Sproles/Sauerbrun Award Finalists

SPROLES/SAUERBRUN AWARD

The Sproles/Sauerbrun Award was founded to recognize excellence in special teams. It gets its name from Kansas State return man Darren Sproles and legendary West Virginia punter Todd Sauerbrun. The award can be given to a kicker, a punter, a return man, or even a player that displays a special ability to run down and make hits on kick coverage.

This award has the longest list of finalists due to its all-inclusive criteria, but all eight of the following candidates warrant being considered finalists.

J.Pike's Finalists

JOE BURNETT
(Senior KR/PR, Central Florida)
Key Stats
KR: 26 returns for 745 yards;
28.7 avg, 2 td (long 91);
PR: 26 returns for 378 yards;
14.5 avg, long of 36;
1,123 total return yards, 2 touchdowns


MARDY GILYARD
(Junior KR, Cincinnati)
Key Stats
KR: 32 returns for 897 yards;
28.0 avg, 2 td (long 100);
Huge game against Oklahoma - 5 returns for 246 yards, 1 td



BRANDON JAMES
(Junior PR/KR, Florida)
Key Stats
PR: 36 returns for 509 yards;
14.1 avg, 2 td (long 78);
KR: 29 returns for 687 yards;
23.7 avg, long of 52;
1,196 total return yards, 2 touchdowns


A.J. JEFFERSON
(Junior KR, Fresno State)
Key Stats
KR: 31 returns for 908 yards;
29.3 avg, 1 td (long 92);
One of Fresno's main scoring threats




JEREMY MACLIN
(Sophomore KR/PR, Missouri)
Key Stats
KR: 41 returns for 987 yards;
24.1 avg, 1 td (long 99);
PR: 19 returns for 188 yards;
9.9 avg, long of 46;
Excellent speed - a threat to score every time he touches the ball;
1,175 total return yards, 1 touchdown

JACOB RICHARDSON
(Senior P, Miami-OH)
Key Stats
52 punts, 45.4 avg (4th nationally);
17 punts of 50+ yards, long of 74;
18 punts inside 20 yard line;
6 fair catches, only 7 touchbacks



LOUIE SAKODA
(Senior K/P, Utah)
Key Stats
115 total points (7th nationally);
21/23 FGs, 52/53 XPTs;
8/10 FGs over 40 yards, long of 53;
Hit game winning field goal on last play against Oregon State;
50 punts, 41.7 avg, long of 81;
21 punts inside 20 yard line;
16 fair catches, only 9 touchbacks

DERRICK WILLIAMS
(Senior KR/PR, Penn State)
Key Stats
KR: 18 returns for 486 yards;
27.0 avg, 2 td (long 94);
PR: 18 returns for 169 yards;
9.4 avg, 1 td (long 63);
655 total return yards, 3 touchdowns;
Averaged one touchdown every 12 returns


J.Pike's Honorable Mention

BRANDON TATE
(Senior PR/KR, North Carolina)
Key Stats
PR: 7 returns for 158 yards;
22.6 avg, 1 td (long 82);
KR: 11 returns for 305 yards;
27.7 avg, long of 56
Tate was well on his way to a fantastic senior season when he tore up his knee in the sixth game of the season. Although he isn't technically considered a finalist for the Sproles/Sauerbrun Award, his play through six games warrants at least a mention here because he was one of the favorites to win the award at the time of his injury.

Gameday Commentary - Morning Games

Ohio State 26, Ohio 14
Ohio State actually trailed early in the 4th quarter of this game against Frank Solich's Bobcats. The Buckeyes were clearly playing vanilla football, but they displayed zero emotion until the fourth quarter when a Roy Small punt return for touchdown broke the game open.
J.Pike's Thoughts:
*Ohio State is going to struggle to score against USC next week. The running game struggled mightily against Ohio, most notably not being able to pick up a 4th and short at one point in the first half. Granted, Beanie Wells wasn't playing and he'll be a factor, but the bigger problem is that Ohio State's receivers are average at best. Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline just don't want to go get the ball, and you better believe they'll need to make a play or two against USC to avoid three-and-outs on every series.
*The Ohio Bobcats played a great game. Solich had his team ready to play and they looked like they belonged on the same field as Ohio State. Even when starting quarterback Theo Scott went down with an injury in the first half, Boo Jackson stepped right in and showed the same poise in directing the offense against what appears to be a slightly overrated Buckeye defense.

Michigan 16, Miami(OH) 6
Michigan looked pretty decent jumping out to a 10-0 lead early in the first half, but basically had to hold on to beat a scrappy Redhawk team that wouldn't go away.
J.Pike's Thoughts:
*Miami(OH) punter Jacob Richardson put himself firmly in the running for the inaugural Sproles/Sauerbrun Award for Special Teams player of the year. His booming punts single-handedly kept Miami in the game. He finished the day with 7 punts for a 54 yard average, landed 4 punts inside the 20 yard line, and boomed a 74 yarder at one point.
*Michigan doesn't have a quarterback. Steven Threet can run pretty well for a 6'6" guy, but his accuracy in the passing game leaves a lot to be desired. He missed just about every open receiver beyond five yards the whole game. Nick Sheridan is a more accurate passer, but he doesn't have a good arm and can't execute the zone read play as effectively. It will be a chore for Michigan to put points on the board this season.
*Daniel Raudabaugh played a good game for Miami(OH). He was by far the best quarterback on the field today, displaying good arm strength and the ability to make some very good touch throws - as long as he isn't rushed.

Georgia Tech 19, Boston Colleg 16
Persistency was the key for Georgia Tech's running game today. After running up against the brick wall that is BC's front seven for about three quarters, Jonathan Dwyer finally busted a 43-yard touchdown run on an option pitch midway through the fourth quarter to put the game away. Tech finished with 166 rushing yards, and only 240 total yards in the game, but it was enough to secure the win and a 2-0 start for new coach Paul Johnson.
J.Pike's Thoughts:
*I was wrong. Chris Crane is no Matt Ryan. Crane struggled mightily, taking a safety, throwing two interceptions, and making several other poor throws that should have been interceptions as well. The BC defense is good, but they'll need at least a little help from the offense if they are going to win games in the ACC this year.
*Paul Johnson is off to a great start so far in his Georgia Tech coaching career. His team wasn't as good as the Boston College team overall, but they won the fundamentals battle. His commitment to the running game paid off and they have a solid enough defense that they are going to win some games in the ACC this year. A bowl game is definitely in store.