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2011 Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalists
Photo - CB Morris Claiborne - LSU
Oklahoma State safety Markelle Martin and cornerback Brodrick Brown are two of 15 national semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award given to the nation’s top defensive back, it was announced today.
OSU joins Alabama as the only two schools with multiple players on the Thorpe Award semifinalist list. This week's SEC clash of Alabama and LSU will feature three defensive backs from the Thorpe award list. Most NFL scouts believe that as many as 8 defensive backs from this game will eventually start as pro defenders. Our highest rated cornerback Pro Prospect for the NFL Draft 2012 currently is Alabama defender Dre Kirkpatrick. He combines rare size and athleticism with speed and physical toughness to match up with premier receivers.
Maybe the best defensive player in the nation, sophomore Tyrann Mathieu of LSU was omitted from this list after a one game suspension in October. Teammate Morris Claiborne has excelled through the first two months of the 2011 season and will be center stage this Saturday night as the Tigers battle the Crimson Tide for undisputed claim for the #1 national ranking.
Cowboy defenders, Martin and Brown have factored prominently in Oklahoma State’s 8-0 start to the season and No. 3 ranking in both the Associated Press poll and BCS rankings. The two are leaders of a Cowboy defense that leads in the nation in turnovers gained, passes intercepted and fumbles recovered.
Martin is the top-ranked safety on Mel Kiper’s Big Board and ranks third on the team with 47 tackles. He adds 4.0 tackles for loss and seven passes deflected. His statistics are even more remarkable given the fact that most teams have avoided his side of the field this season.
Brown has been a key part of Oklahoma State’s turnover surge this season, ranking among the national leaders with four interceptions and two fumble recoveries. He has logged 25 tackles, two tackles for loss and ties with Martin for the team lead with seven passes defended.
University of South Carolina senior defensive back Antonio Allen was also named by the Jim Thorpe Association for the 2011 Jim Thorpe Award. Allen is a 6-2, 202-pounder who leads the Gamecocks with 62 tackles, an average of 7.8 per game, and has four games of 10 or more tackles this season. He has recovered three fumbles, has forced three fumbles and has three interceptions. He has scored a pair of touchdowns, returning a fumble against East Carolina and an interception at Georgia.
The presentation of the Thorpe Award will be featured on The Home Depot College Football Awards live on Thursday, Dec. 8, at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN. The show, hosted by ESPN’s Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard will feature the live presentation of nine player awards, along with the recipients of Disney’s Spirit Award; The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award, the NCFAA (National College Football Awards Association) Contributions to College Football Award; and student-athletes selected to the Walter Camp All-America Team.
Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalists
Antonio Allen - South Carolina
David Amerson - North Carolina State
Jonathan Banks - Mississippi State
Mark Barron - Alabama
Brandon Boykin - Georgia
Brodrick Brown - Oklahoma State
Morris Claiborne - LSU
Casey Hayward - Vanderbilt
Jayron Hosley - Virginia Tech
Tony Jefferson - Oklahoma
Dre Kirkpatrick - Alabama
Nigel Malone - Kansas State
Markelle Martin - Oklahoma State
T.J. McDonald - USC
Chase Minnifield - Virginia
Frank Coyle is a long time member of the FWAA and voter in College player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Thorpe etc for the past 18 years. He writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He is a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game.
Vinny Curry Named Nagurski Weekly Defensive Player
DE Vinny Curry - Marshall
Marshall defender #99 Vinny Curry sacks Rice QB Taylor McHargue (16) during the CUSA game on Saturday, Oct. 15th in Huntington.
Marshall DE Vinny Curry was named the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for last weekend's games.
Curry, a 6-3, 263-pound senior from Neptune, N.J., made nine tackles, including four tackles for losses (3.5 sacks) along with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the Thundering Herd's 24-20 victory over Rice. Curry’s sacks were all on third down, halting critical Rice drives. His strip of Rice tailback Sam McGuffie set up the Herd offense at the Rice 23-yard line with 3:31 remaining in the game. Marshall scored the game-winning TD five plays later.
We have an in-depth Scouting Report on Vinny Curry and many prospects in our Pro Prospect Preview 2011 - 300 Scouting Reports - Available Now - Order Today
For the season, Curry leads the nation in tackles for loss with 17 and is second with 9.5 sacks. His contributions have helped Marshall lead the nation with 67 tackles for loss. Currently, we rank Curry a solid Top 50-75 Pro Prospect at the midseason point. He is on our Senior Bowl recommendation list and should warrant an invitation to the premier All-star classic in January 2012.
Frank Coyle is a long time member of the FWAA and voter in College player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Thorpe etc for the past 18 years. He writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He is a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game.
Curry is already on the 2011 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be presented to the best defensive player in college football on Dec. 12 by the FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C. The keynote address will be given by Georgia head coach Mark Richt and Florida's Jack Youngblood from the Class of 1970 will receive this year's Bronko Nagurski Legends Award. Five finalists for the Nagurski Trophy will be announced on Nov. 17.
Each week during the 2011 season the FWAA All-America Committee has selected a national defensive player of the week from nominations made by the 11 Division I Bowl Subdivision Conferences and major independents.
Last season, Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers won the coveted Bronko Nagurski Trophy during the 16th season the FWAA named a national defensive player of the year.
The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, N.C., region. The club's activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding citizenship, scholarship, sportsmanship, and leadership of area athletes and coaches. The official website of the Charlotte Touchdown Club is www.touchdownclub.com.
The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,200 men and women who cover college football for a living. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include gameday operations, major awards and its annual All-America team.
QB Brandon Weeden Tops 2011 Johnny Unitas Award Finalists
QB Brandon Weeden – OSU
The list of candidates for the 2011 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm, Award has been narrowed to 10 top college quarterbacks, including Oklahoma St’s Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma ’s Landry Jones, Houston ’s Case Keenum, and Stanford’s Andrew Luck.
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Weeden is college football's oldest QB. He turned 28 years old last Friday, as old as half of the current starting NFL QBs. Weeden has only six on 260 passing attempts, while his touchdown total has soared up to 16. Last week against Texas, he set three new school records for passes (60), completions (47) and passing yards (438).
For the 2011 season after six games, he has completed 189 passes of 260 attempts for an amazing 72.7% for 2098 yards with 16 TDs and 6 interceptions. He is on pace to throw for over 4000 yards with 35+ TD passes leading the Cowboys potent passing attack.
2011 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
Johnny Unitas award was narrowed from an original field of 25, to 10 college QBs in the running for the Golden Arm Award.
The 10 Finalists for the 2011 Golden Arm Award are:
· Nick Foles - Arizona
· Robert Griffin - Baylor
· Landry Jones - Oklahoma
· Case Keenum - Houston
· Andrew Luck - Stanford
· Kellen Moore - Boise St
· Ryan Tannehill - Texas A & M
· Brandon Weeden - Oklahoma St
· Russell Wilson - Wisconsin
· Tyler Wilson - Arkansas
Named after the man many refer to as the greatest quarterback ever to play football, the prestigious Golden Arm Award is presented annually by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. Candidates for the Golden Arm Award must be completing their college eligibility or be a fourth-year junior, on schedule to graduate with his class. Candidates are judged upon character, citizenship, scholastic achievement, leadership qualities, and athletic accomplishments.
The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award will be presented on Friday, December 9 in downtown Baltimore. A number of former Baltimore Colts teammates will be there, including Raymond Berry, Jimmy Orr, and Art Donovan.
Since 1987, past winners of the award include Colt McCoy ( Texas , 2009), Matt Ryan ( Boston College , 2007), Brady Quinn (Notre Dame, 2006), Matt Leinart (USC, 2005), Eli Manning (Ole Miss, 2003), Carson Palmer (USC, 2002), Peyton Manning ( Tennessee , 1997). and Rodney Peete (USC, 1988).
Proceeds from the Golden Arm Awards help to support the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation. The Foundation provides financial assistance to underprivileged and deserving young scholar-athletes throughout Maryland and Kentucky .
The namesake of the Golden Arm Award has a storied history. Johnny Unitas was an 18-year veteran of the NFL, who played his collegiate career at the University of Louisville before joining the Baltimore Colts in 1958. His career passing figures include 2,830 pass completions for 40,239 yards, 290 TD passes and one that may stand forever – throwing a TD pass in 47 consecutive games.
Unitas was inducted into Pro Football’s Hall of Fame in 1979. Further, the Hall of Fame, in commemorations of the NFL’s 25th, 50th, and 75th anniversaries selected Unitas as the top QB k of all-time. In turn-of-the-century listings, he was named to Sports Illustrated list of top 10 athletes, Time Magazine’s list of 10 most influential athletes, and ESPN’s series on the 50 greatest athletes of the century.
For more information, visit www.goldenarmfoundation.com
Frank Coyle is a long time member of the FWAA and voter in College player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Thorpe and All-American teams. He writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He is a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He is also a member of the FWAA and voter in College team and player awards.
T.J. McDonald of USC Named the Jim Thorpe Defensive Back of the Week Award
Southern Cal safety T.J. McDonald wins the Jim Thorpe weekly award after making several big plays in their 48-41 win over Arizona. McDonald had another strong performance that included six tackles, a pass break up and two key interceptions in the 1st quarter that allowed USC to take an early 17-0 lead.
Photo - Safety T.J. McDonald – USC
McDonald also sealed the Trojans win by recovering Arizona’s onside kick with a minute left after the Wildcats had cut the lead to seven. Also noteworthy of McDonald’s outstanding effort was his first interception ended Arizona quarterback Nick Foles’ streak of 210 passes without an interception dating back to 2010.
McDonald who was named a team captain this season was also a member of the 2011 Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List after earning second team All-Pac-10 honors a season ago. He ranks as DraftInsiders.com #1 safety for the NFL Draft currently. As a junior, he would have to declare in January 2012 to enter the NFL process.
Frank Coyle is a long time member of the FWAA and voter in College player awards. He has voted in the Jim Thorpe award for the past 15 years. He is a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game.
Honorable Mention Players for Week Five:
Jarred Holley, Pittsburgh, Junior Free Safety-Holley had a team-high 10 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble in Pittsburgh’s 44-17 win over USF. Holley spearheaded a Pitt defense that held USF to nearly 100 yards below its season average and 28.5 points below their season scoring average.
Tony Jefferson, Oklahoma, Sophomore Nickel Back Safety-Three Jefferson interceptions on three straight drives powered a second quarter scoring surge in Oklahoma’s 62-6 rout of Ball State. All three of Jefferson’s interceptions led to Sooner touchdowns and they came against Ball State quarterback Keith Wenning who had not thrown an interception in 176 attempts.
Tyrann Mathieu, LSU, Sophomore Cornerback - Mathieu continued his impressive sophomore campaign with five tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles, returning one 23 yards for a touchdown in LSU’s 35-7 win over Kentucky.
Keith Tandy, West Virginia, Senior Cornerback-Tandy had two interceptions that he returned for a combined 29 yards along with two pass breakups and three solo tackles in West Virginia’s 55-10 win over Bowling Green.
About the Jim Thorpe Award:
The Thorpe Award, one of the most coveted awards in college football, is celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2011. The Award, established in 1986, is named after history’s greatest all-around athlete, Jim Thorpe. Thorpe excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on the offensive side of the ball, but also stood out as a defensive back. In addition to his legendary performance on the football field, Thorpe played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon.
The candidates for the award are selected by a “screening committee” of Jim Thorpe Association members who follow several players throughout the season, watching games and researching information sources to grade Thorpe Award candidates on the basis of performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The committee then narrows the field to three finalists and the names of these finalists are submitted to a national panel of about 50 sports writers, sportscasters, coaches and former players who vote to determine the winner.
The Thorpe Award Winner is selected from three finalists and will be announced at The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 8, 2011 on ESPN.
The 25th Anniversary Jim Thorpe Award Banquet will be held on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 in Oklahoma City, OK.
The Jim Thorpe Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game’s predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association’s official website, ncfaa.org.
Frank Coyle is a long time member of the FWAA and voter in College player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Thorpe and All-American teams. He writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He is a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He is also a member of the FWAA and voter in College team and player awards.
Dwayne Allen Named John Mackey Weekly Award Winner
Photo - Dwayne Allen – Clemson
Dwayne Allen of Clemson was named John Mackey Tight End of the Week by the Nassau County Sports Commission. The ACC Atlantic Division junior recorded seven receptions for 80 yards and a receiving TD. Allen's touchdown came when the team was down 21-7 in the second quarter igniting a 31-3 run as Clemson beat Auburn 38-24 to snap Auburn's17 game win streak. Other candidates considered for this week's Mackey Tight End of the Week include Cooper Helfet of Duke and Orson Charles of Georgia.
Allen is an athletic 6’4’’ 255 lb. junior who combines speed, mobility strength and athleticism. He caught 33 balls for 373 yards and a TD last season and figures to improve on those totals working with new QB Tajh Boyd.
The 2011 recipient of "The Mackey" will be announced at the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Red Carpet Show December 8, 2011 on ESPNU. Please visit www.johnmackeyaward.org for all Mackey Award related information including the John Mackey Selection Committee, the selection process and award criteria, information on all past award recipients and a high resolution image of the award trophy available for download.
The John Mackey Tight End of the Week is an honor distinct and different from the annual John Mackey Award. This weekly honor was started in 2004 to draw attention to individual play by Tight Ends during the active season. The Tight End of the Week acknowledgment does not have a direct bearing on the final John Mackey Award selection process. The Nassau County Sports Commission, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization sponsored by Briarcliffe College, is responsible for the administration of the John Mackey Award and the John Mackey Award Selection Committee.
Frank Coyle is a long time member of the FWAA and voter in College player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Thorpe and All-American teams. He writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He is a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He is also a member of the FWAA and voter in College team and player awards.
Andrew Luck, Marcus Lattimore & Justin Blackmon Highlight Draft Insiders.com All-American Offensive Team
College Football Preseason
Draft Insiders.com All-American Teams
Photo – WR Justin Blackmon - Oklahoma St.
First Team All American
Offense
QB Andrew Luck - Jr. - Stanford
RB Marcus Lattimore - So. - South Carolina
RB LaMichael James - Jr. - Oregon
WR Justin Blackmon - Jr. - Oklahoma St
WR Ryan Broyles - Sr. - Oklahoma
TE Michael Egnew - Sr. - Missouri
OL Barrett Jones - Jr. - Alabama
OL Mike Brewster - Sr. - Ohio St
OL Matt Reynolds - Sr. - Brigham Young
OL Nate Potter - Sr. - Boise St
OL David Molk - Sr. - Michigan
K Blair Walsh - Sr. - Georgia
KR Damaris Johnson - Sr. - Tulsa
Defense
DE Brandon Jenkins - Jr. - Florida St
DT Jared Crick - Sr. - Nebraska
DT Jerel Worthy - Jr. - Michigan St.
DE Quinton Coples - Sr. - North Carolina
LB Vontaze Burfict - Jr. - Arizona St.
LB Luke Kuechly - Jr. - Boston College
LB Tank Carder - Sr. - TCU
CB Stephon Gilmore - Jr. - South Carolina
CB Cliff Harris - Jr. - Oregon
S Mark Barron - Sr. - Alabama
S Robert Lester - Jr. - Alabama
P Drew Butler - Sr. - Georgia
PR Cliff Harris - Jr. - Oregon
2nd Team
Offense
QB Kellen Moore - Sr. - Boise St
RB Trent Richardson - Jr - Alabama
RB Edwin Baker - Jr. - Michigan St
WR Jeff Fuller - Sr. - Texas A&M
WR Alshon Jeffrey - Jr. - South Carolina
TE George Bryan - Sr. - North Carolina St
OL Mike Adams - Sr. - Ohio St
OL Levy Adcock - Sr. - Oklahoma St
OL David DeCastro - Jr. - Stanford
OL Kelechi Osemele - Sr. - Iowa St
OL Jonathan Martin - Jr. - Stanford
K Danny Hrapmann - Sr. - Southern Miss
KR Eric Page - Jr. - Toledo
Defense
DL Devin Taylor - Jr. - South Carolina
DL Vinny Curry - Sr. - Marshall
DL Billy Winn - Sr. - Boise St
DL Vince Browne - Sr. - Northwestern
LB Danny Trevathan - Sr. - Kentucky
LB Lavonte David - Sr. - Nebraska
LB Manti Te'o - Jr. - Notre Dame
CB Jayron Hosley - Jr. - Virginia Tech
CB Morris Claiborne - Jr. - Louisiana St
S Kenny Tate - Sr. - Maryland
S Delano Howell - Sr. - Stanford
P Kyle Martens - Sr. - Rice
PR Greg Reid - Sr. - Florida St.
Frank Coyle is a long time member of the FWAA and voter in College player awards - Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Thorpe and All-American teams.
Frank Coyle writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He is a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He is also a member of the FWAA and voter in College team and player awards.
ACC Tops Conferences on 2011 Lott Trophy Watch List
Photo – DL Jared Crick - Nebraska
Nebraska’s Jared Crick heads an outstanding preseason list for the Ronnie Lott 2011 Trophy. Crick is a two time All American who has had a dominant short career in Nebraska and a two-time Big 12 selection. He plays both tackle and end in the Cornhuskers front line and has displayed big play ability since early in his career. He moves to the Big Ten this fall where he should continue to shine as one of the premier and most versatile linemen in the nation.
A total of seven conferences and one independent were represented among the 42-player Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation announced.
Boston College’s Luke Kuechly is the only 2010 first-team Associated Press All-American represented on the list, while there are six players who were named to the AP‘s second team — Nebraska’s Jared Crick, TCU’s Tank Carder, Nebraska’s Lavonte David, Virginia Tech’s Jayron Hosley, Oregon’s Cliff Harris and Alabama’s Mark Barron — who are on the initial watch list.
One player on the last, Arizona’s Omar Bolden, will likely miss the entire 2011 season after suffering a torn ACL during preseason practice earlier in August.
The ACC led all conferences with 11 players, followed by the SEC and Big Ten with eight apiece. The Pac-12 with seven, the Big 12 four, the Mountain West two and the Big East and Notre Dame with one apiece rounded out the initial field.
According to the Lott Award foundation’s mission statement, the award is given annually to individuals who demonstrate excellence in the field of athletics. The IMPACT award recognizes college football’s Defensive Player of the Year who best exemplifies Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
J.J. Watt of Wisconsin was last year’s winner. Other winners have included TCU’s Jerry Hughes (2009), Ohio State’s James Laurinaitis (2008), LSU’s Glenn Dorsey (2007), Cal’s Dante Hughes (2006), Alabama’s DeMeco Ryans (2005) and Georgia’s David Pollack (2004).
The award is named for college and NCAA Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott.
The 2011 Lott Award Watch List:
ACC
Ray-Ray Armstrong, Miami, DB
Nigel Bradham, Florida State, LB
Quinton Coples, North Carolina, DE
Matt Daniels, Duke, S
Jayron Hosley, Virginia Tech, CB
Brandon Jenkins, Florida St, DE
Luke Kuechly, Boston College, LB
Matt Merletti, North Carolina, S
Chase Minnifield, Virginia, CB
Sean Spence, Miami, LB
Kenny Tate, Maryland, S
BIG East
Kendall Reyes, UConn, DT
BIG Ten
Jared Crick, Nebraska, DL
Lavonte David, Nebraska, LB
Aaron Henry, Wisconsin, DB
Joe Holland, Purdue, LB
Jordan Kovacs, Michigan, S
Tyler Nielsen, Iowa, LB
John Simon, Ohio State, DT
Jerel Worthy, Michigan St, DT
BIG 12
Emmanuel Acho, Texas, LB,
Brodrick Brown, Oklahoma St, CB
Travis Lewis, Oklahoma, LB
Jacquies Smith, Missouri, DE
Mountain West
Tank Carder, TCU, LB
Billy Winn, Boise St, DE
Pac-12
Omar Bolden, Arizona St, CB
Tony Dye, UCLA, S
Cliff Harris, Oregon, CB
Delano Howell, Stanford, DB
Mychal Kendricks, Cal, LB
T.J. McDonald, USC, S
Shayne Skov, Stanford, LB
SEC
Mark Barron, Alabama, S
Jake Bequette, Arkansas, DL
Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina, CB
Dont’a Hightower, Alabama, LB
Janois Jenkins, Florida, CB
Chris Marve, Vanderbilt, LB
Brandon Taylor, LSU, S
Prentiss Waggner, Tennessee, S
Independents
Manti Te’o, Notre Dame, LB
