Time for CFB 365's plays of the year. These were my personal favorite plays. There is no argument on the order because I am right. That is all.
10. London Crawford
9. Beanie Wells
8. Knowshon Moreno
7. James Rodgers
6. Sam Bradford
5. Middle Tennessee
4. Buffalo
3. Brandon Spikes
2. Michael Crabtree
1. Edwin Baptiste
Showing posts with label Knowshon Moreno. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Knowshon Moreno. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Q&A with Catfish and Cornbread
The good 'ol boys of Catfish and Cornbread were nice enough to partake in a little Q&A session with me today. I've been a big fan of their blog since I stumbled across it a few months back. If you ever have the urge to find out if Richard Seymour was still an asshole in college, or how good Robert Edwards was before his catastrophic knee injury, or even how far Matthew Stafford can really chuck a keg, I suggest you check 'em out.
C&C was nice enough to allow me to weigh in on a few topics as well. Please take a look at their site and feel free to leave comments professing my awesomeness.
Q..A.J. Green came into Athens with all kinds of hype. It seems he has lived up to expectations thus far. How has he revitalized UGA's passing attack?
C&C: Well, he's definitely lived up to the hype. I'm comfortable saying he is already one of the best wide receivers to play between the hedges. If he stays healthy, he should shatter all of Georgia's receiving records. Nobody will ever mistake Georgia for WR U. Even Hines Ward spent half his time in Athens at quarterback or tailback. Over the years the Dawgs have had a hard time putting a legitimate homerun threat at WR. Green has completely changed that. He has helped revitalize the passing attack by having another talented option on the opposite side of senior Mohamad Massaquoi. It's well known the problems UGA receivers have had at dropping passes throughout the Richt years too, which have seemed to come at the worst times in recent WLOCP games (2002 and 2005 really stand out). With AJ and MoMass those dropped passes seem to be in the past. Another thing Florida fans will notice this year is that Georgia focuses a lot more on the wide receivers in the passing game instead of the tight end threats that Georgia has had in the past.
C&C was nice enough to allow me to weigh in on a few topics as well. Please take a look at their site and feel free to leave comments professing my awesomeness.
Q..A.J. Green came into Athens with all kinds of hype. It seems he has lived up to expectations thus far. How has he revitalized UGA's passing attack?
C&C: Well, he's definitely lived up to the hype. I'm comfortable saying he is already one of the best wide receivers to play between the hedges. If he stays healthy, he should shatter all of Georgia's receiving records. Nobody will ever mistake Georgia for WR U. Even Hines Ward spent half his time in Athens at quarterback or tailback. Over the years the Dawgs have had a hard time putting a legitimate homerun threat at WR. Green has completely changed that. He has helped revitalize the passing attack by having another talented option on the opposite side of senior Mohamad Massaquoi. It's well known the problems UGA receivers have had at dropping passes throughout the Richt years too, which have seemed to come at the worst times in recent WLOCP games (2002 and 2005 really stand out). With AJ and MoMass those dropped passes seem to be in the past. Another thing Florida fans will notice this year is that Georgia focuses a lot more on the wide receivers in the passing game instead of the tight end threats that Georgia has had in the past.
C&C: Stacy Searles, Stacy Searles, Stacy Searles. Our offensive line coach is arguably the best position coach nobody has heard of. The man is a miracle worker. He's in his second year at Georgia after CMR hired him away from LSU. He is the mastermind behind a lot of the dominate LSU lines of recent years. Last year he did it with 2 true freshmen and a redshirt freshman as starters. This year he's working his magic with all underclassmen, including two more true freshmen as starters. Because of season ending injuries, Searles is on his 3rd left tackle of the season. Also, it needs to be pointed out how great of a player Clint Boling has been. He started as a true freshman at guard after coming in as an under the radar recruit. He has since moved from guard to left tackle to fill in for all the injuries and hasn't missed a step. Watch the true freshman center Ben Jones too. He plays with bad intentions. Reminds me of a David Pollack.
Q.Last year, Knowshon Moreno completely dismantled the Gator defense. Do you see him having another big day in Jacksonville?
C&C: I think this goes along with the previous question. If Georgia's young offensive line can get lathered up, Knowshow will go off again. If Florida can manhandle Georgia's young pups up front, it could be tough sledding for Moreno. Florida jumping out to an early 2 score lead would be an ideal situation for the Gators to slow Moreno (see Alabama game). The facts are, Moreno is 14-1 as a starter for Georgia. He has only be stopped once (Bama) and slowed down once (tech). He has over 2200 yards rushing and 26 touchdowns in his year and a half playing in Athens. If he gets under 100 yards Florida is winning. Over 130 yards and Georgia is winning. In between those rushing numbers and it probably comes down to one of the FG kickers at the end.
Q. Outside of Moreno, no other Bulldog impresses me more than Asher Allen. How important is Allen to the entire Bulldog team?
C&C: This is a very keen observation on your part. Asher is the real deal at corner. He doesn't have blazing speed, but is as technically sound a corner as has ever played at Georgia. He is very sound in the running game too. One of his best strengths is his ability to be such a physical corner. Now because of this, Georgia fans have watched with frustration everyone we play pick on the wide corner opposite Asher. Allen is extremely important to the Georgia defense and team as a whole. Simply put, he is one of the most important leaders on the team. Look for him to possibly get a punt return in also as we rotate about 3 returners each game.
C&C: I can see how this WLOCP could be considered the biggest ever. Obviously there are the implications of what the winner gets…outside of a miracle – the SEC East title and a trip to Atlanta, not to mention the inside track to an at-large BCS bowl and a decent shot at the chance to play themselves into the National Title game. For those reasons it's as big as ever. In the rivalry it's as big as ever also. It's well documented that from 1990-present Florida is 15-3 in the rivalry and from 1971-1989 Georgia was 15-4. Most those games were due to outmatched coaching on one side or the other. I don't believe that is the case anymore. Should Georgia win, it will be 3 of the last 5 and finally 2 straight. The mental block of Florida would probably be put to bed. Should Florida win does it become same song different verse? Yeah, it's huge.
C&C: I love the game in Jacksonville. Heads should roll if the game is ever played home and home. Even the Jacksonville and Georgia Dome theory is a crock. The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party is an institution. It's what we have that makes this game different from all others. My grandparents went to the game in Jacksonville for 24 straight years. My wife and newborn daughter are on our way to St. Simons as I'm answering these questions now. There is nothing more important in SEC football than one word…TRADITION. The WLOCP in Jacksonville is one of the finest traditions in America. Dawgs flood Amelia, Jekyll, and St. Simons with family and friends, playing golf, fishing, and partying in anticipation of the game in Jacksonville. As undergraduates about 10 of us with dates would always stay at a friend's great place in Ponte Vedra. I pray the powers that be never take it away. That atmosphere before the game could never be duplicated anywhere else. The college football eyes are always on this game where the stands are split 50/50. I also know how great this game and location is from a players perspective. It's like having a bowl game in the middle of the season.
C&C: "It was a bad deal. It will forever be in the mind of Urban Meyer and in the mind of our football team. We'll handle it and it's going to be a big deal." – Classic. I do think it added fuel to the fire. The biggest thing though is Georgia winning the game. Georgia and Florida splitting the last 4 in the series is a bigger deal to the rivalry than the celebration. The fact is that the celebration will go down in WLOCP history though. Another thing that Florida fans should know is that that stunt was the coming out party for 'Evil Richt'. Georgia fans had always wanted CMR to show more fire. It endeared him to the fan base as much as anything ever has.
Q.Last year, Knowshon Moreno completely dismantled the Gator defense. Do you see him having another big day in Jacksonville?
C&C: I think this goes along with the previous question. If Georgia's young offensive line can get lathered up, Knowshow will go off again. If Florida can manhandle Georgia's young pups up front, it could be tough sledding for Moreno. Florida jumping out to an early 2 score lead would be an ideal situation for the Gators to slow Moreno (see Alabama game). The facts are, Moreno is 14-1 as a starter for Georgia. He has only be stopped once (Bama) and slowed down once (tech). He has over 2200 yards rushing and 26 touchdowns in his year and a half playing in Athens. If he gets under 100 yards Florida is winning. Over 130 yards and Georgia is winning. In between those rushing numbers and it probably comes down to one of the FG kickers at the end.
Q. Outside of Moreno, no other Bulldog impresses me more than Asher Allen. How important is Allen to the entire Bulldog team?
C&C: This is a very keen observation on your part. Asher is the real deal at corner. He doesn't have blazing speed, but is as technically sound a corner as has ever played at Georgia. He is very sound in the running game too. One of his best strengths is his ability to be such a physical corner. Now because of this, Georgia fans have watched with frustration everyone we play pick on the wide corner opposite Asher. Allen is extremely important to the Georgia defense and team as a whole. Simply put, he is one of the most important leaders on the team. Look for him to possibly get a punt return in also as we rotate about 3 returners each game.
C&C: I can see how this WLOCP could be considered the biggest ever. Obviously there are the implications of what the winner gets…outside of a miracle – the SEC East title and a trip to Atlanta, not to mention the inside track to an at-large BCS bowl and a decent shot at the chance to play themselves into the National Title game. For those reasons it's as big as ever. In the rivalry it's as big as ever also. It's well documented that from 1990-present Florida is 15-3 in the rivalry and from 1971-1989 Georgia was 15-4. Most those games were due to outmatched coaching on one side or the other. I don't believe that is the case anymore. Should Georgia win, it will be 3 of the last 5 and finally 2 straight. The mental block of Florida would probably be put to bed. Should Florida win does it become same song different verse? Yeah, it's huge.
C&C: I love the game in Jacksonville. Heads should roll if the game is ever played home and home. Even the Jacksonville and Georgia Dome theory is a crock. The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party is an institution. It's what we have that makes this game different from all others. My grandparents went to the game in Jacksonville for 24 straight years. My wife and newborn daughter are on our way to St. Simons as I'm answering these questions now. There is nothing more important in SEC football than one word…TRADITION. The WLOCP in Jacksonville is one of the finest traditions in America. Dawgs flood Amelia, Jekyll, and St. Simons with family and friends, playing golf, fishing, and partying in anticipation of the game in Jacksonville. As undergraduates about 10 of us with dates would always stay at a friend's great place in Ponte Vedra. I pray the powers that be never take it away. That atmosphere before the game could never be duplicated anywhere else. The college football eyes are always on this game where the stands are split 50/50. I also know how great this game and location is from a players perspective. It's like having a bowl game in the middle of the season.
C&C: "It was a bad deal. It will forever be in the mind of Urban Meyer and in the mind of our football team. We'll handle it and it's going to be a big deal." – Classic. I do think it added fuel to the fire. The biggest thing though is Georgia winning the game. Georgia and Florida splitting the last 4 in the series is a bigger deal to the rivalry than the celebration. The fact is that the celebration will go down in WLOCP history though. Another thing that Florida fans should know is that that stunt was the coming out party for 'Evil Richt'. Georgia fans had always wanted CMR to show more fire. It endeared him to the fan base as much as anything ever has.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Heisman Watch
With each passing week, more and more Heisman "contenders" are filtered out of the system. The same was true for this past week. Chase Clement is no longer a dark horse candidate after he laid an egg vs. Texas. Rudy Carpenter removed his name from the hat as well.
There is a ton of candidates still out there vying for position on my prestigious Heisman list. Without further ado, here is this week's Heisman watch.
1. Chase Daniel - Missouri QB
Week 4 vs. Buffalo
36-43 439 yds 2 tds
Season Totals
101-143 1412 yds 12 tds 1 int
Daniel put in another quality performance against Buffalo this week. The Missouri offense is clicking rather nicely right now. The Tigers are easily the most impressive offense in this early season. Daniel has not used his feet quite as much as last year, but with his passing numbers, he won't have to.
2. Javon Ringer - Michigan St. RB
Week 4 vs. Notre Dame
39 201 yds 2 tds
Season Totals
143 699 yds 11 tds
Ringer was under considerable pressure this week after he made my Heisman watch for the first time last week. Javon ran right through that pressure like a cowering Notre Dame safety. Ringer once again carried his Spartans to a victory. No other tailback in the nation carries the load of his team more than Ringer does. As a class move, Javon did his postgame interview with his entire offensive line behind him.
3. Knowshon Moreno - Georgia RB
Week 4 vs. Arizona St.
23 149 yds 2 tds
Season Totals
69 455 yds 9 tds
While Ringer is the workhorse type tailback, Moreno is the electrifying, highlight inducing tailback. We all know highlights are what make Heisman winners. Moreno performed another acrobatic leap this week, this time for a score in the Bulldogs win in the desert. If Moreno performs the same against 'Bama, he could jump to the top of this list.
4. Sam Bradford - Oklahoma QB
Week 4 - Bye
Season Totals
64-81 882 yds 12 tds 2 ints
Bradford slips a bit this week just because he didn't play. I reward no one for not playing! (Except maybe Tebow) Bradford will face a stiff test against TCU this week. If he's able to pass with flying colors, he should be right back at the top of this list.
5. Tim Tebow - Florida QB
Week 4 vs. Tennessee
Passing
8-15 96 yds 2 tds
Rushing
12 26 yds
Season Totals
Passing
38- 64 489 yds 5 tds
Rushing
34 118 yds
Sure Tebow's numbers aren't going to blow anybody away this season. However, he is playing very good football right now for a dominant Gator football team. Tebow has yet to turn the ball over this season. Also, as the defending Heisman award winner, Tebow will stay on this list until he screws up.
The Next Five
There is a ton of candidates still out there vying for position on my prestigious Heisman list. Without further ado, here is this week's Heisman watch.
1. Chase Daniel - Missouri QB
Week 4 vs. Buffalo
36-43 439 yds 2 tds
Season Totals
101-143 1412 yds 12 tds 1 int
Daniel put in another quality performance against Buffalo this week. The Missouri offense is clicking rather nicely right now. The Tigers are easily the most impressive offense in this early season. Daniel has not used his feet quite as much as last year, but with his passing numbers, he won't have to.
2. Javon Ringer - Michigan St. RB
Week 4 vs. Notre Dame
39 201 yds 2 tds
Season Totals
143 699 yds 11 tds
Ringer was under considerable pressure this week after he made my Heisman watch for the first time last week. Javon ran right through that pressure like a cowering Notre Dame safety. Ringer once again carried his Spartans to a victory. No other tailback in the nation carries the load of his team more than Ringer does. As a class move, Javon did his postgame interview with his entire offensive line behind him.
3. Knowshon Moreno - Georgia RB
Week 4 vs. Arizona St.
23 149 yds 2 tds
Season Totals
69 455 yds 9 tds
While Ringer is the workhorse type tailback, Moreno is the electrifying, highlight inducing tailback. We all know highlights are what make Heisman winners. Moreno performed another acrobatic leap this week, this time for a score in the Bulldogs win in the desert. If Moreno performs the same against 'Bama, he could jump to the top of this list.
4. Sam Bradford - Oklahoma QB
Week 4 - Bye
Season Totals
64-81 882 yds 12 tds 2 ints
Bradford slips a bit this week just because he didn't play. I reward no one for not playing! (Except maybe Tebow) Bradford will face a stiff test against TCU this week. If he's able to pass with flying colors, he should be right back at the top of this list.
5. Tim Tebow - Florida QB
Week 4 vs. Tennessee
Passing
8-15 96 yds 2 tds
Rushing
12 26 yds
Season Totals
Passing
38- 64 489 yds 5 tds
Rushing
34 118 yds
Sure Tebow's numbers aren't going to blow anybody away this season. However, he is playing very good football right now for a dominant Gator football team. Tebow has yet to turn the ball over this season. Also, as the defending Heisman award winner, Tebow will stay on this list until he screws up.
The Next Five
- Colt McCoy Texas QB
- Graham Harrell Texas Tech QB
- Jeremy Maclin Missouri WR
- Donald Brown Connecticut RB
- Brandon James Florida RS
Monday, September 15, 2008
Heisman Watch
The Heisman race is starting to gain a little more clarity after week 3. That being said, it is still extremely difficult to pick the top performers after only 2 or 3 games.
As you might have noticed, there has been a great degree of variance from week to week in my Heisman watch.
Here is this week's edition.
1. Sam Bradford - Oklahoma QB
Week 3 vs. Washington
18-21 304 yards 5 tds
Season Totals
64-81 882 yards 12 tds 2 ints
Once again, Bradford put in another brilliant performance. This guy is one of the more efficient passers in the nation. I believe he is already better than Jason White and Josh Heupel, 2 of Bob Stoops' most accomplished QB's. The Big XII is a conference of quarterbacks, and Sam Bradford is the best of them.
2. Chase Daniel - Missouri QB
Week 3 vs. Nevada
23-38 405 yards 4 tds
Season Totals
65-100 973 yards 10 tds 1 int
Bradford might be the best QB in the Big XII, but Chase Daniel is very close behind him. Daniel put up some monstrous numbers against a very solid Nevada team. Daniel seems to be a shoe-in to make it back-to-back trips to New York City this season. Daniel to Maclin is fast becoming the most dangerous duo in the nation.
3. Tim Tebow - Florida QB
Week 3 Bye
Season Totals
Passing- 30-49 393 yards 3 tds
Rushing- 22 92 yards
Nothing new for Tebow as his Florida Gators had a bye week. Tennessee is coming up next for Florida. That's really good news for Tebow. He always seems to kick it up a notch for the Vols.
4. Javon Ringer - Michigan St. RB
Week 3 vs. Florida Atlantic
43 282 yards 2 tds
Season Totals
104 498 yards 9 tds
Ringer is a new addition to my top 5. His monster performance earned him Big Eleven offensive player of the week honors. Ringer is the truest definition of a workhorse. Michigan St. will look to ride him to a possible Big Eleven championship.
5. Knowshon Moreno - Georgia RB
Week 3 vs. South Carolina
20 79 yards 1 tds
Season Totals
46 306 yards 7 tds
Moreno didn't put up staggering numbers this week. However, he did score a touchdown against a very tough Gamecock defense. Moreno is still the most exciting back in the country. For that, he remains in my top 5. Imagine the numbers he would be able to put up if Stafford stopped chucking kegs long enough to throw a decent pass.
The Next Five
As you might have noticed, there has been a great degree of variance from week to week in my Heisman watch.
Here is this week's edition.
1. Sam Bradford - Oklahoma QB
Week 3 vs. Washington
18-21 304 yards 5 tds
Season Totals
64-81 882 yards 12 tds 2 ints
Once again, Bradford put in another brilliant performance. This guy is one of the more efficient passers in the nation. I believe he is already better than Jason White and Josh Heupel, 2 of Bob Stoops' most accomplished QB's. The Big XII is a conference of quarterbacks, and Sam Bradford is the best of them.
2. Chase Daniel - Missouri QB
Week 3 vs. Nevada
23-38 405 yards 4 tds
Season Totals
65-100 973 yards 10 tds 1 int
Bradford might be the best QB in the Big XII, but Chase Daniel is very close behind him. Daniel put up some monstrous numbers against a very solid Nevada team. Daniel seems to be a shoe-in to make it back-to-back trips to New York City this season. Daniel to Maclin is fast becoming the most dangerous duo in the nation.
3. Tim Tebow - Florida QB
Week 3 Bye
Season Totals
Passing- 30-49 393 yards 3 tds
Rushing- 22 92 yards
Nothing new for Tebow as his Florida Gators had a bye week. Tennessee is coming up next for Florida. That's really good news for Tebow. He always seems to kick it up a notch for the Vols.
4. Javon Ringer - Michigan St. RB
Week 3 vs. Florida Atlantic
43 282 yards 2 tds
Season Totals
104 498 yards 9 tds
Ringer is a new addition to my top 5. His monster performance earned him Big Eleven offensive player of the week honors. Ringer is the truest definition of a workhorse. Michigan St. will look to ride him to a possible Big Eleven championship.
5. Knowshon Moreno - Georgia RB
Week 3 vs. South Carolina
20 79 yards 1 tds
Season Totals
46 306 yards 7 tds
Moreno didn't put up staggering numbers this week. However, he did score a touchdown against a very tough Gamecock defense. Moreno is still the most exciting back in the country. For that, he remains in my top 5. Imagine the numbers he would be able to put up if Stafford stopped chucking kegs long enough to throw a decent pass.
The Next Five
- Colt McCoy Texas QB
- Graham Harrell Texas Tech QB
- Jeremy Maclin Missouri WR
- Chase Clement Rice QB
- Mark Sanchez USC QB
Monday, September 8, 2008
Heisman Watch
Week 2 was filled with some great games that provided opportunities for great players to shine. For the most part, the Heisman contenders faced stiffer competition in week 2 than they did in week 1.
Here is my Heisman watch list heading into this week.
1. Sam Bradford - Oklahoma QB
Week 2 vs. Cincinnati
29-38 395 yards 5 td 2 int
Season Totals
46- 60 578 yards 7 td 2 int
Bradford was nearly flawless vs a very stingy Cincinnati defense. His Sooners put up 52 points against the Bearcats D. I expected the game to be a lot closer than what it was, but Bradford just took the contest over. I believe this guy is the best QB in the Big 12, if not the nation. It would be interesting to see if he can keep up his stunning efficiency throughout the season.
2. Tim Tebow - Florida QB
Week 2 vs. Miami(FL)
Passing- 21-35 256 yards 2 td
Rushing- 13 55 yards
Season Totals
Passing- 30-49 393 yards 3 td
Rushing- 22 92 yards
Timmy still has yet to rush for a touchdown this season. His total of 3 touchdowns through the first two games are well below his pace of last season. However, Tebow is still playing mistake free football for the Gators, and he seemed to shine down the stretch against in-state rival Miami. If Tebow keeps up his steady play, he should be a lock to get invited to NYC.
3. Chase Daniel - Missouri QB
Week 2 vs. SE Missouri St.
16-17 245 yards 3 td
Season Totals
42- 62 568 yards 6 td 1 int
Daniel is still playing pretty impressive football for the Tigers. Missouri is looking more and more like a national title contender. Daniel is making less plays with his feet this season, but his passing his on par with some of the nation's best. Daniel didn't even play a full game against SE Missouri St. and he still managed to put up some gaudy numbers.
4. Knowshon Moreno - Georgia RB
Week 2 vs. Central Michigan
18 168 yards 3 td
Season Totals
26 227 yards 6 td
Knowshon is averaging a sick 3 touchdowns a game so far this season. Moreno showed no ill effects of the minor hamstring injury he suffered against Georgia Southern in Week 1. Knowshon helped Georgia wipe out a very decent MAC team in Central Michigan. Moreno has catapulted himself back into my top 5.
5. Chase Clement - Rice QB
Week 2 vs. Memphis
Passing- 26-44 318 yards 1 td 2 int
Rushing- 15 80 yards 2 td
Season Totals
Passing- 50-81 576 yards 7 td 2 int
Rushing- 28 167 yards 2 td
Clement is a dark horse Heisman candidate to say the least. He has the Owls headed in the right direction to start the season. Clement and WR Jarrett Dillard are among the best pass/catch tandems in the country. Granted, Clement's numbers have come against SMU and Memphis, but his numbers are very impressive nonetheless.
The Next Five
Here is my Heisman watch list heading into this week.
1. Sam Bradford - Oklahoma QB
Week 2 vs. Cincinnati
29-38 395 yards 5 td 2 int
Season Totals
46- 60 578 yards 7 td 2 int
Bradford was nearly flawless vs a very stingy Cincinnati defense. His Sooners put up 52 points against the Bearcats D. I expected the game to be a lot closer than what it was, but Bradford just took the contest over. I believe this guy is the best QB in the Big 12, if not the nation. It would be interesting to see if he can keep up his stunning efficiency throughout the season.
2. Tim Tebow - Florida QB
Week 2 vs. Miami(FL)
Passing- 21-35 256 yards 2 td
Rushing- 13 55 yards
Season Totals
Passing- 30-49 393 yards 3 td
Rushing- 22 92 yards
Timmy still has yet to rush for a touchdown this season. His total of 3 touchdowns through the first two games are well below his pace of last season. However, Tebow is still playing mistake free football for the Gators, and he seemed to shine down the stretch against in-state rival Miami. If Tebow keeps up his steady play, he should be a lock to get invited to NYC.
3. Chase Daniel - Missouri QB
Week 2 vs. SE Missouri St.
16-17 245 yards 3 td
Season Totals
42- 62 568 yards 6 td 1 int
Daniel is still playing pretty impressive football for the Tigers. Missouri is looking more and more like a national title contender. Daniel is making less plays with his feet this season, but his passing his on par with some of the nation's best. Daniel didn't even play a full game against SE Missouri St. and he still managed to put up some gaudy numbers.
4. Knowshon Moreno - Georgia RB
Week 2 vs. Central Michigan
18 168 yards 3 td
Season Totals
26 227 yards 6 td
Knowshon is averaging a sick 3 touchdowns a game so far this season. Moreno showed no ill effects of the minor hamstring injury he suffered against Georgia Southern in Week 1. Knowshon helped Georgia wipe out a very decent MAC team in Central Michigan. Moreno has catapulted himself back into my top 5.
5. Chase Clement - Rice QB
Week 2 vs. Memphis
Passing- 26-44 318 yards 1 td 2 int
Rushing- 15 80 yards 2 td
Season Totals
Passing- 50-81 576 yards 7 td 2 int
Rushing- 28 167 yards 2 td
Clement is a dark horse Heisman candidate to say the least. He has the Owls headed in the right direction to start the season. Clement and WR Jarrett Dillard are among the best pass/catch tandems in the country. Granted, Clement's numbers have come against SMU and Memphis, but his numbers are very impressive nonetheless.
The Next Five
- Colt McCoy Texas QB
- P.J. Hill Wisconsin RB
- Jahvid Best California RB
- Chris Wells Ohio St. RB
- David Johnson Tulsa QB
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Saturday's Stories
The first Saturday of the college football season is in the books. There were a bevy of nauseatingly boring games with which to choose from. As week 1 draws nearer to it's close, I would like to take a look at the top stories from Saturday.
Injured RB's.
A few teams had their opening season victories dampened by injuries to their top tailbacks. Ohio St. throttled Youngstown St. In a game that should have been headlined by Terrelle Pryor's first touchdown, Beanie Well's injury stole the show. Well's went down with a foot injury in the third quarter while attempting to score on the vaunted Penguin defense.
Georgia's Knowshon Moreno was also hit with the injury bug. Moreno left the game after grabbing his hamstring during a touchdown run against Georgia Southern. Moreno's injury does not seem to be very serious and he should be back in the lineup by next week.
Ohio St. will most likely sit Wells out of next week's historic match up vs. in state rival Ohio. This should give Beanie enough time to recoup before the USC game.
Upsets
While there were no monumental upsets like Appalachian St. over Michigan this week. There were a few games that turned some heads and caused a general "huh?" reaction from fans.
East Carolina pulled off probably the biggest upset of the week by knocking off 17th ranked Virginia Tech in Charlotte. ECU scored the go ahead touchdown by, ironically enough, blocking a Va Tech punt and returning it for a touchdown. I think Skip Holtz just bought himself a better job this off season.
Bowling Green also drank from the upset kool-aid Saturday. The Falcons defeated Dave Wannstedt's Pittsburgh team. The Panthers seem to be battling with Clemson for the title of most overly hyped underperfoming team in America. After Clemson's loss to Alabama, it's a toss up.
Most people didn't see the Texas A&M loss to Arkansas St. late Saturday night. The Red Wolves spoiled TAMU's new head coach Mike Sherman's debut. I don't care how big a rebuilding year this is for the Aggies, there's no way they should ever lose to Arkansas. St.
Mississippi St. became the first SEC team of the season to lose. Louisiana Tech won the battle of the Bulldogs Saturday night. The win was the first one for La Tech over a BCS opponent in Ruston ever. I hope this doesn't start a trend for Sly Croom's bunch.
I would include Utah over Michigan, but I don't consider that an upset. The Utes proved they were a superior team with superior players in Ann Arbor. RichRod has a lot of work to do with his bunch. On the bright side, I think the Wolverines have found their starting QB in Steven Threet.
Coaching Debuts
I've already talked about the losing debuts of Mike Sherman at Texas A&M and Rich Rodriguez at Michigan, respectively. A few other coaches made their debut with their teams on Saturday. Here's how they fared:
Greg McMackin, Hawaii - Got stomped by the Gators 56-10.
Bill Stewart, West Virginia - Defeated Villanova with the best passing performance of Pat White's career.
Paul Wulff, Wasshington St. - Lost to Oklahoma St. in Seattle. Wazzou fans are already booing the new regime.
Ken Niumatalolo, Navy - His Midshipmen throttled Towson in Annapolis.
Bobby Petrino, Arkansas - Barely won against 1-aa Western Illinois. I was hoping for the upset all the way through. If Arkansas continues that level of play, they will be horrendous this season.
Jerry Kill, Northern Illinois - Almost pulled off the mild upset against the worst BCS team in the nation, Minnesota.
Houston Nutt, Ole Miss - The Rebels manhandled rival Memphis in a game that I thought would be a lot closer.
David Cutcliffe, Duke - Defeated James Madison. Hey, at Duke, a win's a win.
Bo Pelini, Nebraska - Destroyed Western Michigan at home.
Kevin Sumlin, Houston - Won big against Southern. His Cougars are looking very sharp.
Larry Fedora, Southern Miss - Defeated Louisiana-Lafayette. Real test comes next week.
Injured RB's.
A few teams had their opening season victories dampened by injuries to their top tailbacks. Ohio St. throttled Youngstown St. In a game that should have been headlined by Terrelle Pryor's first touchdown, Beanie Well's injury stole the show. Well's went down with a foot injury in the third quarter while attempting to score on the vaunted Penguin defense.
Georgia's Knowshon Moreno was also hit with the injury bug. Moreno left the game after grabbing his hamstring during a touchdown run against Georgia Southern. Moreno's injury does not seem to be very serious and he should be back in the lineup by next week.
Ohio St. will most likely sit Wells out of next week's historic match up vs. in state rival Ohio. This should give Beanie enough time to recoup before the USC game.
Upsets
While there were no monumental upsets like Appalachian St. over Michigan this week. There were a few games that turned some heads and caused a general "huh?" reaction from fans.
East Carolina pulled off probably the biggest upset of the week by knocking off 17th ranked Virginia Tech in Charlotte. ECU scored the go ahead touchdown by, ironically enough, blocking a Va Tech punt and returning it for a touchdown. I think Skip Holtz just bought himself a better job this off season.
Bowling Green also drank from the upset kool-aid Saturday. The Falcons defeated Dave Wannstedt's Pittsburgh team. The Panthers seem to be battling with Clemson for the title of most overly hyped underperfoming team in America. After Clemson's loss to Alabama, it's a toss up.
Most people didn't see the Texas A&M loss to Arkansas St. late Saturday night. The Red Wolves spoiled TAMU's new head coach Mike Sherman's debut. I don't care how big a rebuilding year this is for the Aggies, there's no way they should ever lose to Arkansas. St.
Mississippi St. became the first SEC team of the season to lose. Louisiana Tech won the battle of the Bulldogs Saturday night. The win was the first one for La Tech over a BCS opponent in Ruston ever. I hope this doesn't start a trend for Sly Croom's bunch.
I would include Utah over Michigan, but I don't consider that an upset. The Utes proved they were a superior team with superior players in Ann Arbor. RichRod has a lot of work to do with his bunch. On the bright side, I think the Wolverines have found their starting QB in Steven Threet.
Coaching Debuts
I've already talked about the losing debuts of Mike Sherman at Texas A&M and Rich Rodriguez at Michigan, respectively. A few other coaches made their debut with their teams on Saturday. Here's how they fared:
Greg McMackin, Hawaii - Got stomped by the Gators 56-10.
Bill Stewart, West Virginia - Defeated Villanova with the best passing performance of Pat White's career.
Paul Wulff, Wasshington St. - Lost to Oklahoma St. in Seattle. Wazzou fans are already booing the new regime.
Ken Niumatalolo, Navy - His Midshipmen throttled Towson in Annapolis.
Bobby Petrino, Arkansas - Barely won against 1-aa Western Illinois. I was hoping for the upset all the way through. If Arkansas continues that level of play, they will be horrendous this season.
Jerry Kill, Northern Illinois - Almost pulled off the mild upset against the worst BCS team in the nation, Minnesota.
Houston Nutt, Ole Miss - The Rebels manhandled rival Memphis in a game that I thought would be a lot closer.
David Cutcliffe, Duke - Defeated James Madison. Hey, at Duke, a win's a win.
Bo Pelini, Nebraska - Destroyed Western Michigan at home.
Kevin Sumlin, Houston - Won big against Southern. His Cougars are looking very sharp.
Larry Fedora, Southern Miss - Defeated Louisiana-Lafayette. Real test comes next week.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The top 25 players: SEC
I have to find a new way to pass the time before the CFB season actually starts. What better way to do so than to list the top 25 players from every conference.
I'll do a conference a day until I break down all 1-a conferences.
Of course, I will be starting things off with the greatest thing to hit CFB since JoePa's broken leg: The SEC.
1.Tim Tebow - QB Florida- Of course the reigning Heisman trophy winner would get the number one spot. Who in the SEC could be better than the best player in the land?
2. Percy Harvin - WR Florida- I had a tough choice between Harvin and Knowshon Moreno. I went with Harvin because of his versatility. He is dangerous in the open field, and is among the fastest players in the nation.
3. Knowshon Moreno - RB Georgia - Again, Moreno could have easily been the number 2 player behind Tebow on this list. If Moreno could develop more as a pass catcher coming out of the backfield, we may have back to back Sophomore Heisman trophy winners.
4. Eric Berry - DB Tennessee - Eric Berry is the best defensive player in the SEC. He may be the best defensive player in the nation. If the Vols hope to make it back to the SEC title game, they will need to rely on Berry and their defense.
5. Greg Hardy- DL Ole Miss - Often overlooked because he plays for the woeful Rebels, Greg Hardy has consistently been one of the better defensive linemen in the nation.
6.Michael Oher - OL Ole Miss- Working against Hardy in practice has enabled Oher to take on all opposing pass rushers in the SEC. He's my choice as the top offensive lineman in the conference.
7. Matthew Stafford - QB Georgia- I have a feeling that this spot may be a little too generous for Stafford. However, he is the QB for the team that is expected to win it all. If he can build upon last year's success, Stafford could be moving up.
8. Brandon LaFell - WR LSU- LaFell will be hindered by the QB situation in Baton Rouge. Whoever Les Miles calls on will have one of the better receivers to throw to in Brandon.
9. Captain Munnerlyn - DB South Carolina- Munnerlyn is a straight up play maker for this Gamecocks defense. Who would have ever thought that a Steve Spurrier coached team would be stronger on the defensive side of the ball?
10. Brandon Spikes- LB Florida- Spikes is a candidate for the Bronko Nagurski award this season. He is a consensus pick to be the top LB in a very good SEC class.
11. Anthony Dixon - RB Mississippi St. - There's just something about Anthony Dixon that I really like. His running style is a thing of beauty. He might be my favorite non-Gator player in the nation.
12. Andre Smith - OL Alabama - Smith is HUGE. Of all the players listed on here, Smith may have the best NFL potential.
13. Keiland Williams - RB LSU - Williams may lose a little bit of his touches this season to speedster Trindon Holliday, but he is still among the best at his position.
14. Jonathan Luigs - OL Arkansas - Luigs is another top NFL prospect from the SEC West. Now I see why the West always has better ground games than the East.
15. Derek Pegues - DB Mississippi St. - The Bulldog defense should once again be very solid this season. Pegues will be a big reason for that.
16. Jasper Brinkley - LB South Carolina - Brinkley is coming off an injury-plagued season. Before last year he was among the best LB's in the nation. I look for him to return to his old form this year.
17. Ricky Jean-Francois - DL LSU - Francois also missed most of last year for the Bayou Bengals. He did come back in time to play against Ohio St. in the BCS National Championship. Ask any Buckeye fan how good he is.
18. Gino Atkins - DL Georgia- The best defensive player on one of the better defensive units in the nation. If Atkins can stay out of trouble, he will have a monster year.
19. Rolando McClain - LB Alabama - McClain will lead the Tide's defense as they try to climb back to respectability under Nick Saban.
20. Kenny McKinley - WR South Carolina - McKinley has been underrated his whole career in Columbia. With an uncertain QB situation brewing for the Gamecocks, that probably won't change.
21. Cornelius Ingram - TE Florida - Ingram is perhaps the most freakishly athletic player in the conference. I expect (and hope) Ingram will have a huge year for the Gators.
22. Anthony Parker - OL Tennessee - Even when Tennessee struggles, their running game is always good. A big part of that recently has been offensive linemen like Anthony Parker.
23. Jamar Chaney - LB Mississippi St. - Chaney made some of the biggest plays last year from the LB position. Sylvester Croom's defense looks to lead the way for the Bulldogs to make it back to back bowl berths.
24. Rico McCoy - LB Tennessee - I admit I'm still a little skeptical about McCoy. However, Rico has the skill set to be one of the best at his position.
25. Mike Wallace - WR Ole Miss - I really expect big things from Wallace this year. Like McKinley at South Carolina, Wallace has been underrated his entire career.
Next up: Whatever the hell conference I feel like doing next.
I'll do a conference a day until I break down all 1-a conferences.
Of course, I will be starting things off with the greatest thing to hit CFB since JoePa's broken leg: The SEC.
1.Tim Tebow - QB Florida- Of course the reigning Heisman trophy winner would get the number one spot. Who in the SEC could be better than the best player in the land?
2. Percy Harvin - WR Florida- I had a tough choice between Harvin and Knowshon Moreno. I went with Harvin because of his versatility. He is dangerous in the open field, and is among the fastest players in the nation.
3. Knowshon Moreno - RB Georgia - Again, Moreno could have easily been the number 2 player behind Tebow on this list. If Moreno could develop more as a pass catcher coming out of the backfield, we may have back to back Sophomore Heisman trophy winners.
4. Eric Berry - DB Tennessee - Eric Berry is the best defensive player in the SEC. He may be the best defensive player in the nation. If the Vols hope to make it back to the SEC title game, they will need to rely on Berry and their defense.
5. Greg Hardy- DL Ole Miss - Often overlooked because he plays for the woeful Rebels, Greg Hardy has consistently been one of the better defensive linemen in the nation.
6.Michael Oher - OL Ole Miss- Working against Hardy in practice has enabled Oher to take on all opposing pass rushers in the SEC. He's my choice as the top offensive lineman in the conference.
7. Matthew Stafford - QB Georgia- I have a feeling that this spot may be a little too generous for Stafford. However, he is the QB for the team that is expected to win it all. If he can build upon last year's success, Stafford could be moving up.
8. Brandon LaFell - WR LSU- LaFell will be hindered by the QB situation in Baton Rouge. Whoever Les Miles calls on will have one of the better receivers to throw to in Brandon.
9. Captain Munnerlyn - DB South Carolina- Munnerlyn is a straight up play maker for this Gamecocks defense. Who would have ever thought that a Steve Spurrier coached team would be stronger on the defensive side of the ball?
10. Brandon Spikes- LB Florida- Spikes is a candidate for the Bronko Nagurski award this season. He is a consensus pick to be the top LB in a very good SEC class.
11. Anthony Dixon - RB Mississippi St. - There's just something about Anthony Dixon that I really like. His running style is a thing of beauty. He might be my favorite non-Gator player in the nation.
12. Andre Smith - OL Alabama - Smith is HUGE. Of all the players listed on here, Smith may have the best NFL potential.
13. Keiland Williams - RB LSU - Williams may lose a little bit of his touches this season to speedster Trindon Holliday, but he is still among the best at his position.
14. Jonathan Luigs - OL Arkansas - Luigs is another top NFL prospect from the SEC West. Now I see why the West always has better ground games than the East.
15. Derek Pegues - DB Mississippi St. - The Bulldog defense should once again be very solid this season. Pegues will be a big reason for that.
16. Jasper Brinkley - LB South Carolina - Brinkley is coming off an injury-plagued season. Before last year he was among the best LB's in the nation. I look for him to return to his old form this year.
17. Ricky Jean-Francois - DL LSU - Francois also missed most of last year for the Bayou Bengals. He did come back in time to play against Ohio St. in the BCS National Championship. Ask any Buckeye fan how good he is.
18. Gino Atkins - DL Georgia- The best defensive player on one of the better defensive units in the nation. If Atkins can stay out of trouble, he will have a monster year.
19. Rolando McClain - LB Alabama - McClain will lead the Tide's defense as they try to climb back to respectability under Nick Saban.
20. Kenny McKinley - WR South Carolina - McKinley has been underrated his whole career in Columbia. With an uncertain QB situation brewing for the Gamecocks, that probably won't change.
21. Cornelius Ingram - TE Florida - Ingram is perhaps the most freakishly athletic player in the conference. I expect (and hope) Ingram will have a huge year for the Gators.
22. Anthony Parker - OL Tennessee - Even when Tennessee struggles, their running game is always good. A big part of that recently has been offensive linemen like Anthony Parker.
23. Jamar Chaney - LB Mississippi St. - Chaney made some of the biggest plays last year from the LB position. Sylvester Croom's defense looks to lead the way for the Bulldogs to make it back to back bowl berths.
24. Rico McCoy - LB Tennessee - I admit I'm still a little skeptical about McCoy. However, Rico has the skill set to be one of the best at his position.
25. Mike Wallace - WR Ole Miss - I really expect big things from Wallace this year. Like McKinley at South Carolina, Wallace has been underrated his entire career.
Next up: Whatever the hell conference I feel like doing next.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Preseason Heisman List
I really don't like making Heisman lists until December. I feel someone should earn their way onto a Heisman list by that season's performance alone.
Lately I have been getting bombarded by my friends asking me to do a Heisman watch list. So I finally gave in. I will do an updated Heisman watch list starting with this preseason list.
Here are my top-5 Heisman contenders along with the next 5 favorites. Enjoy.
1. Tim Tebow- Florida QB
Last year's stats:
Passing- 234-350 1,334 yards 32 td 6 int
Rushing- 210 895 yards 23 td
Tebow is the incumbent in this bunch. Last year, Timmy became the first Sophomore to ever win the coveted award. Tebow has said that he plans to run as much as he did last year, but the Gator coaching staff have already stated that Tebow's role in the running game will be limited. Tebow is the favorite to become only the second player ever to win the Heisman award twice.
2. Knowshon Moreno- Georgia RB
Last year's stats:
248 1,334 yards 14 td
Moreno exploded onto the scene last year thanks in part to his monster game against Tebow's Gators. Moreno became only the second Georgia player to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since 1992. That's a surprising stat for a Georgia team that prides itself on physical play. With a full season as the feature back, Moreno could be the Heisman favorite the whole season.
3.LeSean McCoy- Pittsburgh RB
Last year's stats:
276 1,328 yards 14 td
McCoy ran for over a 1,000 yards last season as a true freshman. McCoy WAS Pittsburgh's offense last season. With a developed passing game and a lot of momentum carried over from last season, McCoy could become the second Sophomore to win the Heisman in as many seasons.
4.Chris Wells- Ohio St. RB
Last year's stats:
274 1,609 yards 15 td
Beanie has a few things working in his favor in this Heisman race. He is the leading rusher among the favorites on this list; He has a popular nickname; he will play for a national title contender; and he plays for ESPN media darling Ohio St. All these could lead to Wells capturing the Heisman at the end of the season.
5.Sam Bradford- Oklahoma QB
Last year's stats:
237-341 3,121 yards 36 td 8 int
I listened to a lot of arguments last year from fans of players that they felt were jobbed by the Heisman committee. Of all the players that were mentioned, I felt that Bradford had the best case. No one expected Bradford to step in his Freshman season and lead the Sooners to a Big XII title. Bradford and Oklahoma are favorites to win the Big XII once again, and we all know Oklahoma has a recent history of producing Heisman winning QB's.
The Next 5:
Lately I have been getting bombarded by my friends asking me to do a Heisman watch list. So I finally gave in. I will do an updated Heisman watch list starting with this preseason list.
Here are my top-5 Heisman contenders along with the next 5 favorites. Enjoy.
1. Tim Tebow- Florida QB
Last year's stats:
Passing- 234-350 1,334 yards 32 td 6 int
Rushing- 210 895 yards 23 td
Tebow is the incumbent in this bunch. Last year, Timmy became the first Sophomore to ever win the coveted award. Tebow has said that he plans to run as much as he did last year, but the Gator coaching staff have already stated that Tebow's role in the running game will be limited. Tebow is the favorite to become only the second player ever to win the Heisman award twice.
2. Knowshon Moreno- Georgia RB
Last year's stats:
248 1,334 yards 14 td
Moreno exploded onto the scene last year thanks in part to his monster game against Tebow's Gators. Moreno became only the second Georgia player to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since 1992. That's a surprising stat for a Georgia team that prides itself on physical play. With a full season as the feature back, Moreno could be the Heisman favorite the whole season.
3.LeSean McCoy- Pittsburgh RB
Last year's stats:
276 1,328 yards 14 td
McCoy ran for over a 1,000 yards last season as a true freshman. McCoy WAS Pittsburgh's offense last season. With a developed passing game and a lot of momentum carried over from last season, McCoy could become the second Sophomore to win the Heisman in as many seasons.
4.Chris Wells- Ohio St. RB
Last year's stats:
274 1,609 yards 15 td
Beanie has a few things working in his favor in this Heisman race. He is the leading rusher among the favorites on this list; He has a popular nickname; he will play for a national title contender; and he plays for ESPN media darling Ohio St. All these could lead to Wells capturing the Heisman at the end of the season.
5.Sam Bradford- Oklahoma QB
Last year's stats:
237-341 3,121 yards 36 td 8 int
I listened to a lot of arguments last year from fans of players that they felt were jobbed by the Heisman committee. Of all the players that were mentioned, I felt that Bradford had the best case. No one expected Bradford to step in his Freshman season and lead the Sooners to a Big XII title. Bradford and Oklahoma are favorites to win the Big XII once again, and we all know Oklahoma has a recent history of producing Heisman winning QB's.
The Next 5:
- Chase Daniel Missouri QB
- Michael Crabtree Texas Tech WR
- Pat White West Virginia QB
- Noel Devine West Virginia RB
- Percy Harvin Florida WR
Friday, May 23, 2008
Top 25 RB'S
It's always hard to gauge how successful a running back will be, especially in college football. But since I am the epitome of greatness I will do just that.
Here are the top 25 running backs heading into the Fall.
1.Knowshon Moreno- An early Heisman favorite, Moreno had his coming out game against my Gators last season and I hate him for it.
2.LeSean McCoy- Is it a coincidence that the top 2 running backs have a different version of the name Sean? I'm naming my son Dontavishaun. Future Heisman winner baby!
3.Chris Wells- "Beanie" is continuing the tradition of tough runners at Ohio State. If the Buckeyes want to return to the NC, they will have to let Wells lead the way.
4.James Davis- Davis is a part of the best 1-2 punch in the land at Clemson. Davis will get more carries than Spiller so he's higher on the list.
5.P.J. Hill- Wisconsin has a stable of running backs that could start anywhere else in the nation. Hill is the returning leader of the running back corps. If he can stay healthy, he's one of the best.
6.C.J. Spiller- The other half of the deadly Clemson duo. I'm still a little peeved that he spurned his hometown Gators.
7.Noel Devine- Devine might not be the brightest of the running backs, but he definitely is one of the most talented. If Devine can stay out of trouble, there will be a whole lot of Heisman talk in Morgantown.
8.DeMarco Murray- Murray takes over as the feature back at Oklahoma this season. If he can keep Jermie Calhoun on the bench, Murray should be able to put up big numbers.
9.Mikell Simpson- Much like Moreno, Simpson came on strong in the middle of last season for Virginia. This guy is a speedster with plenty of open-field agility.
10.Joe McKnight- USC is adding to their legacy as Tailback U with McKnight. He'll soon have Trojan fans forgetting about Reggie Bush.
11.Eugene Jarvis- The leading returning rusher this season, Jarvis doesn't get too much pub because he plays at Kent State. Jarvis should put up huge numbers again this season with the total lack of a Golden Flash passing game.
12.Anthony Dixon- Dixon may be the toughest runner in the nation. I was thoroughly impressed with him last season. If Dixon plays well again, look for Mississippi St. to improve upon last season.
13.Javon Ringer- No matter how bad things get at Michigan St. they always seem to have a solid running game. Expectations are pretty high for the Spartans this season, and Ringer has a lot to do with that.
14.Ian Johnson- Johnson's numbers slipped a bit last season, but they were still pretty impressive. Ian Johnson and Boise St. should once again do some damage in the WAC.
15.Keiland Williams- Williams will team with Trindon Holliday to make a pretty fierce duo in LSU. Williams will get the bulk of the carries, and he should put up better than decent numbers.
16.Marcus Thigpen- Indiana will be a dangerous team in the Big Eleven this year. Thigpen, along with QB Kellen Lewis will have the Hoosiers bowling again.
17.Mike Goodson- The lightning to Jorvorskie Lane's thunder at Texas A&M, Goodson is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. His carries increased greatly last season and that trend should continue this year as well.
18.Marlon Lucky- The biggest move Bo Pelini made when he took over at Nebraska was getting Lucky to return for his senior season. The Huskers should be better than last season.
19.Damion Fletcher- Fletcher should find wider runner lanes at Southern Miss with the arrival of Larry Fedora. Look for a big senior season from Damion.
20.Kory Sheets- Sheets is an experienced back on an experienced Purdue Boilermaker team. Behind Anthony Dixon, Sheets may be the toughest runner on this list.
21.Luke Lippincott- Along with QB Colin Caepernick, Lippincott forms one of the better rushing attacks in the nation at Nevada.
22.Donald Brown- Connecticut has a solid duo in the backfield with Brown and Andre Dixon. Brown should get more of the carries as he enters Fall as the starter.
23.Jomario Thomas- Thomas had a down year, along with the rest of the North Texas team. Things should improve this season, and I expect Thomas to continue the North Texas tradition of producing 1,000 yard rushers.
24.Mike Ford- Jim Leavitt didn't use Ford as much as he should have last season at USF. I don't expect Grothe to take the same punishment he did last season, so that means more carries for Ford.
25.Chris Rainey- I'm not putting Rainey on here just because he's a Gator. I truly believe Rainey will be the answer for Florida at the running back position. Rainey, along with Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin, make a truly dangerous backfield.
Here are the top 25 running backs heading into the Fall.
1.Knowshon Moreno- An early Heisman favorite, Moreno had his coming out game against my Gators last season and I hate him for it.
2.LeSean McCoy- Is it a coincidence that the top 2 running backs have a different version of the name Sean? I'm naming my son Dontavishaun. Future Heisman winner baby!
3.Chris Wells- "Beanie" is continuing the tradition of tough runners at Ohio State. If the Buckeyes want to return to the NC, they will have to let Wells lead the way.
4.James Davis- Davis is a part of the best 1-2 punch in the land at Clemson. Davis will get more carries than Spiller so he's higher on the list.
5.P.J. Hill- Wisconsin has a stable of running backs that could start anywhere else in the nation. Hill is the returning leader of the running back corps. If he can stay healthy, he's one of the best.
6.C.J. Spiller- The other half of the deadly Clemson duo. I'm still a little peeved that he spurned his hometown Gators.
7.Noel Devine- Devine might not be the brightest of the running backs, but he definitely is one of the most talented. If Devine can stay out of trouble, there will be a whole lot of Heisman talk in Morgantown.
8.DeMarco Murray- Murray takes over as the feature back at Oklahoma this season. If he can keep Jermie Calhoun on the bench, Murray should be able to put up big numbers.
9.Mikell Simpson- Much like Moreno, Simpson came on strong in the middle of last season for Virginia. This guy is a speedster with plenty of open-field agility.
10.Joe McKnight- USC is adding to their legacy as Tailback U with McKnight. He'll soon have Trojan fans forgetting about Reggie Bush.
11.Eugene Jarvis- The leading returning rusher this season, Jarvis doesn't get too much pub because he plays at Kent State. Jarvis should put up huge numbers again this season with the total lack of a Golden Flash passing game.
12.Anthony Dixon- Dixon may be the toughest runner in the nation. I was thoroughly impressed with him last season. If Dixon plays well again, look for Mississippi St. to improve upon last season.
13.Javon Ringer- No matter how bad things get at Michigan St. they always seem to have a solid running game. Expectations are pretty high for the Spartans this season, and Ringer has a lot to do with that.
14.Ian Johnson- Johnson's numbers slipped a bit last season, but they were still pretty impressive. Ian Johnson and Boise St. should once again do some damage in the WAC.
15.Keiland Williams- Williams will team with Trindon Holliday to make a pretty fierce duo in LSU. Williams will get the bulk of the carries, and he should put up better than decent numbers.
16.Marcus Thigpen- Indiana will be a dangerous team in the Big Eleven this year. Thigpen, along with QB Kellen Lewis will have the Hoosiers bowling again.
17.Mike Goodson- The lightning to Jorvorskie Lane's thunder at Texas A&M, Goodson is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. His carries increased greatly last season and that trend should continue this year as well.
18.Marlon Lucky- The biggest move Bo Pelini made when he took over at Nebraska was getting Lucky to return for his senior season. The Huskers should be better than last season.
19.Damion Fletcher- Fletcher should find wider runner lanes at Southern Miss with the arrival of Larry Fedora. Look for a big senior season from Damion.
20.Kory Sheets- Sheets is an experienced back on an experienced Purdue Boilermaker team. Behind Anthony Dixon, Sheets may be the toughest runner on this list.
21.Luke Lippincott- Along with QB Colin Caepernick, Lippincott forms one of the better rushing attacks in the nation at Nevada.
22.Donald Brown- Connecticut has a solid duo in the backfield with Brown and Andre Dixon. Brown should get more of the carries as he enters Fall as the starter.
23.Jomario Thomas- Thomas had a down year, along with the rest of the North Texas team. Things should improve this season, and I expect Thomas to continue the North Texas tradition of producing 1,000 yard rushers.
24.Mike Ford- Jim Leavitt didn't use Ford as much as he should have last season at USF. I don't expect Grothe to take the same punishment he did last season, so that means more carries for Ford.
25.Chris Rainey- I'm not putting Rainey on here just because he's a Gator. I truly believe Rainey will be the answer for Florida at the running back position. Rainey, along with Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin, make a truly dangerous backfield.
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