College Football Kickoff: 7 College Football Awards Sleepers
Its the most wonderful time of the year! And im not talking about Christmas. Its the start of the 2013-14 college football season. This season is destined to be an epic and historic materpiece of football for so many reason. The pending playoffs, the Manziel drama, Alabama, new coaches and more is in store for the upcoming season. Its going to be great theater and football. College football fans are salivating at the mouth waiting for it to start. Over the season players will go through a roller coaster of momentum. Im going to give you 7 pre season under the radar/super sleeper canidates for 7 post season awards. Most of these players you might not have heard of but by the end of the season you will
Sept 8, 2012; Lexington, KY, USA; Kent State Golden Flashes running back Dri Archer (1) runs the ball against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium. Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
. There are no Teddys, Jadaveons or Johnnys on this list. Although there isnt a good chance they win these awards wierder things have happened in college football.
Outland Award
Cyril Richardson -Baylor
Lineman dont get alot of love. These massive men do the dirty work while the skill positions get all the glory. Its a shame. Speaking of massive Richardson is just that. The guard is listed at 6-5 and 335lbs. A mountain of a man thats a terror in run blocking. He already has NFL scouts drooling. He will be blocking for Lache Seastrunk whos famous for saying he will win the Heisman this year. He might not win it but running behind this guy he will get a ton of yards.
Dick Butkus Award
Kyle Van Noy -BYU
Van Noy is one of the best players on one the best defenses in the NCAA. Hes not a household name like Clowney, Anthony Barr or CJ Mosley because of the team he plays for but hes pretty good in his own right. He was tied for 3rd in the NCAA with 13 sacks last season and played his best game in the Poinsetta Bowl win over San Diego St. With more exposure from a better season by BYU and hopefully another season like that and he will get the attention he deserves.
Jim Thorpe Award
Elisha Olabode -TCU
Olabode makes plays all over the field. Its a slightly cliche sentence but it true when describing the saftey from Cedar Hill, TX. Hes not the biggest but makes up for his size with his playmaking ability. Last season he was a stat sheet stuffer with 71 tackles, 4 interceptions, 2 TDs, three tackles for loss, 2 fumble recoveries and nine passes broken up. He is going to get tested right out the gate with LSU but if he stands out in that game and TCU can get a win, he will be on the national radar.
Fred Biletnikoff Award
Donte Moncrief -Ole Miss
Fans of the SEC are probably already familiar with “The Beast” especially after he ended last season. In his last 2 games against LSU and rival Mississippi St. he had 13 receptions for 334 yards and 5 (not a typo) TDs. Hes a big receiver that can run and with the improving Bo Wallace throwing the ball i expect the rest of the nation to become familiar with Donte Moncrief.
Doak Walker Award
Venric Mark -Northwestern
Mark is one of tjhe most exciting players in the country. Hes a dynamic runner and returner. Hes small in size but has speed and you cant teach that. Last year he rushed for 1366 yards with a healthy 6 YPC. He scored 15 total TDs. Hes dangerous in space and sharing the feild with do everything athlete Kain Colter will give him extra room to run.
Davey O’Brien Award
Brett Hundley -UCLA
Brett Hundley sure knows how to make an entrance. In his 2nd game of his freshman year against Nebraska he threw for 305 yards and 4 TDs. He led UCLA to the PAC 12 championship game while throwing for 3745 yards and 29 TDs. He also ran for another 9 TDs. In his 2nd year hes expected to make a leap and be an elite college quarterback. He lost Johnathan Franklin so the tam is now his. Another Pac 12 championship apperance and this award plus others could be within reach.
Heisman Memorial Trophy
Dri Archer -Kent State
This is probably the most unlikely to happen but you never know. Dri Archer is one the best playmakers in all of college football and one of its most versitile. He scored touchdowns running, receiving, passing and returning for a total of 23. He ran for 1429 yards and had 9 YPC. The problem with his canidacy is that he plays for Kent St but he will have a chance to shine in the national spotlight this year with games against LSU and Penn State. For any consideration alot would have to happen. He would have to have “Heisman moments” in those games. They would likely have to win both or at least one of those games and be close in the other which is a long shot. They would also have to be BCS busters and find a way into a BCS bowl game but if that happens and Archer has that type of historic season he could be given the stiff arm.