Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Could Browns Build Playoff Team For Next Season?

My heart is a cold dark place and I still feel bad for Cleveland fans.There is almost nothing to like about the Cleveland Browns right now. The way the organization has been run, you would think the Milwaukee Bucks are running the team. They continue to make stupid decisions like draft a quarterback that is almost 30 over a quarterback that is “too short.” They also fire coaches after one season even though they have almost no talent and the front office still thinks Brian Hoyer will lead them to a Super Bowl. Not to also mention their jerseys are crap and no big time athlete will want to come to that city, ask Lebron. With all that being said, there are some core players they can build around. They have five players returning to the team that went to the pro bowl last season (Jordan Cameron, Alex Mack, Josh Gordon, Joe Thomas, and Joe Haden), compared to a playoff team like the Packers who had only one. They have the parts, all they need is a quarterback and someone who can put the parts together. If you're wondering why I didn’t put any defensive targets on here, I think they shouldn’t take one. Mike Pettine has never ranked outside the top ten in yards allowed as a defensive coordinator with the Jets and Bills so their defense will be fine.


Early Draft Targets for the Browns!
1st round ( 4th overall )
Johnny Manziel QB Texas A&M

Johnny Football would bring instant excitement to a dull Browns team. He has extreme play making ability and can make all the throws. Throwing 562 yards and 5 touchdowns against a Nick Saban defense is very impressive. He has superstar written all over him.                                                                                                                              



Blake Bortles QB UCF


Bortles has the prototypical frame of a NFL quarterback and 6’5” and 230 pounds. There is mostly likely going to be at least 2 quarterbacks left on the board when the Browns pick because it is unknown whether the Texans and Jaguars are going defense with Jadeveon Clowney or Khalil Mack, or a quarterback. If they want a prototypical quarterback with a big arm, Bortles is their man.



Teddy Bridgewater QB Louisville

Bridgewater is the most pro-ready and best quarterback in this class. He has all the intangibles you want in a franchise quarterback and has incredible mental and physical toughness. Watch film of how he shredded a SEC defense after getting LAID OUT by Jon Bostic in the Sugar bowl. That defines him as a quarterback.



26th Overall Pick (from Colts)
Kelvin Benjamin WR Florida State
After taking a franchise signal caller, many teams draft an offensive weapon with their next pick to help build around the young quarterback (ex: Andrew Luck and Coby Fleener). At 6’5” 240 pounds, Benjamin has elite length and is a mismatch on smaller defensive backs. He would help take the pressure off of Josh Gordon as the only threat on the field for the Browns




Marquise Lee WR USC

I could make an argument that Lee is the the 2nd most talented receiver in this draft class. Injuries could make him slide on draft day but he has very good athletic ability. If he would fall to the Browns, he could be a huge steal.







Brandin Cooks WR Oregon State
Cooks is a very quick and fast slot receiver. He has significant interest from teams like the Dolphins and Jets so he might not be there when the Browns have to pick. If he is there, he would be an outstanding complement to Josh Gordon.





DO NOT DRAFT IN 1ST ROUND!
Sammy Watkins WR Clemson
Let me make this clear, Sammy Watkins WILL NOT be a bust. He is the best receiver in this class and will turn out to be an outstanding receiver in the NFL. In the interest of Sammy’s career and the Browns future, the browns shouldn’t draft him with the 4th pick.  Watkins will never be the player he could be without at least a mediocre quarterback and won’t turn around the Browns all by himself.



Derek Carr Fresno State
Unlike Watkins, Derek Carr will be a bust. 60 percent of his throws are within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage which won’t cut it in the NFL. Carr had a chance to prove himself against real competition in his bowl game against USC but failed.  He only completed 53% of his passes and horribly overthrew many balls. This would be a Browns like pick.





Any OL in first round

Jake Matthews and Greg Robinson are very good prospects but the Browns drafting them wouldn’t make any sense. They already have Joe Thomas and Alex Mack to solidify the O-Line. Plus, an O-Lineman isn’t going to bring fans to the game or turn this team into a playoff contender.



2nd Round

Jeremy Hill RB LSU
The Browns need a compliment to Ben Tate and Hill could be the guy. HIll played in a pro style, power running game at LSU and it will easily translate to the NFL. The only issue is his off the field issues but he wrote a letter to all 32 teams about his mistakes so these issues seem to be behind him.






Ka’Deem Carey RB Arizona
The reason Carey is going to be picked so high is because of his production. Gaining 3,814 yards on the ground last season, Carey has been a running machine. He is also a very good pass catcher and will be a solid running back at the next level.






Carlos Hyde RB Ohio State
I don’t think i have ever seen a running back break as many tackles as I saw Hyde break last season. Hyde is easily the best running back in this draft and is incredibly tough to bring down. Watching Chris Borland from Wisconsin and him trying to level each other was great to watch and I can’t wait to watch him going up against some of the best linebackers in the league next season.

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Top 5 Candidates For Marquette Coaching Job

As Buzz Williams is being welcomed in by Virginia Tech Hokies, the Marquette Golden Eagles are left scrambling for a replacement. The news broke out Friday afternoon, when it was announced that Buzz took a 7-year $18 million deal with the Hokies. With a strong 2014 recruiting class, Marquette needs to find a quality replacement sooner than later. These are my top 5 candidates for the Marquette coaching job.

Brad Autry
Currently an assistant coach at Marquette, Autry would be a great fit for the Golden Eagles. If he does gets hired, he would already be in-synch with everything Marquette was doing with Buzz Williams, whether it be with the recruits, the players, the league, or the game of basketball. After six years of being at Marquette, he should be rewarded with a promotion to the head coaching position.

Brian Wardle
The third-leading scorer in Marquette history and current UW-Green Bay Head Coach Brian Wardle would be a great fit for the Marquette coaching job. In his first year with Green Bay, they went 14-18 and took 7th place in conference. Four years later, he lead Green Bay to a 24-7 record and became Horizon League Regular Season Champions. Wardle can use his great season with Green Bay to jump into the head coaching position at Marquette.

Ben Howland
This former UCLA head coach has been on the big stage before. From 2006-2008, Howland led UCLA to the Final Four three consecutive times, and only two other active coaches (Izzo and Kryzewski) have done that. Howland would be a great coach at Marquette; not only because of his ability to recruit very talented players but also to coach again at a basketball-first school.

Shaka Smart
For the those who follow the NCAA tournament, Shaka Smart, a Wisconsin native, has became a household name in the past few years. Shaka has lead the Virginia Commonwealth Rams to the Final Four in 2011 and also births in the NCAA tournament in 2012 and 2013. He has proven to be a successful coach that would be able to step into the coaches role at Marquette very easily.

Saul Phillips
Phillips, also a Wisconsin native, would be a great addition to the Marquette program. Currently with North Dakota State University, Phillips coached the Bison to an upset against 5-seed Oklahoma in the NCAA Tournament in a legendary game. In 2009, Phillips led NDSU to the NCAA Tournament in their first year eligible for it, a first since Louisiana-Lafayette in 1972. His Wisconsin ties could possibly bring him back to his home state and coach at Marquette.

Monday, March 17, 2014

2014 NFL Draft Steals

This years NFL Draft has a deep and talented class coming off of an entertaining college football year. This post contains my thoughts on 5 under the radar draft prospects that will be a steal for whoever drafts them, whether they make an immediate impact or even an impact in a few more years.
Gator Hoskins
Gator Hoskins from Marshall did it all for the Thundering Herd last season. His athleticism allowed him to always be on the field while on offense, whether it be as a fullback or as a tight end. Although he didn't record as many receptions or receiving yards as other Tight Ends, Hoskins was the leader within his position in touchdown receptions. His 13 touchdowns this year were a product of his ability of having red-zone awareness, or being able to find holes in the red-zone that can lead to easy touchdowns. NFL teams love tight ends with this ability, especially on 3rd down. So why is Hoskins not projected very high in the draft? Part of the reason is because he is from a small school; as will some of the players on this list. Small schools get less exposure which leads to people not being aware of him. Another reason why he isn't projected very high is because he isn't totally fit for a specific position in the NFL. He could play Tight End, but standing at 6'2, Hoskins would be considered very short for that position. That reason is possibly why NFL teams may try him out as a Fullback, where his 244 pounds can be utilized very well. All in all, Hoskins is a safe, low-risk pick in the late-rounds that can outperform others drafted ahead of him. 

Shaquil Barrett
Shaquil Barrett of Colorado State is projected to be a late 7th-rounder by CBSsports.com, but I myself would easily spend a 4th-round pick on this guy. The only thing restricting him from being a mid-round draft pick is his size. At 6'2 and 260 pounds, Barrett is a huge Outside Linebacker. He also doesn't have ideal NFL size and lacks good strength which at times can limit his play. With all of his physical features aside, Barrett is a great linebacker. He has great play recognition along with his ability to adjust which makes him a very instinctive linebacker. Along with being very instinctive, he is very aggressive on the point of attack and also sets the edge very well. He also played well against top-tier NCAA teams. Against Alabama, he was accounted for 1.5 sacks against a top Offensive Tackle in Cyrus Kouandjio. As long as Barrett gets in better NFL-shape, he can certainly be a steal for the team that gets him.

Jerick McKinnon
The Georgia Southern athlete started 5 games at Quarterback and 4 games at Running Back this year. At the 2014 NFL Draft Combine, he worked out with the Running Back group and was a top-performer in all categories for the group. He's also monster in the weight room; he can bench press twice his body weight and can squat three times his body weight. On the field, he can change direction quickly and accelerate fluently, which along with his quickness, can help him strive in the NFL. McKinnon is also a complete team player, filling any role needed whether it be Quarterback, Running Back, or on Special Teams. His only weakness is his lack of experience as a traditional Running Back, which is something he can easily improve on during training camp and the preseason. A team could possibly draft him as early as the 4th round, but McKinnon can have the impact of a 1st rounder in a few years. 

Dion Bailey
A projected 4th round pick, I can see Dion Bailey as a possible All-Pro after a few years of experience at the safety position. After starting 2 years at linebacker and 1 year as a safety at USC, Bailey recorded an impressive 222 tackles in his career. Dion is an unselfish player, he will take out blockers to set up a teammate for a tackle. Being a former linebacker, he's really well at reading plays quickly, tackling technique, and having on-field awareness. These are great qualities to look for in an NFL safety, especially with the way safeties are currently tackling in the NFL. CBSSports.com compares him to All-Pro Safety Eric Weddle from the San Diego Chargers, which isn't a bad comparison at all. If you're a team who lacks a tough, play making, and aggressive safety, this is the perfect player for you.  

Jacob Pedersen

There is no doubt that NFL teams love Tight Ends from the Wisconsin Badgers. The Badgers currently have 5 Tight Ends in the NFL which includes Owen Daniels (Texans), Garrett Graham (Texans), Jake Byrne (Chargers), Lance Kendricks (Rams), and Travis Beckum (Seahawks). Pedersen is a great blocker in the Badgers running offense, he helped James White and Melvin Gordon each earned 1,000 yards rushing this year. During his sophomore year in 2011, he was one of Russell Wilson's favorite receivers, catching a superb 8 touchdown passes. In 2012 and 2013, his touchdown receptions went down from his sophomore year, mainly due to lackluster Quarterback play. But in 2013, Pedersen bounced back with a 551 yards on 39 receptions, an average of 14.1 yards per catch. I believe that if Pedersen is matched up with an elite NFL Quarterback, he can make quite an impact on that team. If he isn't even drafted, I still expect Pedersen to be on an NFL 53-man roster by the first regular season game. 

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Why UW-Green Bay Should Be Considered For An At-Large Bid

After a devastating overtime loss in the semi-finals of Horizon League Tournament, UW-Green Bay's chances of receiving an At-Large Bid into the NCAA Tournament had diminished. The Phoenix finished the season with a 24-6 overall record, including a key win against the ACC Regular Season Champions, Virginia. But is that win against Virginia enough? Well, lets go back to November 16th of last year, when Green Bay came inches away from going into overtime with Wisconsin, a team who had just beat currently-ranked #2 Florida. In that game, Horizon Conference Player of the Year Keifer Sykes dropped 32 points against the normally potent defense of Wisconsin. If the Phoenix can play this well against teams like Virginia and Wisconsin, I feel like they can compete with any team in the NCAA Tournament as long as they stay healthy.
                                                                       Keifer Sykes

In Horizon League play, Green Bay lost a total of three games, which could scare the selection committee because of the Horizon's mid-major teams. Out of those three loses, they lost once against Valparaiso and twice against the Horizon League Tournament Champions, UW-Milwaukee. Against Valparaiso, Green Bay's starting center Alec Brown, who's their second leading scorer and rebounder, sat out with an injured shoulder. Valparaiso dominated rebounding and controlled the paint the entire game while also shooting a stellar 59% from the court. There is no doubt that if Alec Brown plays that game, Green Bay wins. After splitting the regular season series against UW-Milwaukee, they faced off again in the semi-finals of the Horizon League Tournament. The game was effected immediately when star PG Keifer Sykes injured his ankle in the first half. He later returned to the game with a very noticeable limp that impacted his performance, but he rallied his team to bring the game into overtime. Once the game reached overtime, Milwaukee then pulled away with the lead and won to advance to the Horizon League Championship Game that they eventually won. All in all, Green Bay's two key losses were when the team wasn't at full-strength.
                                                                        Alec Brown

I feel like Green Bay deserves a spot more than a 7th or 8th place team in a power conference. I think that seeing these "cinderella" or "bracketbuster" teams make March Madness all that better with all of the excitement that the teams bring. Who can forget about Dunk City last year or George Mason's Final Four run in 2006? Scenarios like those are why mid-major teams should receive a spot in the tournament instead of a mediocre power-conference team. Ultimately, it's not me but rather the selection committee that chooses who makes the tournament and not, and I hope that the committee gives Green Bay a chance on Selection Sunday.







 

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Packers Free Agency Preview

Packers Free Agency Preview
        Ted Thompson and Free Agency have been farther away than the Milwaukee Bucks and winning, but this year could be different. The Packers have almost 30 million dollars in cap room and with the glaring needs on defense, the draft will not be the only things the Packers are active in. The Packers ranked either 24th or 25th in defense ranks such as; points allowed, total yards allowed, passing yards allowed, and rushing yards allowed. They need every position. They just signed Sam Shields to a 4yr/39 million dollar deal so CB won’t be as big of a priority as the other defensive positions. The draft just won’t cover the rest. With that being said, would I be surprised if they don’t sign any big defensive free agents? Absolutely not.

Here are some possible free agent targets for the Pack!

Henry Melton DT Chicago Bears


The Bears run defense was dead last in the NFL after Melton went down with a injury. He was such an important part of the run defense the Bears decided to use him as their franchise player last year. Now the Packers need help and Melton will bring versatility and youth at age 27 to the d-line

 Jon Beason ILB NY Giants                                       
             
Jon Beason is more like Jon Beaston. This guy has a nose for the football and is a tackling machine. The only downside is the risk of injury but he won’t desire of huge long term contract Ted Thompson has been unwilling to give in the past.

Jairus Bryd S Buffalo Bills



Jarius Bryd has been a stud in the Bills Secondary. The Packers had ZERO interceptions by a safety last season which is really embarrassing.
Byrd is a ball hawk that is a quarterbacks nightmare. I don’t think quarterbacks got nightmares before they played the Packers with their current secondary….

Jared Allen DE Minnesota Vikings                                                                     
                                                            

Pass Rushers always have a place on a NFL team and Jared Allen is still a top pass rusher in the league. The Packers are one of the four teams Allen is interested in so he could bring some much needed toughness.

Demarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher OLB/DL Dallas Cowboys

The recently released Demarcus Ware could generate some interest from the Packers. They have been struggling to find an outside linebacker across from Clay Matthews for awhile and Ware could be the solution. Ware would open up one on one opportunities for not only himself, but Matthews too. Jason Hatcher notched 11 sacks at the DT which is impressive. The Cowboys are in a cap crunch right now so these guys are probably going to be on a new team next year.

Jimmy Graham TE New Orleans Saints

This move could make the Packers front office look like a genius or a member of the Raiders front office. Pairing the best tight end at high pointing the ball with the best back shoulder fade passer in the game could make a deadly duo. To acquire Graham, it would require the Packers to give the Saints two late 1st round picks. If this happened 2 years ago, they would have given away Datone Jones and Nick Perry. I would do that in a heartbeat. Sorry Packer fans, this isn’t happening though because it would be to much out of TT’s character. It is an interesting topic to think about which is why I put this on here.

Sunday, March 2, 2014

NCAA Football 2013 All Mid-Major Team

Here it is... the first annual All Mid-Major NCAA football team! The spots on this team are determined by a few factors such as the players performance and total stats. This list includes players from programs that in my opinion I consider to be a mid-major program. Some teams like Louisville and UCF aren't included as mid-majors. Enjoy!
QB: Derek Carr-Fresno State
The younger brother of David Carr had an amazing year for the Bulldogs of Fresno State. Derek, in his third year starting for the Bulldogs, threw for over 5,000 yards with an impressive 50 touchdowns and only 8 interceptions this season. Carr also led D-1 Quarterbacks in total passing yards with 420 more yards than Oregon State's Sean Mannion.
Honorable Mention: Jordan Lynch-NIU, Shane Carden-ECU, David Fales-SJSU
RB: Antonio Andrews-WKU
Antonio Andrews carried the Hilltoppers to a solid 8-4 record in 2013. Andrews averaged an impressive 6.5 yards per carry along with 16 rushing touchdowns. Antonio had the 7th most total rushing yards in 2013 thanks to his 1,730 yards.
RB: Branden Oliver- Buffalo
The cousin of Tampa Bay Buccaneers Wide Receiver Roscoe Parrish amassed over 1500 yards this year for the Buffalo Bulls. He had 5 games this year where he ran for 150 or more yards including games of 216 yards and 249 yards. Oliver is also now the all-time leading rusher for the Buffalo program.
Honorable Mention: Travis Greene-B.Green, David Fluellen-Toledo, Trey Watts Tulsa, Dri Archer-Kent St
WR: Davante Adams
 The lethal combination of Derek Carr and Davante Adams accounted for 24 touchdowns and 1718 yards. Adams had monster games of 221, 246, and 264 yards. He was 13 yards short of being the top receiver of 2013 in the NCAA. He was also a 2-time First-Team All-Conference Receiver.
WR: Chandler Jones SJSU
This former walk-on had a breakout season in 2013 with 79 catches and 1356 yards. Against an undefeated Fresno State, Jones helped the Spartans pull off an upset with an impressive game that included 146 yards and 3 touchdowns. His 15 touchdowns tied for 3rd in the FBS for receivers. Jones was also named to First-Team All-MWC at the end of the 2013 season.
Honorable Mention: Willie Snead- Ball St, Tommy Schuler- Marshall, Deontay Greenberry- Houston.
TE: Gator Hoskins- Marshall
The First-Team All-Conference USA Tight End caught 15 touchdown passes in 2013 for the Thundering Herd. Those 15 touchdown receptions were enough to be the leader in Tight Ends for touchdown receptions. Hoskins was also a semi-finalist for the John Mackey award in 2013.
Honorable Mention: Wes Saxton-South Alabama, Tyreese Russell-EMU, Alex Bayer-B. Green
OT: Billy Turner- North Dakota State


The 2013 FCS Offensive Lineman of the Year helped the Bison win the FCS National Championship. Turner started all 15 games this season for the Bison and allowed no QB sacks. He was a part of a running attack that had two 1000 yard rushers for the second straight year.
OT: Joel Bitonio- Nevada
Against top NFL prospect Anthony Barr this year, Bitonio held Barr to no sacks. Bitonio was awarded First-Team All-Mountain West in 2013 while starting 39 straight consecutive games through his career at Nevada.
Honorable Mention: Charles Leno- Boise St, Danny Kistler Jr- Montana
OG: Dakota Dozier- Furman
Originally a tackle, Dozier's transition to guard went well. He ended up winning the Southern Conference Jacobs Blocking Award in 2013 and was also named to the 2013 AP First-Team All-FCS. Dozier paved the way for 3 straight 1,000 yard rushers at Furman from 2011-2013.
OG: Kadeem Edwards- Tennessee State
This big guy started 43 games in his career at Tennessee State and he earned honors every year he started. As a sophomore, Edwards made Second-Team All-OVC, but as a junior and as a senior, he made First-Team All-OVC. Also in his senior year, Kadeem was named a First-Team FCS All-American.
Honorable Mention: Brian Clarke-Bloomsburg, Cyril Lemon-North Texas, Karim Barton Morgan State
OC: Tyler Larsen- Utah State
As one of the six finalists for the Rimington Trophy award, Tyler Larsen excelled this year at Utah State. He earned All-Mountain West honors this year while playing in his 51st consecutive game. He was graded at 86 percent or above in every game in 2013.
Honorable Mention: Matt Armtrong- GVSU, Zac Kerin- Toledo, Chris Jasperse- Marshall
DL: Caraun Reid- Princeton
A back to back All-American, Reid excelled for the Tigers this year. Reid overcame double and triple teams all year to become one of the most disruptive defensive lineman in the FCS. Caraun also led the Ivy League in sacks and was second in tackles for loss. He is also a 3-time Ivy league first-teamer.
DL: Justin Ellis- Louisiana Tech
This 330+ pound nose tackle had 48 tackles this season including 5.5 tackles for loss. Ellis helped out his team majorly this year by filling gaps against the run. Justin's efforts earned him a place on Honorable Mention All-CUSA, which I certainly disagree with.
DL: Demarcus Lawrence- Boise State
Lawrence led the Mountain West in sacks and tackles for loss this year. He recorded an impressive 10.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss for the Broncos. Boise State used him in plenty of packages this year, Lawrence had virtually lined up at every spot on the defensive line.
Honorable Mention: Shamar Stephon- UCONN, Ryan Carrethers- Arkansas State
MLB: Yawin Smallwood- UCONN
Yawin was a top producer for the Huskies this year. A Butkus award semi-finalist, he led his team with 118 tackles and 4 sacks. He earned CBSSports.com Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against #14 Michigan that included 13 tackles, 2.0 TFL, a sack, and a forced fumble. He also earned American Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his game against Temple that included 8 tackles, 2.0 TFL, a sack, a forced fumble, and a 59 yard interception return for touchdown.
MLB: DeDe Lattimore- USF
Although only earning Second Team All-American Conference honors, Lattimore had a solid year for the Bulls. He was named to the Bednarik and Butkus Award Watch Lists. DeDe set a career high in tackles in a game with 18 against Rutgers this year. Lattimore finished his career this year with 337 tackles, which is second all-time at USF.
Honorable Mention: Andrew Jackson- WKU, Devin Unga- BYU, Shaquil Barrett CSU
OLB: Khalil Mack- Buffalo
Fueled by doubt, Kahlil Mack  wrecked the MAC in 2013 and will now move on towards the NFL. Not only did he dominate the mediocre MAC, but he also dominated against top-tier teams such as Baylor and Ohio State. In his 4 years as a starter for the Bulls, he has set FBS records with 75 career TFL and 16 career forced fumbles. Mack is also a 3-time First Team All-MAC and in 2013 he was chosen as a Second Team All-American.
OLB: Kyle Van Noy-BYU
The All-Independent Defensive Player of the Year had a career high 70 tackles in 2013. He also had a solid 17.5 TFL this year, down from his amazing 22 TFL last year, but it is still a great amount. Kyle eventually made the CBSSports.com Third Team All-American and SI's Honorable Mention.
Honorable Mention: Jordan Tripp- Montana, Howard Jones- Shepherd, Tyler Starr- South Dakota
S: Jimmie Ward- NIU
A semi-finalist for the Jim Thorpe award, Ward led NIU in tackles with 95 and in interceptions with 7. He was selected to the First Team All-MAC and was a Third-Team AP All-American. He also impressed many people during Senior Bowl practices.
S: Marqueston Huff- Wyoming
In Huff's first year transitioning to safety, he led all MWC defensive backs in tackles with 127, which is 30 more tackles than any other defensive back in that conference. He was eleventh in the NCAA in tackles per game, with Huff averaging roughly 10.6 tackles per game. Marqueston eventually made Second-Team All-MWC.
Honorable Mention: Derron Smith- Fresno State, Daniel Fitzpatrick- TennState, Nat Berhe- SDSU
CB: Pierre Desir- Lindenwood
This division two player is not a joke at all. Desir won the Cliff Harris award in 2013, honoring the best small-school defensive player. In his two years at Lindenwood, he recorded a solid 13 interceptions. Desir also finished his career ranked first in passes defended in the MIAA history.
CB: Lorenzo Doss- Tulane
This true sophomore had astonishing numbers for someone his age. Doss ended the season tied for second in interceptions and ran two of those for touchdowns. SB Nation and College Sports Madness both named him the Conference-USA Defensive Player of the Year. He also was named the Jim Thorpe Defensive Back of the Week Award after picking off two passes, one for touchdown, against North Texas on October 5th. Watch out for this guy over the next few years.
Honorable Mention: D'Joun Smith-FAU, Nevin Lawson-UtSt, Walt Aikens-Liberty, Bene Benwikere SJSU
P: Tim Hornsey- Memphis
An Australian native and Ray Guy Award winner, Hornsey punted 62 times this season with an average of 45.2 yards per punt. 29 of his 62 punts were pinned within the opponents 20-yard line. Only four of his punts went into the end zone.
Honorable Mention: Richie Leon- Houston
K: Chris Boswell- Rice
The senior for Rice drilled a 56-yard game winning field goal against Kansas. He was also named Second-Team All-Conference USA.
Honorable Mention: Cairo Santos- Tulane.
KR: Carlos Wiggins- New Mexico
Averaging almost 30 yards per return, Wiggins was one of the only bright spots for the Lobos. The sophomore returner recorded 1,315 yards with 3 touchdowns this season. He earned Mountain West Special Teams POY honors and also earned a spot on First-Team All Mountain West.
KR: Demarcus Ayers- Houston
This true freshman lead the American Conference and was 12th nationally in return yards with 1,021 yards. Ayers also had five games with over 100 return yards and was second nationally with 12 returns of 30+ yards. He earned Co-Special Teams POY and First-Team All-Conference.
Honorable Mention: Deandre Reaves- Marshall, Adam Hine- BYU, Aaron Evans- Old Dominion