Once we are all settled in after returning from our summer vacations, it
will be time for some gridiron action. The guys in The National
Football League finally worked out their differences, but we didn’t have
to worry about that on the collegiate level. I picked Stanford and
Oklahoma to slug it out for The BCS Championship and I am sticking with
my pick. Besides those two preseason favorites, we will see plenty of
dynamic play makers that will make a name for themselves or add to their
resumes. Here are my guys to look out for in 2011.
1. Andrew Luck-Quarterback-Stanford
This is a
no-brainer as Luck enjoyed a terrific season last year and will look to
add to that success. Luck led The Cardinal to an Orange Bowl victory and
was assured of being the first selection in April’s NFL Draft. Luck
shocked everyone when he decided to come back to Stanford for another
season. Luck completed over 70 percent of his passes last season. What
was even more amazing was that Luck was only sacked six times in 2010.
He is rolling the dice by coming back for another year, but barring any
setbacks Luck will be the first player taken in 2012.
2. Landry Jones-Quarterback-Oklahoma
Landry Jones had
big shoes to fill in 2009 when Sam Bradford went down with a
season-ending shoulder injury. Jones stepped in a learned on the job and
improved every game. Last season Jones led The Sooners to Fiesta Bowl
victory and threw at least one touchdown in every contest. Jones is on a
team that many are picking to go all the way and he is looking to
follow Bradford as a first round draft pick.
3. Justin Blackmon-Wide Receiver-Oklahoma State
Blackmon
ran roughshod over opponents last season and did the same when it came
time to garnering postseason awards. Blackmon was a First-team
All-American, The Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, and The
Biletnikoff Award winner. Blackmon put up professional numbers with 111
receptions and 1,782 yards. Statistically it will be tough for Blackmon
to top that, so now it is about helping The Cowboys to win The Big 12.
4. LaMichael James-Running Back-Oregon
I don’t think
that The Ducks will make it back to The BCS Championship Game this
season, but that doesn’t mean LaMichael James won’t be a forced to be
reckoned with. James is only 5’9″, but the back from Texarkana, Texas
packs a punch as knows to to make defenders miss. Last season James fell
short to Cam Newton for The Heisman Trophy while averaging 5.9 yards a
carry. If James puts up similar stats to that along with the 1,731
rushing yards he had then we might be looking at the winner of this
year’s award.
5. Brandon Jenkins-Defensive End-Florida State
Jenkins
beefed up in the off-season as he is now over 250 pounds. Jenkins
caused havoc last year with 13.5 sacks as a sophomore. Jenkins will see
his fair share of doubles teams this season as he is a strong candidate
for ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Jenkins only forced one fumble
last season and I think that number will increase. Look for Florida
State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops to move Jenkins around on
defense by lining him up at different positions in the defensive front
seven so offenses cannot get a read on him making it tougher to double
team him.
6. Alshon Jeffrey-Wide Receiver-South Carolina
Alshon
Jeffrey checks in at 6’4″ and weighs 233 pounds which makes him a
nightmare of a match-up for defensive backs in The SEC. Jeffrey is a
receiver that produces against any opponent. Last season Jeffrey had 8
receptions for 192 yards versus Auburn and followed it up the next week
with 7 catches for 127 yards against Alabama. Besides the size, Jeffrey
has the speed as he is now drawing comparisons to former Gamecock wide
receivers Sidney Rice and Sterling Sharpe.
7. Matt Barkley-Quarterback-USC
Even though Matt Barkley
plays in the backdrop of Hollywood, he is all business on the football
field. Barkley won’t have the chance to play in a bowl game this season,
but with a good 2011 campaign he can be a first round pick next April.
Barkley is the prototypical quarterback for The West Coast Offense.
Barkley isn’t the fastest but he makes good decisions. Although Barkley
threw 12 picks last season, he seemed more confident in the pocket.
Barkley along with his Trojan teammates will be more determined this
year being The NCAA did not lift sanctions against the school. Barkley
will improve on his 62.6 percent completion percentage from last season
as The Trojans look to play spoiler in The Pac-12.
8. Brandon Weeden-Quarterback-Oklahoma State
Weeden
passed for over 400 yards on three occasions last season and will pick
up where he left of in 2011. Two hiccups versus Nebraska and Oklahoma
kept Oklahoma State out The BCS last season. Like Justin Blackmon,
statistically there isn’t much more that Weeden can do, now it is just
trying to get The Cowboys over the hump and winning The Big 12.
9. Manti Te’o-Linebacker-Notre Dame
When I see Manti
Te’o play he reminds me of former New England Patriot linebacker Tedy
Bruschi. Te’o has great instincts and he flies to the football. Te’o
tallied 133 tackles last season and will be a vital cog to an improving
Irish defense. Te’o proved his worth last season by playing through a
broken nose and gained a ton of respect from his teammates and coaches.
10. Jayron Hosley-Cornerback-Virginia Tech
Jayron Hosley continues the lineage of good cornerbacks coming out
of Blacksburg. Hosley led the nation last season with nine picks. I do
not think Hosley will have that many this season as ACC quarterbacks
will think twice about throwing his way.
11. Kellen Moore-Quarterback-Boise State
Wide receivers Austin Pettis and Titus are gone and some skeptics
think that Kellen Moore will have a setback in the tougher Mountain West
Conference. Moore has had a great career on the blue turf in Boise due
to his accuracy and the fact that he doesn’t turn the ball over. In
three seasons as a starter Moore has only thrown 16 interceptions and
has only lost two games as a starter. The bottom line is Moore is a
winner and he will close out his collegiate career by leading The
Broncos to another top 25 finish.
12. Ronnie Hillman-Running Back-San Diego State
If Ronnie Hillman played in The SEC or The Big Ten he would be a
household name. Hillman jumped onto the scene last season by rushing for
over 1,500 yards as a freshman at San Diego State. Hillman’s head coach
Brady Hoke departed for Michigan, but Hoke couldn’t take Hillman’s
production with him. Hillman is elusive in the open field. Just ask Navy
and Missouri as he torched both schools for 228 yards on the ground
last season.
13. Michael Dyer-Running Back-Auburn
Dyer lost his running mate in the backfield in quarterback Cam
Newton, but he is thick in the legs and a tough runner to bring down
after contact. Dyer’s style is perfect for the brutal SEC. The Tigers
and head coach Gene Chizik will rely on his legs even more this year as
the The Tigers try repeat as BCS Champions.
14. Bruce Irvin-Defensive End-West Virginia
It is amazing that Irvin started off his career as a wide receiver.
Switching from wide receiver to defensive end isn’t a switch that you
hear about much and Irvin has made a flawless transition. Irvin has
great speed of the edge, but his greatest asset is that he accumulates
sacks in bunches. Once he gets going he really dominates, which will be
scary for Big East foes in 2011. Irvin had 14 sacks last season and will
be a terror once more.
15. Chris Polk-Running Back-Washington
The Huskies are at their best when they are running the football
which includes a heavy dose of Chris Polk. Polk is a work horse back who
only gets stronger as the game goes on. Polk tallied over 1,400 yards
rushing in helping The Huskies win a bowl game for the first time since
2001. Now with quarterback Jake Locker in The NFL, Polk is the leader of
the offense as he tries to help The Huskies contend in The Pac-12 North
with Oregon and Stanford.
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