the 2008 Wuerffel Trophy recipient for his exemplary outreach.

Tebow joins former Campbell Trophy winners Brad Culpepper (1991) and Danny Wuerffel (1996) and three others as the sixth NFF National Scholar-Athlete from Florida.

Launched in 1959, the NFF scholar-athlete program became the first initiative in history to credit a player for both academic and athletic accomplishments. The centerpiece to the NFF's scholar-athlete program, which has awarded $9.2 million to 724 top athletes, the Campbell Trophy, first awarded in 1990, was renamed this fall in honor of Bill Campbell, the chairman of Intuit, former player and head coach at Columbia University and the 2004 recipient of the NFF's Gold Medal.

"The NFF mission is to build leaders through football, and the 2009 NFF National Scholar-Athlete class members stand as a testament to that creed," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (1997 Campbell Trophy winner) and Eli were NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. "We look forward to supporting the bright futures of each of these fine young men, and we take great pride in holding them out as examples of football's unique ability to build tomorrow's leaders."

Candidates must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a grade point average of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.

The 2009 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award Recipients and Campbell Trophy Finalists includes:

Jon Asamoah - OG, University of Illinois
Matt Bauman - LB, Brigham Young University
Eric Decker - WR, University of Minnesota
Moses Harris - S, Fresno State
Tim Hiller - QB, Western Michigan University
Paul Jasinowski - OT, Brown University
Beau Kildow - WR, Morningside College (Iowa)
Josh Mahoney - LB, University of Northern Iowa
Colt McCoy - QB, University of Texas
Jarrell NeSmith - TE, Tusculum College (Tenn.)
Joe Pawelek - LB, Baylor University
Todd Reesing - QB, University of Kansas
ZaVious Robbins - WR, Hardin-Simmons University (Texas)
Tim Tebow - QB, University of Florida
Blaine Westemeyer - OT, Augustana College (Ill.)
Reed Williams - LB, West Virginia

Listed in chronological order, past Campbell winners, counting two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist, and a Heisman Trophy winner, include:

Chris Howard (Air Force, 1990 - College President)
John B. Culpepper (Florida, 1991 - Attorney)
Jim Hansen (Colorado, 1992 - Leader in Climatological Research)
Thomas Burns (Virginia, 1993 - Engineering Executive)
Robert Zatechka (Nebraska, 1994 - Physician)
Bobby Hoying (Ohio State, 1995 - Real Estate Executive)
Danny Wuerffel (Florida, 1996 - Nonprofit Executive Director)
Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997 - NFL Player)
Matt Stinchcomb (Georgia, 1998 - Television Broadcaster & Insurance Executive)
Chad Pennington (Marshall, 1999 - NFL Player)
Kyle Vanden Bosch (Nebraska, 2000 - NFL Player)
Joaquin Gonzalez (Miami, 2001 - Corporate Executive)
Brandon Roberts (Washington University in St. Louis, 2002 - Physician)
Craig Krenzel (Ohio State, 2003 - Insurance Executive)
Michael Munoz (Tennessee, 2004 - Marketing Manager)
Rudy Niswanger (Louisiana State University, 2005 - NFL Player)
Brian Leonard (Rutgers University, 2006 - NFL Player)
Dallas Griffin (University of Texas, 2007 - Corporate Finance Associate)
Alex Mack (University of California, 2008 - NFL Player)

Photo Courtesy of The National Football Foundation

Heisman Ballot: Week 14

This Week’s Heisman Ballot is our determination of the five best players in college football. Here is the Heisman Trophy ballot we would submit if the season ended today.

1. Toby Gerhart, Running Back, Stanford Cardinal

Last Game: 29 rushes for 205 yards and three touchdowns; one reception for 33 yards; 1-of-1 passing for 18 yards and one touchdown in a 45-38 victory over Notre Dame.

Analysis: Gerhart was dominant once again in Stanford’s victory over the Fighting Irish. Gerhart's final touchdown run came when Notre Dame allowed Stanford to score in order to save time. Of course, this play resembled Gerhart’s 28 other rushes when Notre Dame had no answer for his physicality and toughness. Gerhart is now the nation’s rushing leader by more than 100 yards.

2. Colt McCoy, Quarterback, Texas Longhorns

Last Game: 24-of-40 passing for 304 yards and four touchdowns; 18 rushes for 175 yards and one touchdown in a 49-39 victory over Texas A&M.

Analysis: McCoy had his best all-around game of the year as Texas completed an undefeated (12-0) regular season. His 175 rushing yards were a career high. McCoy is peaking at the right time and has put himself square in the middle of the Heisman discussion while others (Mark Ingram, C.J. Spiller) have fallen off. He has a great opportunity to claim votes from Gerhart this weekend as Texas plays Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship Game, while Stanford is idle.

3. Mark Ingram, Running Back, Alabama Crimson Tide

Last Game: 16 rushes for 30 yards; three receptions for 21 yards in a 26-21 victory over Auburn.

Analysis: Ingram struggled to establish himself as Alabama evaded disaster in an exciting Iron Bowl victory over Auburn. True freshman Trent Richardson was actually more effective than Ingram, rushing for 51 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. To add injury to insult, Ingram suffered a hip pointer in the second half.

It was not the first time this season that Ingram has been neutralized by an opponent. He was limited to just 50 and 99 yards against Tennessee and Arkansas respectively. Nonetheless, Ingram has a shot to claim the Heisman Trophy this weekend in the year’s most anticipated match-up, the SEC Championship game against Florida.

4. C.J. Spiller, Running Back, Clemson Tigers

Last Game: Nine rushes for 18 yards; three receptions for 19 yards; 2 kick returns for 102 yards and one kick return for touchdown in a 34-17 loss to South Carolina.

Analysis: Spiller exploded out of the gates against the in-state rival Gamecocks, returning the opening kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown. With the score, he set a NCAA record with seven career kickoff returns for touchdowns. However, his star faded the rest of the game as Clemson could not keep up with the Gamecocks. Spiller needs a huge performance against Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship Game to catapult himself into the top spot.

5. Case Keenum, Quarterback, Houston Cougars

Last Game: 25-of-31 passing for 323 yards and two touchdowns in Houston’s 73-14 victory over Rice.

Analysis: Keenum continued his ridiculous statistical season leading Houston, as the Cougars scored a whopping 73 points over Rice. His stats for the game may look pedestrian compared to the rest of his body of work this year, but one has to remember--Keenum did not play in the second half.

Outside Looking In: DT Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska), WR Golden Tate (Notre Dame), QB Tim Tebow (Florida)

Photo Courtesy of College Press Box

CFI Heisman Ballot: Week 11

By Mark Zavodnyik

This Week’s Heisman Ballot is our determination of the five best players in college football. Here is the Heisman Trophy ballot we would submit if the season ended today.

1. Case Keenum, Quarterback, Houston Cougars

Last Game: 40-of-60 passing, 522 yards, and three touchdowns in a 46-45 victory over Tulsa.

Analysis: The nation’s leader in completions, yards, and touchdown passes led a miraculous fourth quarter comeback victory over Tulsa. The Cougars appeared finished when they failed on a two-point conversion with 21 seconds remaining in the game. However, a successful on-side kick and a 51-yard field goal later, the Cougars emerged with an amazing victory. Keenum had his second consecutive game with more than 500 passing yards.

2. C.J. Spiller, Running Back, Clemson Tigers

Last Game: 22 rushes for 165 yards, one touchdown; three receptions for 68 yards, one touchdown in a 40-24 victory over Florida State.

Analysis: Spiller remains one of the most electric players in college football. His 312 all-purpose yards against Florida State broke the school record of 310 he set two weeks ago. Spiller is fourth in the nation in all-purpose yards per game with 199.33. This week’s performance included a 45-yard run, a 58-yard touchdown reception and a mini-Heisman pose after his five-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

3. Mark Ingram, Running Back, Alabama Crimson Tide

Last Game: 22 rushes for 144 yards; five receptions for 30 yards in a 24-15 victory over LSU.

Analysis: Ingram was stymied by LSU’s defense in the first half and gained just 36 yards. However he came to life in the second half with 106 yards to lead the Crimson Tide to victory in a tough, physical contest in Tuscaloosa. Ingram is sixth in the nation in yards per game at 127.6; pretty impressive considering he plays in the country’s best defensive conference.

4. Colt McCoy, Quarterback, Texas Longhorns

Last Game: 33-of-42 passing, 470 yards, two touchdowns, one interception in a 35-3 victory over Central Florida.

Analysis: McCoy’s production is improving at the right time. While he may have been forcing throws earlier in the season, McCoy has settled in and appears ready for a November Heisman push. With Baylor, Kansas, and Texas A&M left on the schedule, McCoy has ample opportunities to keep putting up big numbers.

5. Jimmy Clausen, Quarterback, Notre Dame.

Last Game: 37-of-51 passing, 452 yards, two touchdowns, one interception in a 23-21 loss to Navy.

Analysis: Clausen’s Heisman hopes faded with the disastrous loss to the Midshipmen. Clausen played another great game, setting a school record for completions in a game. However, his fumble on the goal-line at the end of the third quarter was a costly error.

Outside Looking In: Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska), Golden Tate (Notre Dame), Tim Tebow (Florida)

Photo Courtesy of University of Houston, University of Texas Athletics

Heisman Ballot: Week 10

By MARK ZAVODNYIK

This week’s ballot is undergoing a philosophical change. No longer will it be a projection of how a typical Heisman voter may cast his/her ballot. Instead it will be our determination of the five best players in college football:

1. Jimmy Clausen, Quarterback, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Last Game: 22-of-27 passing, 268 yards, two touchdowns in a 40-14 victory over Washington State.

Analysis: Clausen continues to be one of the most impressive quarterbacks in college football. He has led his team to multiple fourth-quarter-comeback victories while battling a season-long case of turf toe. Clausen is very accurate, completing 66.9 percent of his passes against just two interceptions. He is second in the nation in passing efficiency and eighth in passing yards per game. Clausen needs another great performance against Navy this week to hold on to the top spot.

2. Case Keenum, Quarterback, Houston Cougars

Last Game: 44-of-54 passing, 559 yards, five touchdowns, one interception in a 50-43 victory over Southern Miss.

Analysis: Keenum’s statistics have been so impressive this season that he deserves a spot in the top two despite his perceived disadvantage of playing for a one-loss Conference USA team. Currently Keenum leads the country in completions per game (35.6), passing yards per game (411.63), total offense per game (420.9), points responsible for per game (21.5), touchdown passes (25) and total passing yards (3293).

3. Tim Tebow, Quarterback, Florida Gators

Last Game: 15-of-21 passing, 164 yards, two touchdowns; 18 rushes, 85 yards, 2 touchdowns in a 41-17 victory over Georgia.

Analysis: Florida fans finally got the Heisman-type game they want from Tebow. The senior from Jacksonville was very impressive with over 200 yards of offense and four total touchdowns as the Gators demolished Georgia. In addition to his passing duties at quarterback, Tebow is Florida’s leading rusher with 551 yards on the season.

4. Colt McCoy, Quarterback, Texas Longhorns

Last Game: 16-of-21 passing, 171 yards, one touchdown; 11 rushes for 34 yards in a 41-14 victory over Oklahoma State.

Analysis: McCoy was efficient in a game where the Texas defense suffocated the Oklahoma State offense. Nonetheless, “efficient” is not a word that McCoy needs to describe his performances if he going to stay on the ballot. McCoy has the opportunity to be spectacular with a home game against UCF coming this week. He could be in line for big day as his best statistical performances of the year have come against non-Big 12 opponents

5. Golden Tate, Wide Receiver, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Last Game: Four receptions for 80 yards, one touchdown; 4 rushes for 61 yards, 1 touchdown in a 40-14 victory over Washington State.

Analysis: Tate is a dynamic threat in the passing game as well as in Notre Dame’s wildcat offense. His acrobatic catches have become a common occurrence. In this week’s victory over Washington State, Tate made an incredible catch on a Hail Mary pass over three Cougar defenders as the first half expired. Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis was impressed, “It was probably one of the most phenomenal catches I've seen anyone make, ever," Weis said after the game.

Outside Looking In: RB Mark Ingram (Alabama), RB CJ Spiller (Clemson), RB Ryan Matthews (Fresno State), QB Kellen Moore (Boise State), DT Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska)

Draft Watch: Texas @ Oklahoma St.

10.31.09 @ 8:00 PM Eastern on ABC

1) Colt McCoy vs. Zac Robinson – Even though he has led the ‘Horns to an undefeated record to this point, including a win over Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry and #3 BCS Ranking, it’s hard to say that McCoy has improved his draft stock this season. As a junior, McCoy threw for 3,859 yards and 34 touchdowns (eight interceptions) while completing a record 76.7 percent of his passes. This year the Longhorns’ signal caller is on pace for 3,096 yards (71.7 percent), 24 touchdowns and 14 interceptions—that’s a significant dip in production any way you slice it. Even in victory McCoy failed to impress against the Sooners, and this week’s contest may his last chance to show scouts what he’s got before bowl season. On the other side, Robinson has been solid and while he isn’t putting up big numbers, he has played very smart football throwing 12 touchdown passes, just three interceptions and has been sacked only four times. What’s most impressive is in three Big XII games—without star wideout Dez Bryant—Robinson is averaging 252 yards with six touchdowns and one interception. A solid performance against the highly-touted ‘Horns could boost Robinson’s stock and if the Pokes pull off the upset, so much the better. While McCoy gets most of the attention, these quarterbacks are closer than most might think.

2) Russell Okung vs. Sergio Kindle – With so many top left tackle prospects having inconsistent senior seasons, Okung may have vaulted himself to the head of the class and has certainly helped himself as much as any senior. Some thought he might declare for the 2009 Draft following a solid junior campaign, but the left tackle appears to have made a wise decision to return to Stillwater. Okung has the size to protect the blind side, as well as the feet, having shutdown all opposing pass rushers to this point. This will be a big test for Kindle, who isn’t exploding as a senior the way former ‘Horn Brian Orakpo did last season. Kindle has seven tackles for a loss, but only two sacks. He is an athletic freak, but may be a bit overrated as a football player—he needs to show more if wants to cash in on that “first round talent”. Expect Okung to continue to handle his business and Kindle to come up empty against the Cowboys’ left tackle. You can be sure there will be a bevy of scouts spotlighting this one-on-one battle.

3) Jordan Shipley vs. Perrish Cox – We likely will not see these two lined up across from each other as often as Okung and Kindle, but when they do lock horns, it will be an opportunity for each to make a statement. Shipley does his best work in the slot and is more quick than fast. That’s not to say he lacks the speed to hit the home run, because he is more than capable of making a big play either as a return man or receiver. Shipley has great hands, runs crisp routes and has an uncanny chemistry with his buddy and roommate McCoy. Cox is the Cowboys’ best defensive back and the Pokes will need him to make big plays this Saturday night. Cox has good size, speed and length, which is why he is a better fit doing his work on the outside. While he has only intercepted one pass, Cox has gotten has hands on 11 footballs this season and is someone opposing quarterbacks tend to avoid. Shipley is averaging over 15 yards per punt return with two touchdowns, while Cox is no slouch himself as a return man, averaging 11.2 yards on punt returns and 24.9 on kick returns.

Photos Courtesy of University of Texas Athletics, Oklahoma State Athletics Media Relation

Heisman Ballot: Week 9

By Mark J. Zavodnyik

1. Colt McCoy, Quarterback, Texas Longhorns

Last Game: 26-of-31 passing, 269 yards, three touchdowns, one interception in a 41-7 victory over Missouri

Analysis: In a season where no one seems ready to make a strong claim for the Heisman, McCoy, the best player on a surprisingly under-appreciated Texas team, is the current leader. This year’s Heisman Trophy will likely go to the player who dominates in November and McCoy’s great game against Missouri comes at just the right time. The Longhorns face Oklahoma State this week in a game that is sure to be a display of offensive firepower. McCoy will remain in the driver’s seat if he can come close his performance in last year’s victory over the Cowboys when he threw for 391 yards and two touchdowns.

2. Jimmy Clausen, Quarterback, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Last Game: 26-of-39 passing, 246 yards, two touchdowns in a 20-16 victory over Boston College

Analysis: Not Clausen's most impressive performance from a statistical perspective, but another solid game that included two great touchdown passes to wide receiver Golden Tate. Clausen will need big games against Washington State and Navy in the coming weeks to stay in the race.

3. Mark Ingram, Running Back, Alabama Crimson Tide

Last game: 18 rushes for 99 yards in a 12-10 victory over Tennessee.

Analysis: In today’s SEC, it is probably impossible for a running back to continuously put up monster yardage as Ingram did in his previous performance against South Carolina (246 rushing yards). However, Ingram falls from the top spot due to a key fumble with the Crimson Tide leading Tennessee 12-3 and just over three minutes remaining in the game. The critical turnover allowed the Vols to get within a field goal of de-railing Alabama’s perfect season.

4. Tim Tebow, Quarterback, Florida Gators

Last Game: 12-of-22 passing, 127 yards, two interceptions; 22 rushes for 88 yards, 1 touchdown in 29-19 victory over Mississippi State

Analysis: With his 26-yard scamper for a score in the second quarter, Tebow tied Herschel Walker for the most rushing touchdowns in SEC history. One the other hand, Tebow had two interceptions returned for touchdowns. His 127 passing yards are not that of a Heisman winning quarterback. Tebow is not having the same statistical year as he had in his Heisman winning campaign of 2007. Nonetheless, he still has plenty of chances to re-claim the top spot, particularly with the game-formerly-known-as-the-world’s-largest-outdoor-cocktail-party against Georgia on the horizon this Saturday.

5. CJ Spiller, Running Back, Clemson Tigers

Last Game: 14 rushes, 81 yards; 6 receptions, 104 yards, one touchdown; three kick returns 125 yards, 1 kickoff return for touchdown in a 40-37 victory over Miami.

Analysis: Spiller’s presence on the list is an indication of the fluid nature of this year’s Heisman race. Like Ingram the week before, Spiller was not on many Heisman ballots prior to his game against Miami. That all changed with an electric performance that included a 90-yard kick return for touchdown and 56-yard touchdown catch. His 310 all-purpose yards were a school record. Spiller is now the nation’s leader in all-purpose yards per game at 207.86. He will need to keep up this impressive pace to offset Clemson’s three losses which likely will hurt him in the eyes of some voters.

Photo Courtesy of College Press Box

CFI Countdown: #3 Texas Longhorns

2008 Record: 12-1 (Big 12: 7-1)
Bowl Game: Won Fiesta Bowl vs. Ohio St. 24-21
Location: Austin, Texas
Stadium: Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium (94,113)
Head Coach: Mack Brown
Overall: 201-100-1 (26th season)
@ Texas: 115-26 (12th season)
Link to UT Football Page

No team enters 2009 more motivated to prove they deserve a spot in the BCS Championship game than the Longhorns. Right or wrong, Texas felt slighted by the system…that the BCS and the Big XII let them down. It won’t be difficult for Mack Brown to paint an “us against the world” picture to his players. But even more important than motivation is the fact that on the field, with seven starters back on both sides of the ball, Texas is that good.

When the Longhorns Have the Ball

Offensive Coordinator: Greg Davis (12th season)
Scheme: Spread Offense
Starters Returning: Seven
Key Losses: WR Quan Cosby, RB Chris Ogbonnaya, TE Blaine Irby (Injured), OG Cedric Dockery

With Colt McCoy back to run the zone read, there is little doubt that the ‘Horns will have one of the top offenses in the nation. Never have we seen a quarterback make better decisions or be more accurate than McCoy was as a junior. He also added the ability to be a force as a runner in 2008, leading Texas in rushing—a feat Brown hopes he doesn’t repeat. He also possesses all the intangibles teams look for in championship quarterbacks, starting with his leadership skills. McCoy received a big boost when his favorite target, buddy and security blanket Jordan Shipley, was granted an extra season of eligibility by the NCAA. Shipley runs crisp routes, has reliable hands, and can make things happen after the catch. However, Texas needs some other playmakers to step up other than Shipley if they are to achieve their goals for the 2009 season. At receiver, everyone is waiting for sophomore Malcolm Williams to turn into a superstar. He has the size and speed to do it all, but must prove he can be a consistent performer. Another potential weapon is former quarterback John Chiles, who expects to see most of his time at wide out. Don’t expect much production from the tight end position—not only is projected starter Blaine Irby out for the year, he is one of four tight ends that will miss the 2009 season. In the backfield, Texas struggled to find a primary ball carrier in 2008. First up in 2009 is junior Vondrell McGee, who has a nice combo of size and speed. Sophomore Fozzy Whitaker can be explosive, but must stay healthy, while fellow soph Cody Johnson is a 250-pound wrecking ball and a force near the goal line. One cause for optimism is the fact that four of five starters return along the offensive line—a unit that can pass and run block—led by left tackle Adam Ulatoski and center Chris Hall.

Top Pro Prospects: 1) QB Colt McCoy (SR), 2) WR Jordan Shipley (SR), 3) WR Malcolm Williams (SO)

When the Other Team Has the Ball

Defensive Coordinator: Will Muschamp (2nd season)
Scheme: 4-3 (Some 3-4)
Starters Returning: Seven
Key Losses: DE Brian Orakpo, DT Roy Miller, DT Aaron Lewis, DE Henry Melton, CB Ryan Palmer

The first order of business is replacing the pass-rushing and impact ability of NFL first-round pick Brian Orakpo, and everyone knows who Texas expects to step into that role—senior Sergio Kindle. Until last season, Kindle had been more enigma than star, but he started making plays late in the season. This season he will be shifting from linebacker to defensive end where he is expected to harass Big 12 quarterbacks all season long. Lamaar Houston is quick for a defensive tackle, while sophomore tackle Kheeston Randall and red-shirt freshman end Alex Okafor are a pair with bright futures. Even though Kindle moves from linebacker the ‘Horns still have experience at the position, as seniors Jared Norton (MIKE) and Roddrick Muckelroy (WILL) will hold down the second level of defense. Muckelroy could have a big season using his speed to cover ground and get into the backfield. The secondary is deep and talented. Sophomore Aaron Williams, juniors Chykie Brown and Curtis Brown, as well as senior Deon Beasley give them a quartet of quality corners. Chykie Brown and Williams should be All-Big 12 performers, as should sophomore left safety Earl Thomas, who couldn’t have been more impressive as a true freshman last season. Thomas has excellent range and can even play some nickel in coverage. Also starting as a rookie in 2008 was Blake Gideon, who is competing with a third sophomore, Christian Scott, at right safety.

Top Pro Prospects: 1) LB/DE Sergio Kindle (SR), 2) SS Earl Thomas (SO), 3) CB Chykie Brown (JR)

The Schedule

The Longhorns have basically a two-game schedule—versus Oklahoma in Dallas in the Red River Rivalry and a trip to Stillwater to take on the upstart Oklahoma St. Cowboys—potentially this year’s Texas Tech. Those are the only ranked teams on the docket, although they have to make road trips to Missouri, Baylor, and in-state rival Texas A&M. The out of conference schedule won’t do wonders for the Longhorns’ strength of schedule as they take on UL-Monroe, Wyoming, UTEP and Central Florida—not exactly a challenging quartet.

Pivotal Point

There are two—on offense it’s the skill players, on defense it’s the front line. In 2008 their leading rusher among the running backs was McGee who “rumbled” for 376 yards, which is simply not going to cut it in 2009. Someone must emerge from the pack. At receiver, gone is Quan Cosby who along with Shipley made almost every big catch for the ‘Horns last season. Defensively, not only must Orakpo be replaced, but defensive end Henry Melton and tackles Roy Miller and Aaron Lewis have departed as well. Can they be as stout against the run this season? There’s only one way to find out.

CFI Final Analysis

Texas is destined to have another great season and make their second straight BCS Bowl game for the first time since a guy named Vince Young ran the offense in Austin. The difference is this group may not win the national title…heck, they could even fall short of a conference title, which is life in the Big XII. At number three they are in the mix and if they are able to take the Red River Shootout (again) without any other slip ups, it could be the ‘Horns who find themselves playing for the BCS Championship with Oklahoma watching at home.

College Football Insiders Top 25 Countdown:
The Next 25 (26-50) Plus 18 Bowl Teams
#25 West Virginia Mounainteers
#24 Tennessee Volunteers
#23 Clemson Tigers
#22 Pittsburgh Panthers
#21 Michigan St. Spartans
#20 Utah Utes
#19 Oregon Ducks
#18 Florida St. Seminoles
#17 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
#16 Boise St. Broncos
#15 North Carolina Tar Heels
#14 Penn St. Nittany Lions
#13 Mississippi Rebels
#12 Oklahoma St. Cowboys
#11 California Golden Bears
#10 Iowa Hawkeyes
#9 Virginia Tech Hokies
#8 Georgia Bulldogs
#7 USC Trojans
#6 LSU Tigers

#5 Ohio St. Buckeyes
#4 Alabama Crimson Tide

Photos Courtesy of the University of Texas Athletics

College Football Insiders Preview: Big XII

The Big 12 will once again look to rival the SEC as the top conference in the nation. While they may lack depth, the Big 12 is powerful at the top. Both in regards to teams—see Oklahoma and Texas—and players. The top quarterback, wide receiver, tight end, offensive linemen, defensive tackle and pass rusher may all reside in the conference.

The Favorites: Texas vs. Oklahoma: This battle will focus on the quarterback play as Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford and Heisman trophy finalist Colt McCoy both decided to return for one more season. With both teams being from the Big 12 South, the conference will likely be determined when they meet on October 17th. The 104th Red River Rivalry game will be played in Dallas, as it has been since 1912, so there will be no home field advantage in this, one of the must-see games of the year. Oklahoma will not lack firepower on offense. Junior DeMarco Murray is an explosive back, while Jermaine Gresham, arguably the top tight end in college football last year, returns for his senior season. The one question mark will be the offensive line. They have two underclassmen starting in sophomores Ben Habern and Stephen Good at center and guard respectively. If they can protect Bradford and open up some holes for Murray, this should be a very potent offense yet again. Texas will not be lacking in the offensive category, either. McCoy will have the pleasure of choosing between wideouts Jordan Shipley and Malcolm Williams. Running back Vondrell McGee looks to help out the offense by keeping opposing defenses honest and running with speed and quickness. The determining factor in this battle will be the defense. Texas boasts an outstanding veteran defense which includes six returning starters. Linebackers Sergio Kindle and Roddrick Muckelroy can be game changers and will impose their dominance at will. However, Oklahoma’s defenders are no slouches. The Sooners boast two of college football’s best defensive linemen in Gerald McCoy and Auston English—a pair of run-stopping big men that can also get after the quarterback. Two rivals should be neck and neck heading into the October 17th tilt, where the winner will likely take the Big 12 title.

The Contenders: Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Kansas: Like Texas and Oklahoma, the Cowboys of Oklahoma State also have a solid 1-2 punch on offense. Senior quarterback Zac Robinson is a great pocket passer and possesses a high football IQ. He may be one of the best decision makers in all of college football. That skill set matches perfectly for the “new” best wide out in football, Dez Bryant. At 6’2” and 220 pounds, Bryant can use his outstanding leaping ability and strong hands to go get poorly thrown balls; or balls where the defender seems to have position. The Cowboys’ offensive line will be filled with veterans, giving Robinson time to stand and deliver. This offense will be as scary, if not if not scarier, than that of rivals Oklahoma and Texas. They play a fairly soft schedule after hosting Georgia for their season opener. They then play host to Texas on Halloween, which should be a “scary” good game, and then finish off the season traveling to Norman to play the Sooners. Look for them to scratch and claw for the Big 12 title all season long. The Cornhuskers look as though they are starting to regain their early 90’s form with a tough defense combined with playmakers on offense. They have great balance on offense. They have all upper-classmen starting on both sides of the ball, which will make this team tough to beat in close games. Ndamukong Suh is the leader of the defense and should make everyone around him better. The Huskers lucked out and only have to play one of the two favorites this season, Oklahoma, and they get that one at home. The Jayhawks should be jumping for joy that they are in the Big 12 North and not the beastly South. Their one major hurdle will be Nebraska in getting to the Big 12 title game. They weren’t as lucky as the Huskers on the schedule, though, and will have to face both Texas and Oklahoma during the season. Their extremely soft non-conference schedule will allow them to build up confidence going into their conference gauntlet run. They do have the offense to run with anyone in the conference, led by senior quarterback Todd Reesing. Reesing is coming off a 3,888 yard, 32 touchdown season and will be throwing to a set of tall wide receivers, all about 6’3”. Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier are both coming off of 90+ catch, 1,000+ yard receiving seasons and should be able to match, if not exceed, those numbers this year. Their passing attack will be a concern for opposing defenses, but it is their own defense that may cause Kansas fits. They have only one senior on their defensive line and senior playmaking safety Darrell Stuckey can only be so many places at once. If the Jayhawks’ pass rush proves feeble, then their defense will be picked apart by opposing quarterbacks. If they can get to the quarterback, then their offense should be able to produce enough wins to take them to the Big 12 title game. Only time will tell if the Jayhawks will “rock chalk”.

The Sleeper: Missouri: One rule of thumb for college football should be “never count out the Tigers of Missouri”. They have an extremely young and inexperienced football team with only nine returning starters on both offense and defense combined, along with 10 underclassmen total starting on both sides of the ball. Mizzou’s quarterback is young and inexperienced and has to play in Chase Daniels’ shadow. They lost big play wideout Jeremy Maclin and Mackey Award winner Chase Coffman. In addition, they have a brutal schedule in the heart of the season, playing host to Nebraska, traveling to Oklahoma State, and then hosting Texas. However, they are very well coached and disciplined which can take you a long way in this game. They also have the team athleticism and speed to keep up with powerhouse schools like Oklahoma and Texas. Plus, they play in the Big 12 North. They have as good a chance as anyone to represent the North in the Big 12 Championship Game. The swing games for them will be when they host Nebraska on October 8th and Kansas on November 28th. If they can win those games, then you will be watching them play for the Big 12 Championship.

Offensive Player of the Year: QB Colt McCoy (UT) vs. QB Sam Bradford (OU): As if you didn’t see this one coming. Both are likely to be Heisman Trophy candidates again this season based on their amazing stats last year. Both quarterbacks have terrific arms and great decision-making skills, but only one can run with the best of them…and that is Colt McCoy. Considering the fact that the 6’2” signal caller led his team in rushing last season, and did so without having the big play running back that Sam Bradford had in DeMarco Murray, the Longhorn has a leg up in the competition—literally. But if Bradford can utilize his running back to his advantage and keep defenses honest, he may be able to put up prolific passing numbers that even McCoy can’t touch. This race could come down to which team ends up in the Big 12 Championship Game; allowing one quarterback to showcase their skills and pad their stats for one extra game. This should be the race to keep an eye on in the Big 12.

Honorable Mention: QB Zac Robinson (Oklahoma State), QB Robert Griffin (Baylor), QB Todd Reesing (Kansas), RB Kendall Hunter (Oklahoma State), RB DeMarco Murray (Oklahoma), WR Dez Bryant (Oklahoma State), WR Kerry Meier (Kansas)

Defensive Player of the Year: Sergio Kindle (UT) vs. Gerald McCoy (OU): You’ve got to love a battle between players who both come from powerhouse schools playing in the same side of the conference. Both Kindle and McCoy possess speed and strength to go along with incredible agility. This battle will come down to who can wreak the most havoc on opposing offenses. Sergio Kindle was a stat stuffer all year long in 2008; totaling 46 tackles, 12.5 for loss, 10 sacks, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one blocked punt. He was also a first-team All Big 12 selection by the coaches and was All-America honorable mention by SI.com. Gerald McCoy was named AP second-team All-America and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year by several publications. He also led all interior linemen in tackles. It will definitely be fun to watch both players go after opposing quarterbacks with a potential BCS National Championship birth on the line.

Honorable Mention: DT Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska), DE Auston English (Oklahoma), LB Travis Lewsis (Oklahoma), LB Sean Weatherspoon (Missouri), FS Darrell Stuckey (Kansas)

Breakout Seasons: QB Taylor Potts (Texas Tech), QB Blaine Gabbert (Missouri), WR Ryan Broyles (Oklahoma): Taylor Potts is the heir apparent to Graham Harrell and has some big shoes to fill. He doesn’t have Michael Crabtree to throw to, but he still does have the spread offense run by Mike Leach. In his brief appearances in 2007 and 2008, he posted respectable numbers in 2007 by completing 32 for 49 of his passes for 409 yards with three touchdowns and one pick; in 2008, he completed 23 of 36 passes for 260 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. If he can learn this offense quickly and garner a good rapport with his wide receivers, then he will have a very solid statistical season with a Red Raiders offense that looks to pass first and run second. Another player with big shoes to fill is Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert, who takes over the starting quarterback role after the departure of Chase Daniels. Like Potts, he lost his number one playmaker in Jeremy Maclin, but he does have some up and coming talent in running back Derrick Washington and wide receiver Jared Perry. Gabbert has had minimal playing time in his lone season as a backup quarterback, making only 13 pass attempts. He is a smart player, though, and should be able to take the reins and make this Tiger offense go. After playmaker Juaquin Iglesias left for the NFL, Ryan Broyles steps in as Sam Bradford’s new number one receiver. He and Bradford have already had time last season to build a connection in the passing game. Broyles caught 46 passes for 687 yards and six touchdowns as a freshman. With that experience and one of the premier quarterbacks in all of college football throwing to him, he should be one of the top receivers in the Big 12.

Best Pro Prospect: Dez Bryant (OSU): Dez Bryant is one of the most athletically gifted players in college football. He is very similar to Michael Crabtree in his style of play. He has great hands and can go up and fight for any ball that comes his way, a la Steve Smith or Larry Fitzgerald. Size is something you can’t teach and he has it at 6’2” and 220 pounds. He could, in fact, be a Plaxico Burress type of player at the next level. His route running is the one area he needs to polish up if he decides to enter the draft in 2010. Look for him to showcase his abilities this season and possibly establish himself as the best playmaker in college football. It should be noted that Sam Bradford, Trent Williams, Jermaine Gresham, Gerald McCoy and Ndamukong Suh are all potential top 10 picks.

College Football Insiders' Picks:

Conference Champion: Texas Longhorns: It’s hard to ignore the Longhorns’ defense and the fact their toughest game will be at a neutral site, not on the road. The rest of their schedule is fairly soft and the Longhorns will be playing with a chip on their shoulder after being snubbed out of last year’s Big 12 Championship Game (and the right to play for the BCS National Championship). Colt McCoy will save his best for last and will bring the Horns a conference championship, even if he has to put the team on his shoulders and run with them.

Offensive Player of the Year: Colt McCoy, Texas: With 45 total touchdowns last season (34 passing, 11 rushing) it’s hard to look away. He amassed 3,859 yards passing with only eight interceptions. Not to mention the fact that he had a 76.7 completion percentage and a quarterback rating of 173.75. He could very well lead the team in rushing yet again this season, and when you stack up these stats and throw in the fact he plays on the best team in the conference, it’s very hard to not consider him the frontrunner.

Defensive Player of the Year: Sergio Kindle, Texas: Too much size, strength, speed, and experience here to shy away from this pick. He had 10 sacks and 46 tackles last season at the linebacker position, and it’s hard to believe he can’t mimic or surpass those numbers this season whether he lines up at linebacker or defensive end. He will show that he is the best defensive player in the conference as well.

* Click To Read CFI’s ACC Preview
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Fiesta Bowl: Ohio St. vs. Texas

By JOHN SEARS - BIG TEN INSIDER

January 5, 2009 * 8:00 PM * FOX

In this year’s Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, Ohio State (10-2) and Texas (11-1) will revisit their brief home-and-home rivalry from 2005-06, where the visiting team each contest. Despite their recent pairings potentially serving a backdrop for this showdown, we again face the BCS nightmare of controversy and potential mismatch. The Longhorns are suffering from some form of elimination by advanced calculus, which ruled them (and Texas Tech for that matter) out of contention for the Big 12 Championship game and potentially, the National Title game. Ohio State, likewise receiving an at-large bid to the Fiesta Bowl, was selected over undefeated Boise St. despite being completely overmatched in their last two BCS games and an early season match-up with 11-1 USC. The Buckeyes’ only other loss this year came at the hands of another BCS-qualified team, Penn State. In Columbus, the scarlet and gray stood toe-to-toe with the eventual Big Ten champions, but fell short on a late game interception. Will we be reflecting on this game as the mismatch of teams undeserving of the BCS equation? Or will we be pleasantly surprised?

When the Buckeyes Have the Ball

The one word that would describe Ohio State’s 2008 regular season would be: adjustment. Boring, perhaps…but appropriate. The keys to the offense at the beginning of the season were handed to sixth-year senior Todd Boeckmann, an efficient field general who took the Buckeyes to the National Title game last year. But he was ousted midstream against USC, when head coach Jim Tressel pulled the trigger on true freshman, dual threat quarterback, Terrelle Pryor. The Buckeyes never looked back. The offense, originally pro-style and founded on power running by Beanie Wells, was quickly converted to a shotgun spread, with the focus coming from the arm and rushing of their quarterback. As Pryor was adjusting to his role as starter, a running back-by-committee approach was utilized until Wells recovered from a foot injury. With Wells healthy again, the conundrum of how the offense would be structured arose – shotgun zone read (befitting Pryor) or pro-style I-formation (befitting Wells). How about both? The Buckeyes have lined up in everything from a double-tight end formation to a variation of the pistol, eventually holding the 28th-best rushing offense in the FBS (3rd in the Big Ten, 193 yards/game). What’s so dynamic is the Buckeyes’ ability to bruise defenses between the tackles with the 6‘ 1”, 237 pound Wells or have them chasing tread marks made by Pryor’s graceful speed. Despite Wells’ injury, Boeckmann’s benching and Pryor’s inexperience, Ohio State still managed to keep the offense churning enough to take a share of the Big Ten title.
An area of concern for the Buckeyes, however, is their diminished passing attack. It is not at all a reflection of their flashy receiving duo, Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie, that Pryor’s maturation as an efficient passer is an ongoing process. Ohio State has fallen to 105th in the FBS in passing with 148 yards/game, but this may be aided somewhat by the Longhorns’ inability to stop the pass.

Texas has surrendered 266 yards/game through the air (albeit generally against the pass-heavy Big 12 conference). Just as misleading could be Texas’ 2nd ranked rushing defense in the FBS (74 yards/game) although they were able to hold Big 12 Champion Oklahoma to just 1.8 yards/carry. Further, their top tacklers come from not only their linebackers (Roddrick Muckelroy first in team tackles with 96 total), but also the safety positions – Earl Thomas and Blake Gideon are the next top tacklers behind Muckelroy. While safety play is often associated with managing the pass defense, their utility and required expertise has grown substantially with the evolution of running quarterbacks – you can’t contain rushing quarterbacks off the edge with poor safety play. Thus, it may come in handy for Texas that their safeties already possess the ability to find the ball and bring the rusher down. With that being said, one could argue that senior defensive end Brian Orakpo may prove to be the playmaker needed to slow down Ohio State’s attack. He’s sacked quarterbacks 10.5 times and also leads his defense in tackles-for-loss with 15. In passing situations Pryor has shown a tendency to either hold on to the ball too long or scramble too much before taking off down field, causing numerous drive-killing sacks. If Orakpo has a big day, he may all but eliminate Ohio State’s passing ability single-handedly.

When the Longhorns Have the Ball

As everyone knows, Texas boasts an elite quarterback in junior Colt McCoy, and not surprisingly, he is the anchoring point of their offense. This Heisman Trophy finalist made his job look simplistic while accumulating statistics a sixteen-year-old would be proud of coming from his Xbox: 3,445 yards, 32 touchdowns and only seven interceptions while completing 78 percent of his passes for an astronomical rating of 179. Not enough? How about the fact that McCoy also leads his team in rushing with 576 yards (4.5 average) and 10 touchdowns? The task sounds simple enough–stop McCoy and you win. But the Longhorns receiving corps won’t make that an easy task for the Buckeyes. Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby have been found by McCoy almost equally this year and have combined for 157 receptions, 1,934 yards and 19 touchdowns. Both are less than six feet tall, but what they lack in size, they make up for by possessing great speed and hands. Shipley also just happens to double as a playmaker in the return game, posting touchdowns from a kickoff and punt return against Oklahoma and Texas Tech, respectively. Altogether McCoy and company finished 11th in the FBS with 300 yards/game passing, which will be directly in the crosshairs of the Buckeyes’ 7th ranked pass defense (164 yards/game).

This may be another case of statistical inflation as the Buckeyes saw only one passing offense in the Big Ten that was in the top 20 in passing offense (Illinois).
Less of a statistical anomaly would be their stoutness against the run, as they surrendered only 115 yards/game on the ground. The Ohio State defensive leadership comes from their all-everything middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, who led the team in tackles and sacks (four) and combined with outside linebacker Marcus Freeman for 197 tackles and 7.5 sacks. Yet, as they are stronger against the run, it is plausible to see Texas in the shotgun, passing for 80 percent of their plays. This will call for senior (and leader of the secondary) cornerback Malcolm Jenkins to step up against the strength of Texas’ passing game. Jenkins and fellow defensive back Kurt Coleman combined for seven interceptions and 14 pass-breakups. Their ability to lockdown on Cosby and Shipley could be the match-ups which dictate how well the Longhorns can move the ball.

Final Analysis

This match-up seems to favor Texas on paper – great leadership and ability from their quarterback and defense. Ohio State is suffering a minor identity crisis in its passing game and may have to rely on Beanie Wells for 200 yards rushing to stand a chance. However, recent reports are sprouting suggesting that Ohio State may come out in offensive sets where both Boeckmann and Pryor are on the field at the same time. I am reticent in believing a gimmick offense (which has been employed in high school offenses as the “A11” set) would be the answer for a team that has confidence to beat their opponents outright. But is that not exactly what happened a few years ago when David (Boise St.) took down Goliath (Oklahoma) in this very same Bowl game? And, what about the emotional preparation on the Texas sideline as they went from National Title contenders to Big 12 contenders, to hopes for an at-large BCS bid? That has to be deflating. And that’s why the nod has to go to…the Longhorns. Why? The one word that describes what Ohio State has been lacking when facing tough opponents in the big game the last two years? Adjustment.

CFI Prediction: Texas 37, Ohio State 27

Photo Credit: College Press Box, University of Texas Athletics, OSU Athletics