Before the college football season begins, there are many player’s and coaches that get put on “Watch list’s” and all other sorts of lists of player’s who could possibly win such award. Though really impossible to predict who is going to win each award, It’s that time of season to predict who might. Here is the top three players that have the best chance and the one player that will win the award
MAXWELL AWARD- 1.) Denard Robinson, Michigan. 2.) Landry Jones, Oklahoma. 3.) Matt Barkley, USC.
The Maxwell is the award for the player of the year. Though Denard may not be the prototypical NFL quarterback, he sure is exciting to watch. He is the sole-reason that Michigan is back in National relevance and is one hard player to slow down. He gives defensive coordinators nightmares when game-planning for him. Though both Jones and Barkley are better NFL prospects, I don’t think anybody else is more exciting than Denard Robinson.
COACH OF THE YEAR- 1.) Bill O’Brien, Penn State 2.) Steve Spurrier, South Carolina. 3.) Chris Peterson, Boise State.
This is the sentimental pick with O’Brien. If Penn State can actually have a decent record after the season and off-season that they have been through, then I think O’Brien wins this award on sentiment alone. Peterson from Boise State is a relevant name all over the country. He is one of the best coaches in college football and if Boise State can go to Michigan State in Week 1 and pull off the upset, the Broncos could be eyeing a BCS game. Spurrier will have the GameCocks in a prime position to win the SEC this year and he will be a big part of it.
DOAK WALKER AWARD- 1.) De’Anthony Thomas, Oregon. 2.) Montee Ball, Wisconsin. 3.) David Wilson, Virginia Tech.
This award is for the nation’s best running back. When it comes to flash and speed, there is no question that D’Anthony Thomas is the fastest back in College Football. With Oregon’s first couple games being at home and against easy teams, Thomas could rush for many many yards. Ball was great last year, there is no doubt about it but this year Wisconsin’s passing game won’t be as good this year, neither will the offense-line. Wilson at Virginia Tech will be a work-horse for the Hokies and could be a dark-horse for this award.
DAVEY O’BRIEN AWARD- 1.) Aaron Murray, Georgia. 2.) Matt Barkley, USC. 3.) Alex Carder, Western Michigan.
This award is for the nation’s best quarterback. The way Aaron Murray played during the end of the season, makes me think that a whole off-season will suit him well this year. Barkley has a lot of weapons like said and he will definantly put up some huge numbers. And you might be thinking who is this last guy, but Alex Carder is the best quarterback in the MAC and in the WMU passing offense, he put’s up HUGE numbers!
BLIENTNKOFF AWARD- 1.) Robert Woods, USC. 2.) Kenny Stills, Oklahoma. 3.) Sammy Watkins, Clemson
This award is for the nation’s best receiver. Woods is the main target for quarterback Matt Barkley and the USC offense and in the Pac-12 where defense is not a huge priority, he’ll be the nation’s best. Stills and Watkins are also in conference’s that don’t care to much for the defensive side of the ball, but both have quarterback’s that may rely on them a little bit too much.
HEISMAN TROPHY- 1.) Casey Paschall, TCU. 2.) Matt Barkley, USC. 3.) D’Anthony Thomas, Oregon. 4.) Alex Carder, Western Michigan. 5.) Landry Jones, Oklahoma. 6.) Aaron Murray, Georgia. 7.) Tyler Wilson, Arkansas. 8.) Keith Price, Washington.
The most hallowed trophy besides the national championship is the heisman trophy. The award that goes to the best player in all of college football and I think these are some of the prime performers that could make a case that they will be the heisman trophy finalists.
Stay tuned for my full Heisman run-down of the top 20 players that I believe will win the Heisman trophy.
Follow me on twitter- @npalcowski22 for any updates on college football, Western Michigan or any other news involving the sports world.
Considering David Wilson is in the NFL, I don’t think he’s going to be a workhorse for Virginia Tech at all. Also, replace Carder with Geno Smith. A small school QB can’t be the nation’s top QB. Take Case Keenum’s numbers for instance.
Also, Alex Carder for Heisman at fourth place is not going to happen. He’s not even going to come close. He won’t be invited to the ceremony, and he won’t come close to placing in the top 10.
Ok, was wrong about the David Wilson thing. I will give you that one. But Western Michigan Quarterback Alex Carder has a real chance to put up numbers, especially in the MAC. If WMU can go undefeated, which they have a chance to, then there is no doubt that I think he can be invited for the heisman.
Carder last year had more yards than Matt Barkley, Andrew Luck and was only 175 yards less than the heisman trophy winner Robert Griffin III. I understand it may be a long shot but I am not ruling out the possibility. Check out my other article,where I give you the top 20 Heisman candidates in my eyes. There is where I think you will be alright with the players.
Carder fourth place for the Heisman? There could not be less of a chance of that happening. Over Tyler Wilson, Logan Thomas, Marcus Lattimore, Montee Ball, Landry Jones, Aaron Murray, Robert Woods, Geno Smith, and Keenan Allen? You think a quarterback from Western Michigan will get more Heisman votes than all of them? That’s absurd. A player from the MAC has zero chance of coming anywhere near the top five in today’s world.