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Archive for College Football

College Football Countdown: The Heisman

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

To kick off our preview of the 2011-2012 college football season, John and Daniel take their picks for  which player will bring home the nation’s most prestigious award: the Heisman Trophy. Along with picking the outright winner [1], the guys from NextGen will choose a player who may be under the radar as of right now, but could very well end up in New York City for the Heisman ceremony next January.

John’s Heisman Winner: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
The rising junior from Pensacola, Florida may be the most physically gifted as well as the most NFL-ready running back in the country. With the departure of 2009 Heisman winner, Mark Ingram, to the pros, Richardson looks primed to take over the starting tailback job at Alabama. Also, because of the losses of starting quarterback Greg McElroy and star wideout Julio Jones, coach Nick Saban will look to the run game now more than ever. Richardson, at 5′10″/225 lbs, has a relatively low center of gravity which allows him to run with great power, but he still possesses sprinter speed and excellent explosiveness. Alabama should start next season as a top 3 team, and as history has shown, the Heisman usually goes to the best performer on one of the nation’s premier teams. Richardson was a blue chip recruit coming out of high school, and though he has shown flashes of greatness in limited playing time his first two seasons, 2011 will be the year when he fulfills all expectations. Read More→

The Russell Wilson Conundrum?

Friday, July 1st, 2011
RW

SI's Staples says the rule that let Wilson transfer is college sports' best

Russell Wilson is smart. I get that. He graduated from a major American university in three years, where most take four. Moreover, Wilson received a degree in communications, a legitimate major. Sorry other big-time football programs, but Wilson didn’t graduate with a certificate that read ‘Football 101.’

Unfortunately, our society has come to the point where we ask the following question in response to successful people: What is his reward? Or, what does he get now? My answer, in regard to Wilson, is that your education is your reward. A college degree from NC State will help the former Wolfpack quarterback for the rest of his life. Let’s also remember that Wilson’s education was free, so he didn’t pay any tuition for four years.

Sports Illustrated’s Andy Staples sees it a bit differently. One of the magazine’s featured college football writers, he argues (in this piece) that Wilson’s excellence in the classroom justifies his move to Wisconsin to play out his remaining year eligibility.

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Big Board 1.0, Top Ten

Wednesday, November 24th, 2010

1. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford – Considered the most intelligent college quarterback since Peyton Manning, Luck possesses all the tools to become an NFL superstar. He is the main reason Stanford could play in a BCS Bowl come January, and the Texas native appears ready to start in the NFL from day one. Remember, Luck is quite athletic for the quarterback position, as evidenced by his 56 yard run last week against California.

2. A.J. Green, WR, Georgia – The consensus selection at number two, Green is clearly the best wide receiver in the 2011 class. In fact, he could have been a first round pick in his freshman year, after dominating SEC play alongside current Lions’ QB Matthew Stafford. Green’s only blemish came before the 2010 season, in which the Summerville, South Carolina native sold his game-worn Independence Bowl jersey to an agent for $1,000. The NCAA later suspended the junior wide receiver for four games, yet otherwise, Green isn’t considered an issue off the field.

3. Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU – At 6 feet 1 inches and 211 pounds, Peterson has ideal size for the NFL. Coupled with elite speed and dynamic explosiveness, he projects to be a multi-faceted threat on Sundays. After single-handedly beating Ole Miss on Saturday, NFL teams should not hesitate if Peterson is still on the board.

4. Da’Quan Bowers, OLB/DE, Clemson – Following two disappointing seasons in Death Valley after being one of the most sought after players in the country, Bowers has rebounded in 2010. He currently leads the nation with 16 sacks, including a dominating three sack performance against Maryland. The junior defensive end often appears unblockable against the run and gets to the quarterback constantly. Moreover, Bowers has played both from a two-point stance and a three-point stance at Clemson, so adapting to NFL defensive schemes shouldn’t be an issue. Read More→

College Football Countdown: The Heisman Special

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

Last year's Heisman winner, Mark Ingram, gives his acceptance speech.

Here at NextGen Sports, our College Football Countdown series has chronicled some of the nation’s most talented incoming freshman and spotlighted several of the best BCS dark horse teams (Oklahoma, LSU, North Carolina, and Pittsburgh). Today we have another entry in the series: our Heisman selections for the 2010 season, along with a surprise player who we think could closely contend for one as well. With typical Heisman favorites Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, and Sam Bradford now in the NFL, this could be as wide open a race as we’ve seen in college football for the past decade. Last year Alabama tailback Mark Ingram won the award, which broke the streak of quarterback recipients. This season, though, there are more quarterbacks capable of winning the award than ever, along with a very strong group of running backs and receivers. Without further ado, here are the picks:

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College Football Countdown Team Spotlight: Oklahoma Sooners

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

Ryan Broyles returns a punt.

The last meaningful memory of the Oklahoma Sooners’ 2009 season was the sight of star quarterback Sam Bradford awkwardly hitting the turf under the weight of a BYU defender. Originally, the team was seen by many to be a contender for a national title. And why not? With their Heisman winning quarterback returning, along with a stellar offense featuring All-World tight end Jermaine Greisham. and rock solid defense headed up by tackle Gerald McCoy, the sky was the limit. That sky came crashing down in their season opening loss to BYU. Not only did they lose their chances at a national championship right off the bat, but they also lost Bradford.

This season, coach Bob Stoops knows the fans in Norman, Oklahoma are yearning for success. Stoops has created a winning environment for the Sooners, with his savvy recruiting skills and astute game planning, as proven by his 2000 National Championship. Last year the Sooners were able to pull of a win in the Sun Bowl versus Stanford, but a victory in a non BCS bowl hardly quelled their appetite for success. The Sooners have had a rough recent history in Bowl games before last year, losing to Florida in the ‘08 Championship game, and then back to back Fiesta Bowl losses to Boise State and West Virginia the seasons before that. Bob Stoops and company have a chance to change the unlucky string of outcomes the Sooners have endured over the past couple seasons, and with most of their starters on both sides of the ball returning from last year they can do just that. Read More→