2010 AWARDS - Better Late Than Never (Part II)

Continuing on in our Wednesday night Awards "Ceremony" here are the winners of our four biggest awards.

BO JACKSON TROPHY
The Nation's Top Offensive Player
Mark Ingram (RB, Alabama)

Runners Up: Golden Tate (WR, Notre Dame), Toby Gerhart (RB, Stanford)

I'll be honest - if I had handed out this award at the end of the regular season it would have gone to Golden Tate. But after Mark Ingram's performance in the National Championship game it's hard to argue there is anyone better. Ingram has that rare Ricky Williams-esque combination of size and speed that was on full display against the number one rush defense in the nation.

Tate still finished a close second place because his ball skills are the best I've seen since Larry Fitzgerald. He is obviously the best deep threat in America and should be a great pro despite being a little undersized.

MARK HERZLICH TROPHY
(formerly the LaVar Arrington Trophy)
The Nation's Top Defensive Player
Ndamukong Suh (DT, Nebraska)

Runners Up: Jason Pierre-Paul (DE, South Florida), Rolondo McClain (LB, Alabama)

From about October on there was really no doubt who would take home the Herzlich. Suh was easily the most dominating defensive player in the land, and actually ended up being one of the best defensive players of the decade. He's as good as it gets on the defensive line.

The runners up were tough to choose. If you didn't see junior college transfer Jason Pierre-Paul play in 2009 you missed your opportunity. The freakishly athletic defensive end decided to take his game to the next level where you'll no doubt hear his name. McClain is as good a linebacker as you could hope to find too.

MARSHALL FAULK TROPHY
The Best Player Not in a BCS Conference
Jerry Hughes (DE, TCU)

Runners Up: Dan LeFevour (QB, Central Michigan), Van Eskridge (DB, East Carolina), Freddie Barnes (WR, Bowling Green), Ryan Mathews (RB, Fresno State), Joe Webb (QB, UAB)

Hughes controlled the line of scrimmage for much of TCU's 12-1 season and went wire to wire as the favorite to win this award. Forgive me for not including Case Keenum and his clownish stats, but he failed to show up in a couple of Houston's big losses this season. Kellen Moore was the QB for the best non-AQ team, but I don't think he was even the best player on his own team (that honor lies somewhere in the defensive secondary).

SPROLES/SAUERBRUN AWARD
The Nation's Top Special Teams Player
Mardy Gilyard (RET, Cincinnati)

Runners Up: C.J. Spiller (KR, Clemson), Zoltan Mesko (P, Michigan), Brandon Banks (RET, Kansas State), Caleb Sturgis (PK, Florida)

Cincinnati's Mardy Gilyard won this award not only for his prowess in the return game, but for his knack of making big plays when his team needed him the most. His touchdown return in the Pittsburgh game spurred a furious rally that ended with the Bearcats protecting their undefeated regular season.

Brandon Banks and C.J. Spiller had fantastic seasons as return men for their respective teams. Spiller set the career record for career kickoffs returned for touchdown (7), while Banks returned 4 kickoffs for touchdown in 2009, including an NCAA tying two in one game.

Meanwhile, Zoltan Mesko capped a brilliant career as one of the best punters ever with one of the best names ever. Florida's Caleb Sturgis impressed with timely place kicking and the poise to calm his excited teammates after big kicks he made.

2010 AWARDS - Better Late Than Never (Part I)

It's been almost two weeks since the last college football game was played, so I think it's safe to say we here at Pike's Picks kept our word about not handing out our individual awards until after all the games have been played. You can click [HERE] for our list of finalists heading into the bowl games.

HERSHEL WALKER AWARD
The Nation's Top Freshman
LaMichael James (RB, Oregon)

Runners Up: Dion Lewis (RB, Pittsburgh), Ryan Williams (RB, Virginia Tech)

This award was dominated by running backs in 2010. Oregon's LaMichael James separated himself from the rest of the pack with a strong second half. He also showed the kind of burst and acceleration that will make him a fixture in college football for the years to come.

THE DEION
The Ballhawk Award
Earl Thomas (S, Texas)

Runners Up: Eric Berry (S, Tennessee), Joe Haden (CB, Florida)

2009 winner Eric Berry came close to going back-to-back, but Earl Thomas, with 8 interceptions and 2 touchdowns, simply made more big plays than Berry did over the course of the season.

GALE SAYERS AWARD
The Nation's Most Elusive Playmaking Skill Player
C.J. Spiller (RB/KR, Clemson)

Runners Up: Jacquizz Rodgers (RB, Oregon State), Jeremy Kerley (WR/KR, TCU)

This was a really tight race. Eventually I ended up voting for the player that scored the most touchdowns with only one shoe.

TOMMIE FRAZIER AWARD
Our Favorite Quarterback
Tony Pike (QB, Cincinnati)

Runners Up: B.J. Daniels (QB, South Florida), Jerrod Johnson (QB, Texas A&M), Jeremiah Masoli (QB, Oregon), Josh Nesbitt (QB, Georgia Tech), Terrelle Pryor (QB, Ohio State)

Come on - did you really think anybody else had a chance? Pike played well enough all season to guide Cincinnati to an undefeated regular season and the program's second consecutive BCS Bowl. In an especially weak year for quarterbacks, this turned out to be a no-brainer.

FINALISTS - Gale Sayers Award

In the highlight reel age, we figured we should have an award for the most elusive skill player. Ironically it is named for a player who made his living quite some time before the highlight reel age. The award goes to the most elusive skill player in America - a guy that defenders just can't seem to wrap up. Obviously, having a strong highlight package will play into the voting.
2008 Winner - Jahvid Best (RB, California)

Last year's winner was dropped from consideration when he added one of the most gruesome injuries I have ever seen to his highlight reel. Best is a great player, but now I can't think about him without remembering that awful concussion he suffered after leaping into the end zone against Oregon State.

I have whittled the list of finalists down to the final five. Here is the pertinent info for each of them, in alphabetical order.

2009 Finalists:

DEZMON BRISCOE (Jr. WR, Kansas)

A relative unknown on this list, Briscoe has been one of the best go-to receivers in the nation for the past couple seasons. He can make the big catch AND has the speed to take it the distance.
2009 Stats:
84 receptions for 1,337 yards (15.4 avg) and 9 touchdowns;
1 kickoff return touchdown;
1 rushing touchdown

Highlights:


MARDY GILYARD (Sr. WR, Cincinnati)

Gilyard has the knack for making his biggest plays when the team needs it most. See the 99-yard kickoff return for touchdown late in the first half when trailing by 21 against Pittsburgh on the last day of the regular season for evidence.
2009 Stats:
80 receptions for 1,150 yards (14.4 avg) and 11 touchdowns;
34 kickoff returns for 1,074 yards (31.6 avg) and 2 touchdowns;
16 punt returns for 202 yards (12.6 avg) and 1 touchdown

Highlights:


JEREMY KERLEY (Jr. WR, TCU)

Sure, Kerley might not get nearly as many touches as the other guys on this list, but that only means he has a higher percentage of highlights per touch. The chances of Kerley winning the Sayers isn't high, but his punt return for touchdown against Colorado State this year is enough by itself to make him a finalist.
2009 Stats:
38 receptions for 467 yards (12.3 avg) and 2 touchdowns;
34 punt returns for 487 yards (14.3 avg) and 2 touchdowns;
17 kickoff returns for 457 yards (26.9 avg);
50 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns

Highlight:


JACQUIZZ RODGERS (Soph. RB, Oregon State)

You should probably get used to seeing Rodgers' name on the list of Finalists for the Sayers Award. Only a sophomore, Rodgers is already putting together quite a string of impressive plays and drawing comparisons to the one and only Barry Sanders.
2009 Stats:
255 carries for 1,377 yards (5.4 avg) and 20 touchdowns;
74 receptions for 509 yards (6.9 avg) and 1 touchdown;
1 passing touchdown

Highlights:


C.J. SPILLER (Sr. RB, Clemson)

I'm not the biggest Spiller fan in the world, but there is no way you can ignore his sheer athleticism. He practically defines what this award is about. When Spiller gets his hands on the ball in the open field, there isn't a defender alive (other than maybe Fred Smoot) who thinks he has a good chance at taking him down.
2009 Stats:
201 carries for 1,145 yards (5.7 avg) and 11 touchdowns;
21 kickoff returns for 708 yards (33.7 avg) and 4 touchdowns;
33 receptions for 445 yards (13.5 avg) and 4 touchdowns;
8 punt returns for 210 yards (26.3 avg) and 1 touchdown;
1 passing touchdown

Highlight:

Awards Season

It's awards season again. As you may or may not know, we here at Pikes Picks choose not to pay much attention to the real awards, and instead give out our own set of awards. There are eight major awards (so far) which we will explain below.

Without further ado (because you all know what the frick awards are), here are the finalists for our eight major individual awards.

BO JACKSON TROPHY

Our Heisman Trophy without the lies. We don't pretend to include defensive players for this award because we created a defensive Heisman Trophy as well (see below). The Bo Jackson Trophy is awarded to the best offensive player in the nation.

2008 Winner - Colt McCoy (QB, Texas)

2009 Finalists:
*Toby Gerhart (RB, Stan)
*Mardy Gilyard (WR, Cincy)
*Mark Ingram (RB, Bama)
*Jeremiah Masoli (QB, Ore)
*Josh Nesbitt (QB, GT)
*Jordan Shipley (WR, Tex)
*Golden Tate (WR, ND)

HERZLICH TROPHY (formerly the Arrington Trophy)

Our defensive Heisman Trophy goes to the best defensive player in the nation. It was known as the Arrington Trophy in its inaugural year, but was renamed after its first winner, Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich, was diagnosed with cancer.

2008 Winner - Mark Herzlich (LB, Boston College)

2009 Finalists:
*Eric Berry (S, Tenn)
*Terrance Cody (NT, Bama)
*Brandon Graham (DE, Mich)
*Lamarr Houston (DT, Tex)
*Greg Jones (LB, MSU)
*Rolando McClain (LB, Bama)
*Gerald McCoy (DT, Okl)
*Derrick Morgan (DE, GT)
*Eric Norwood (LB, SoCar)
*Jason Pierre-Paul (DE, USF)
*Brian Price (DT, UCLA)
*Brandon Spikes (LB, Fla)
*Ndamukong Suh (DT, Neb)
*Earl Thomas (S, Tex)
*Sean Weatherspoon (LB, Miz)

FAULK TROPHY

We didn't want to leave out all the great players from non-BCS conferences, so we gave them their own Heisman Trophy too. Yes, the Faulk Trophy goes to the best player playing for a school not in a BCS Conference.

2008 Winner - Brian Johnson (QB, Utah)

2009 Finalists:
*Freddie Barnes (WR, BGSU)
*Nick Bellore (LB, CMU)
*Antonio Brown (WR/KR, CMU)
*Donald Buckram (RB, UTEP)
*Van Eskridge (DB, ECU)
*Dwayne Harris (AP, ECU)
*Jerry Hughes (DE, TCU)
*Mike Iupati (OG, Ida)
*Colin Kaepernick (QB, Nev)
*Case Keenum (QB, Hou)
*Noah Keller (LB, Ohio)
*Dan LeFevour (QB, CMU)
*Ryan Mathews (RB, Fresno)
*Josh McNary (DE, Army)
*Bruce Miller (DL, UCF)
*Kellen Moore (QB, Boise)
*Daryl Washington (LB, TCU)
*Joe Webb (QB, UAB)

SPROLES/SAUERBRUN AWARD

The Sproles/Sauerbrun Award goes to the best special teams player in the land. That could be a kicker, a punter, or a return specialists. If you know of any great gunners that I am leaving off the list I would love to know that as well. But for now we're sticking with players you've heard of.

2008 Winner - Brandon James (KR/PR, Florida)

2009 Finalists:
*Javier Arenas (RET, Bama)
*Brandon Banks (RET, KSt)
*Drew Butler (P, UGA)
*Kai Forbath (K, UCLA)
*Mardy Gilyard (RET, Cincy)
*Jeremy Kerley (RET, TCU)
*Zoltan Mesko (P, Mich)
*C.J. Spiller (KR, Clem)
*Caleb Sturgis (K, Fla)
*Leigh Tiffin (K, Bama)

HERSCHEL WALKER AWARD

Why is there no national award for the best freshman player in the country? With as many freshmen making impacts as there are nowadays, it's about time somebody gave an award to the top newbie. And if we're going to do it, why not name it after one of the all time great freshmen?

2008 Winner - Robert Griffin (QB, Baylor)

2009 Finalists:
*B.J. Daniels (QB, USF)
*LaMichael James (RB, Ore)
*Alshon Jeffery (WR, SoCar)
*Dion Lewis (RB, Pitt)
*Andrew Luck (QB, Stan)
*Greg Reid (CB/PR, FSU)
*Ryan Williams (RB, VT)

THE DEION

The Deion is our "ballhawk" award. It is awarded to defensive backs that make their living around the ball. And true to its namesake, we prefer it to be done with a little style.

2008 Winner - Eric Berry (S, Tennessee)

2009 Finalists:
*Mark Barron (S, Bama)
*Eric Berry (S, Tenn)
*Perrish Cox (CB, OkSt)
*DeAndre McDaniel (S, Clem)
*Rahim Moore (S, UCLA)
*Patrick Peterson (CB, LSU)
*Tyler Sash (S, Iowa)
*Earl Thomas (S, Tex)
*Trevin Wade (CB, Ari)
*Major Wright (S, Fla)

GALE SAYERS

In the highlight reel age, we figured we should have an award for the most elusive skill player. Ironically it is named for a player who made his living quite some time before the highlight reel age. The award goes to the most elusive skill player in America - a guy that defenders just can't seem to wrap up. Obviously, having a strong highlight package will play into the voting.

2008 Winner - Jahvid Best (RB, California)

2009 Finalists:
*Brandon Banks (WR, KSt)
*Dezmon Briscoe (WR, Kan)
*Ryan Broyles (WR, Okl)
*Jeff Demps (RB, Fla)
*Noel Devine (RB, WVU)
*Mardy Gilyard (WR, Cincy)
*LaMichael James (RB, Ore)
*Jeremy Kerley (WR, TCU)
*Dion Lewis (RB, Pitt)
*Dexter McCluster (RB, Miss)
*Jacquizz Rodgers (RB, OrSt)
*C.J. Spiller (RB, Clem)

TOMMIE FRAZIER

This is easily our most ambiguous award. It is named after one of the all time greatest college quarterbacks. Frazier was one of the most exciting players to watch, and also happened to be one of the winningest quarterbacks of all time. This award goes to the quarterback that best matches those lofty traits. Obviously a little bias creeps into this award because what we deem "exciting" may be "hard to watch" to you (see last year's winner).

2008 Winner - Tyrod Taylor (QB, Virginia Tech)

2009 Finalists:
*B.J. Daniels (USF)
*Jacory Harris (Mia)
*Jerrod Johnson (A&M)
*Ryan Mallett (Ark)
*Jeremiah Masoli (Ore)
*Josh Nesbitt (GT)
*Terrelle Pryor (OhSt)
*Tony Pike (Cincy)
*Tyrod Taylor (VT)

ACC Preview

Projected Records & Standings

Atlantic Division

1. FLORIDA STATE       8-4  (5-3)
2. N.C. STATE          9-3  (5-3)
3. CLEMSON             6-6  (3-5)
4. MARYLAND            6-6  (3-5)
5. WAKE FOREST         6-6  (3-5)
6. BOSTON COLLEGE      5-7  (2-6)

Coastal Division

1. VIRGINIA TECH      11-1  (8-0)
2. MIAMI               9-3  (6-2)
3. NORTH CAROLINA      9-3  (5-3)
4. VIRGINIA            7-5  (4-4)
5. GEORGIA TECH        6-6  (3-5)
6. DUKE                4-8  (1-7)

Atlantic Champion: FLORIDA STATE

Even though I think N.C. State might end up being the best team in the Atlantic Division, Florida State has the benefit of playing the Wolfpack in Tallahassee, FL. Therefore, as long as there are no silly rules like in the Big XII, Florida State will most likely hold the tie-breaker advantage. The Seminoles will look for improvement in the running game in 2009. With up-and-comer Jermaine Thomas at running back and athletic Christian Ponder at quarterback running behind a veteran offensive line featuring road grater Rodney Hudson, Jimbo Fisher’s offense should be able to do just that.

Coastal Champion: VIRGINIA TECH
There’s not much doubt here. The Hokies are the defending ACC champions and return most of the key cogs that helped claim that title a year ago. Look for Tyrod Taylor to step up into the national spotlight in 2009 as he finally has the quarterback job all to himself. His all-purpose skills should make this offense crackle. Seven starters return on the defensive side of the ball where Bud Foster always gets the most out of his talent. Defensive end Jason Worilds, linebacker Cody Grimm, and cornerback Stephan Virgil are the new heirs to the Lunch Pail.

Question the Hype: GEORGIA TECH
Paul Johnson is a great coach. Most schools would take him to head up their program in a heartbeat. But let’s not put the cart before the horse here. Georgia Tech surprised a lot of people in 2008. In an improving conference with increasingly athletic defenses, I don’t think Johnson’s option offense will be able to take as many teams by surprise this time around. That’s not to say I don’t think the offense will work long term here, I just think the Coastal Division will be significantly improved in 2009. Also consider the defensive line – one of the most important pieces to the Yellow Jackets’ successful run a year ago – lost three players to the NFL. That’s no laughing matter - there will be a significant drop-off in the trenches. The defense will in turn take a step back, meaning the offense will have to shoulder more of the load.

Question the Hype, Part II: C.J. SPILLER
Is C.J. Spiller extremely athletic? Yes. Is he as dangerous as anybody in the open field? Probably. Is he a good every-down running back? Not sure yet. Is he dependable? No. Spiller has all the tools to become a great running back, but up to this point he hasn’t put together a full season that warrants the acclaim he has received. Worst of all, he has a tendency to disappear from games for spells when it looks like he just doesn’t feel like playing. I’m not sure if Spiller has the drive it takes to be a great football player. As of now, he’s simply a great athlete.

Could Surprise: VIRGINIA`

Nobody is talking about the Cavaliers in the Coastal Division. With Virginia Tech in command and Miami, North Carolina, and Georgia Tech all on the rise, it’s easy for the off-season changes in Charlottesville to go unnoticed. But the ‘Hoos deserve your attention. New offensive coordinator Gregg Branndon comes over from Bowling Green where he will install a more wide open offense. This is good news for returning quarterback Jameel Sewell, one of the best QBs in the ACC until he was forced to sit out 2008 due to academic shortcomings. Another benefactor should be Vic Hall, a converted cornerback with a ton of athleticism who surprisingly played quarterback in Virginia’s last two games a year ago. Look for Branndon to find creative ways to get Hall on the field. Head coach Al Groh is a fine coach who knows how to recruit offensive linemen with the best of them. Don’t be surprised when Virginia jumps at least one of those four division rivals I mentioned in the standings. Because they will.

Bo Jackson Trophy Candidates:
Top 3:
QB-Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech
QB-Russell Wilson, N.C. State
RB-Da’Rel Scott, Maryland

Ten to Watch:
RB-Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech
RB-Darren Evans, Virginia Tech
OT-Jason Fox, Miami
QB/AP-Vic Hall, Virginia
QB-Jacory Harris, Miami
OG-Rodney Hudson, Florida State
QB-Thaddeus Lewis, Duke
QB-Josh Nesbitt, Georgia Tech
QB-Jameel Sewell, Virginia
RB/KR-C.J. Spiller, Clemson

Arrington Trophy Candidates:

Defending Arrington Trophy winner Mark Herzlich [LINK] was set to return at linebacker for Boston College in 2009 with one more year of eligibility. Unfortunately Herzlich was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare cancer of the bones, during the offseason. His football career is probably over, but his legacy will live on here at Pikes Picks where we won’t soon forget his hard nosed play and stellar career. We think so highly of him that we are officially re-dedicating the trophy we award to the most outstanding defensive player in the nation. From now on it will be known as the Mark Herzlich Trophy. We wish Mr. Herzlich the best of luck in his battle.

Herzlich Trophy Candidates:
Top 3:
LB-Sean Spence, Miami
DE-Da’Quan Bowers, Clemson
DE-Willie Young, N.C. State

Ten to Watch:
DT-Marvin Austin, North Carolina
DT-Allen Bailey, Miami
SS-Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech
CB-Ras-I Dowling, Virginia
LB-Cody Grimm, Virginia Tech
DT-Vince Oghobaase, Duke
NG-Boo Robinson, Wake Forest
CB-Stephan Virgil, Virginia Tech
LB-Dekoda Watson, Florida State
S-Deunta Williams, North Carolina
DE-Jason Worilds, Virginia Tech

J.Pike's Ballot: Bo Jackson Trophy

The final award for the 2008 season is the Bo Jackson Trophy. Consider this Pikes Picks' answer to the Heisman Trophy. We don't try to fool you into thinking we consider defensive players for the award though (that's what we created the Arrington Trophy for), and we'll even consider linemen if they are worthy.

The inaugural Bo Jackson Trophy was a difficult one to hand out, as there were a large number of worthy candidates. But Colt McCoy is my choice because he stood out for the entire season, from start to finish.

Sam Bradford and Andre Smith were my other top choices heading into the bowls. However, Smith didn't even play thanks to an issue with an agent, so I replaced him with Knowshon Moreno - one of my all time favorite running backs to watch. As for Bradford, if his own coaches don't think enough of him to turn him loose in the national championship game, then I can't justify giving him this award.

McCoy routinely surprised me with not only his accuracy and decision making, but his athleticism and leadership skills. The final drive in the Fiesta Bowl was the perfect capper to a brilliant season any quarterback would be lucky to duplicate.

J.Pike's Ballot: Arrington Trophy

This was a very tough call. I went through bowl season trying to decide who to give my vote to for the top defensive player of the year. I ended up on Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich because at the end of the day he was more consistently harassing to opposing offenses than the beast-man Brian Orakpo.

Orakpo's 11.5 sacks and imposing physical presence made him a strong candidate, but Herzlich was in on seemingly every BC tackle made in 2008. If you watched one Boston College game this year, you heard his name at least ten times, and you probably saw him make a game changing play.

The most impressive aspect of Herzlich is his versatility. He made 110 tackles, 13 coming behind the line of scrimmage; he also happens to be one of the best cover-LBs in the nation, tallying a team leading 6 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. He was even a menace on special teams.

J.Pike's Ballot: Gold Wrenches

I chose to hand out five Gold Wrenches this season. Pikes Picks awards Gold Wrenches for outstanding play in the trenches, and all five of these groups played huge roles in determining the outcomes of their teams' games.

Alabama Offensive Line
starters: Antoine Caldwell, Drew Davis, Marlon Davis, Mike Johnson, Andre Smith
reserves: John Michael Boswell, Brian Motley, David Ross

Texas Defensive Line
starters: Lamarr Houston, Henry Melton, Roy Miller, Brian Orakpo
reserves: Ben Alexander, Sam Acho, Eddie Jones, Aaron Lewis

USC Defensive Line
starters: Clay Mathews, Fili Moala, Kyle Moore, Christian Tupou
reserves: Armond Armstead, Jurrell Casey, Everson Griffen, Averell Spicer

Oklahoma Offensive Line
starters: Jon Cooper, Phil Loadholt, Duke Robinson, Brandon Walker, Trent Williams
reserves: Cory Brandon, Branndon Braxton, Brian Simmons

Penn State Defensive Line
starters: Josh Gaines, Aaron Maybin, Jared Odrick, Ollie Ogbu
reserves: Maurice Evans, Abe Koroma

Poindexter Plays of the Year

I just haven't had enough awards this year, so I went and created another one. This one is called the Poindexter Plays of the Year. It is named after Anthony Poindexter's goal line hit on Warrick Dunn of Florida State on the last play of a 1995 game, securing a Virginia win and handing Florida State their first ever loss in ACC play.

The award is obviously going to be handed out in honor of the best, most memorable plays of the season. For the record, if we were around last year, Pikes Picks would have obviously given a Poindexter Play of the Year to the referee who called the "giving him the business" penalty [LINK].

Here are the top three plays from the 2008 season:

#3 - REFEREE TACKLE
October 18, 2008
LSU @ South Carolina

Referee Wilbur Hacket makes an open field tackle that would make Lawrence Taylor proud.

#2 - BUFFALO HAIL MARY
September 13, 2008
Temple @ Buffalo

Buffalo quarterback Drew Willy completes a game winning hail mary to Naaman Roosevelt to beat Temple on the last play of the game.

#1 - CRABTREE CATCH
November 1, 2008
Texas @ Texas Tech

Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree makes a catch for the ages with one second left to beat #1 Texas.

J.Pike's Ballot: Faulk Trophy

Not much doubt here. I've been touting Brian Johnson for this award all season, and he did nothing to persuade me otherwise. TCU's Jerry Hughes was easily the best defensive player not in a BCS conference, as evidenced by his 14 sacks. But Johnson was able to lead his team to a perfect 12-0 record.

Chase Clement is a personal favorite of mine. He reminds me a lot of Colt McCoy and I think he deserved a vote.

Brian Johnson
(Senior QB, Utah)

J.Pike's Ballot: Walker Award

This was an easy one for me. Despite the fact that Jacquizz Rodgers led a surprising Oregon State team and Julio Jones has as big an upside as any player in college football, Robert Griffin is the kind of player that made me search the internet on Saturday morning to see if a Baylor game was going to be on TV. He might not be as polished as fellow freshman Russell Wilson, but watching Griffin feels like watching a young Vince Young - you just know he's going to do something special before his career is over. And that's why I gave him the nod over the rest of the field.

Robert Griffin
(Freshman QB, Baylor)

J.Pike's Ballot: Sproles/Sauerbrun Award

There were more qualified candidates for the Sproles/Sauerbrun award than any other award this year. The three names on my ballot are all deserving for entirely different reasons.

Derrick Williams had limited opportunities to return kicks, but he managed to score three touchdowns on his 36 returns. Louie Sakoda nearly got my top vote with his clutch kicking. Sakoda was an integral part to Utah's perfect 12-0 regular season as the kicker and punter.

But I ended up voting for Brandon James because every time he fielded a punt or a kick it seemed like a highlight was right around the corner. James averaged over 14 yards per punt return and took two back to the house. He provided a spark to Florida's special teams that made the unit every bit as explosive as the Gator offense. And I'm guessing James is licking his chops looking at all the holes in the Oklahoma coverage teams for the upcoming national championship game.

Brandon James
(Junior PR/KR, Florida)

J.Pike's Ballot: The Deion

Despite the fact that there were several deserving candidates, Eric Berry was an easy selection for me. Berry basically defines what this award is about. Not only did he pick off seven passes and knock down another six, he returned two of his interceptions for touchdowns and made several tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He was pretty much the biggest threat to score on the Tennessee roster in 2008. That might not say a lot about Tennessee's offense, but it sounds downright Deion-esque.

In any other year, Wake's Alphonso Smith would run away with this award. The senior finished his career with 20 interceptions and made his living around the ball. Rashad Johnson was also a standout on one of the best defenses in the land. But both take a back seat to Berry's talent and production.

Eric Berry
(Sophomore Safety, Tennessee)

J.Pike's Ballot: Sayers Award

This was another difficult choice. I could have voted any of the three players on my ballot in the #1 spot, but in the end I went with Jahvid Best. Kendall Hunter had a great season, and we all know Knowshon Moreno never goes down without a fight, but Best fit the bill of "most elusive" better than all the rest. I mean, the guy averaged 8 yards a carry!

Overall, Best compiled almost 2,000 all purpose yards and 14 touchdowns. His elusiveness is a big reason why he made up a significant portion of Cal's offense.

Jahvid Best
(Sophomore RB, California)

J.Pike's Ballot: Frazier Award

It was a tough call between Tyrod Taylor and Robert Griffin. Griffin is a freshman with a huge upside, and Taylor is the elusive signal caller for the ACC champs. I went with Taylor because he is a bit more polished at this point and provided a more consistent bang for the buck (once Frank Beamer finally pulled the redshirt off him) than the inexperienced Griffin.

I gave a third place nod to Colt McCoy because he continually surprised me with not only his accuracy and decision making, but with his strength and speed in leading the team in rushing.

Tyrod Taylor
(Sophomore QB, Virginia Tech)

Bo Jackson Trophy Finalists

BO JACKSON TROPHY

The Bo Jackson Trophy, Pikes Picks version of the Heisman, will awarded to the best offensive player in the nation. Unlike the Heisman however, we will include all offensive players - not just the best quarterbacks on the best teams - and we won't tarnish the award by handing it out to, say, Eddie George instead of Tommie Frazier.

In my mind, this season was dominated by the Big XII and the SEC. The cream of the crop in these two conferences happen to be the cream of the crop in the whole nation. So all five of my choices for finalists come from these two conferences.

J.Pike's Finalists

SAM BRADFORD
(Sophomore QB, Oklahoma)
Key Stats
4,464 yards passing;
48 touchdowns against only 6 interceptions;
68.3 completion percentage;
186.3 QB rating;
343.4 passing yards per game;
Bradford was the trigger man for one of the most impressive offenses in college football over the last decade. The Sooners averaged 54 points and 562 yards per game in 2008, mostly because of the play of their sophomore quarterback. He is rarely affected by the pass rush and never makes a bad throw.

MICHAEL CRABTREE
(Sophomore WR, Texas Tech)
Key Stats
93 receptions for 1,135 yards;
18 touchdowns;
12.2 yards per catch;
94.6 yards per game;
Crabtree provided perhaps the most memorable highlight from the 2008 season when he reeled in a Graham Harrell pass on the sideline, fought off a tackler, somehow managed to stay in bounds, and ran in the game winning touchdown with one second left on the clock to upset Texas [LINK]. It's a play that showed off his hands and remarkable strength, two qualities that led to him being a finalist for this prestigious award.

COLT McCOY
(Junior QB, Texas)
Key Stats
3,445 yards passing;
32 touchdowns, 7 interceptions;
77.6 completion percentage (led the nation);
287.1 passing yards per game;
576 rushing yards (led the team);
10 rushing touchdowns;
4.5 yards per carry;
335.1 yards of total offense per game;
McCoy was the Texas offense in 2008. Not only did he display a passing accuracy rarely seen in college football, he also led the team in rushing. McCoy has every quality you could want in a quarterback and then some.

KNOWSHON MORENO
(Sophomore RB, Georgia)
Key Stats
1,338 rushing yards;
16 touchdowns;
5.9 yards per carry;
111.5 rushing yards per game;
27 receptions for 329 yards;
1 receiving touchdown;
141.4 all-purpose yards per game;
Moreno might be a surprise on this list, but he deserves the nod. If I was starting a college football team from scratch, Moreno might be my first choice. He plays with a desire and displays leadership ability that is matched only by his skills as a running back. In my mind, Moreno is a simply a smaller version of Adrian Peterson.

ANDRE SMITH
(Junior LT, Alabama)
Key Stats
38 career starts;
1 sack allowed;
Smith has simply been the nation's premier offensive lineman since he stepped on campus three years ago. This season he was the cornerstone for an Alabama line that mauled people all season to the tune of 196.5 rushing yards per game and paved the way for the Tide's surprising 12-1 record.

Arrington Trophy Finalists

LaVAR ARRINGTON TROPHY

The Arrington Trophy is a Pikes Picks award handed out annually to the best defensive player in the nation. It is named after former Penn State linebacker LaVar Arrington for his menacing defensive presence. Arrington had one of the most memorable moments in college football over the last decade when he made his now-famous "LaVar Leap" to stop Illinois on 4th down [LINK].

There were so many great offenses in college football this year that it's easy to forget about all the great players on the defensive side of the ball. I had a hard time narrowing my list down to eight finalists (sorry Sen'Derrick Marks), but here they are.

J.Pike's Finalists

ERIC BERRY
(Sophomore S, Tennessee)
Key Stats
72 tackles;
7 interceptions (2 returned for touchdown);
6 passes broken up;
3 sacks;
8.5 tackles for loss;
Eric Berry is so impressive that he continually stood out as one of the best players in the SEC despite playing for one of the worst teams in the conference. He defines the term "playmaker".

BRANDON GRAHAM
(Junior DE, Michigan)
Key Stats
46 tackles;
10 sacks;
20 tackles for loss;
2 forced fumbles;
Much like Berry, Graham took over games at times despite playing for a terrible team. There were several great defensive ends in the Big Ten this sesason, but Graham stands out from the pack because of his consistency.

MARK HERZLICH
(Junior LB, Boston College)
Key Stats
105 tackles (leads the team);
3 sacks;
11 tackles for loss;
6 interceptions (2 returned for touchdown);
7 passes broken up;
2 forced fumbles, 2 fumbles recovered;
Herzlich made his living around the ball in 2008. No matter where the play went, Herzlich was there. He led the Eagles with a remarkable 6 interceptions, but he also made plays behind the line of scrimmage. It didn't stop there - Herzlich was a terror on special teams as well!

PERIA JERRY
(Senior DT, Ole Miss)
Key Stats
47 tackles;
6 sacks;
17 tackles for loss;
3 QB pressures;
2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery;
Jerry dominated the line of scrimmage in SEC play, which is not an easy feat. He managed an incredible 17 tackles for loss from a position usually limited to tangling up blockers so other players can make the tackle.

RASHAD JOHNSON
(Senior S, Alabama)
Key Stats
82 tackles (2nd on team);
5 interceptions (2 returned for touchdown);
11 passes broken up;
1 sack, 5 tackles for loss;
1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery;
Johnson was the standout player on a standout Alabama defense in 2008. Whenever the Tide needed a big play, Johnson was there to make it. Not bad for a former walk on.

REY MAUALUGA
(Senior LB, USC)
Key Stats
73 tackles (leads the team);
2.5 tackles for loss;
2 interceptions (one returned for touchdown);
3 passes broken up;
Maualuga was the vocal and emotional leader on one of the best defenses in America. He set the tone and led the way for the Trojans, who held all but two opponents to 10 points or less.

BRIAN ORAKPO
(Senior DE, Texas)
Key Stats
40 tackles;
10.5 sacks;
18 takles for loss;
4 forced fumbes;
27 QB pressures;
2 passes broken up;
Orakpo is an impressive physical specimen at defensive end for the Lonhorns. His size/speed combination is unmatched in college football, and it allowed him to pile up double digits in sacks and live in opponents' backfields all season long. He dominated Oklahoma's All American left tackle Phil Loadholt back in October to the tune of 2 sacks and 4 tackles for loss.

ALPHONSO SMITH
(Senior CB, Wake Forest)
Key Stats
36 tackles;
6 interceptions;
13 passes broken up;
2.5 tackles for loss;
1 blocked punt;
20 career interceptions;
You'd think offenses would stop throwing Smith's way after he collected 14 interceptions over his first three years at Wake. But Smith kept finding ways to make plays and pick off passes even with game plans designed to go as far away from him as possible.

Faulk Trophy Finalists

MARSHALL FAULK TROPHY

Most awards tend to go to players from the big time conferences. The players of the SEC and Big XII have plenty of awards to compete for, so we created an award that will go to the best player in the nation NOT in a BCS conference. The award is named for the great Marshall Faulk of San Diego State fame.

I narrowed down my list of finalists to five. All are deserving, but only one will be awarded the Marshall Faulk Trophy.

J.Pike's Finalists

JOE BURNETT
(Senior CB, Central Florida)
Key Stats
Defense: 44 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss;
4 interceptions (103 return yards), 11 passes broken up;
Special Teams: 1 blocked kick;
Kick Returns: 745 yards, 28.7 avg, 2 td;
Punt Returns: 378 yards, 14.5 avg
An explosive playmaker who is a threat to score any time he gets his hands on the ball

CHASE CLEMENT
(Senior QB, Rice)
Key Stats
Passing: 3,812 yards, 41 td, 7 int;
66.4 completion percentage;
317.7 yards per game;
Rushing: 621 yards, 11 td
51.8 yards per game;
369.5 all purpose yards per game, 52 total tds
A poor man's Colt McCoy

NATE DAVIS
(Junior QB, Ball State)
Key Stats
Passing: 3,446 yards, 26 td;
265.1 yards per game;
Rushing: 277 yards, 4 td;
286.4 yards total offense per game;
A gutty, talented quarterback who led the Cardinals to a 12-1 record


JERRY HUGHES
(Junior DE, TCU)
Key Stats
48 tackles;
14 sacks, 18.5 tackles for loss;
2 interceptions (1 returned for touchdown);
6 forced fumbles, 3 fumbles recovered;
Guided one of the best defenses in the nation;
Harassed quarterbacks all season


BRIAN JOHNSON
(Senior QB, Utah)
Key Stats
Passing: 2,636 yards, 24 td;
68.3 completion percentage;
219.7 yards per game;
Led Utah to a perfect 12-0 regular season thanks to his steady play;;
The favorite for the Faulk Award most of the season

Herschel Walker Award Finalists

HERSCHEL WALKER AWARD

We created the Herschel Walker Award because there isn't an award to honor the top freshman in the nation. And who better to name an award given only to a freshman than Herschel Walker?

The following list contains five worthy finalists for the Walker Award.

J.Pike's Finalists

ROBERT GRIFFIN
(Freshman QB, Baylor)
Key Stats
Passing: 2,091 yards, 15 td, 3 int;
174.2 passing yards per game;
Freshman record for consecutive attempts without an interception;
Rushing: 843 yards, 13 td;
70.2 rushing yards per game;
244.4 yards total offense per game, 28 total touchdowns;
The most exciting freshman quarterback talent in the country

JULIO JONES
(Freshman WR, Alabama)
Key Stats
Receiving: 51 receptions, 847 yards, 4 td;
13 starts as a true freshman;
16.6 yards per catch;
65.2 yards per game;
Jones already has the look of a veteran - and freakish skills


JACQUIZZ RODGERS
(Freshman RB, Oregon State)
Key Stats
Rushing: 1,253 yards, 11 td;
113.9 yards per game;
Receiving: 29 receptions, 247 yards, 1 td;
136.4 all purpose yards per game
The mighty mite Rodgers carried the Beavers to an upset win over USC earlier this season


SEAN SPENCE
(Freshman LB, Miami)
Key Stats
62 tackles (third on team);
2 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss;
1 interception, 2 passes broken up;
1 forced fumble
One of the most gifted linebackers anywhere


RUSSELL WILSON
(Redshirt Freshman QB, N.C. State)
Key Stats
Passing: 1,769 yards, 16 td, 1 int;
176.9 passing yards per game;
Rushing: 342 yards, 4 td;
211.1 yards total offense per game;
Wilson is the most polished freshman quarterback anywhere - with Wilson in the lineup, the Wolfpack is a different team