It is that time of the year again, time for the start of college football. What would the start of college football be without a preseason All-American list? Once again, I am here to give you my preseason All-Americans. As usual, there will be more than 11 a side, to account for the different types of formations (spread, three receiver set, 4-3, 3-4, etc). I explain some of my picks, while others I do not. Why? Because I can. (Starters in capitals).
Offense
QB - AARON MURRAY, Georgia; Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville; Tajh Boyd, Clemson - I know that the topic is not who is included, but it is now who was left off - that is right, no Johnny Manziell - and it has nothing to do with all of the problems of the offseason. Murray is about ready to rewrite the entire SEC passing record book, Bridgewater is the most accurate quarterback in football and Boyd is every bit the dual threat Manziell is. In fact, I could think of three or four more to place here before I get to Manziell.
RB - D'ANTHONY THOMAS, Oregon; LACHE SEASTRUNK, Baylor; Ka'Deem Carey, Arizona; Todd Gurley, Georgia - Other than Clowney, this might be the most talented group on the board. Thomas or Carey could single handedly win the Pac-10 (or whatever number they are using nowadays). With all due respect to T.J. Yeldon, Gurley is the best RB in the SEC. Seastrunk might be the most dynamic player in the country. Is that Ka'Deem? Nah, that ain't Ka'Deem!
WR - MARQUISE LEE, USC; SAMMY WATKINS, Clemson; Amari Cooper, Alabama; Stefon Diggs, Maryland - The first three are self-explanatory, or at least they should be. Easiest starters to pick other than Clowney and Santos, especially for my brother Marquise. I had to put Diggs somewhere, and since I did not select Duke Johnson as a RB, he has to be my special teams returner.
TE - AUSTIN SEFERIAN-JENKINS, Washington; Eric Ebron, Jr., North Carolina - The weakest spot in the team, but Seferian-Jenkins already has over 100 career catches.
OL - JAKE MATTHEWS, Texas A and M; DAVID YANKEY, Stanford; GABE IKARD, Oklahoma; CYRIL RICHARDSON, Baylor; TAYLOR LEWAN, Michigan; Cyrus Kuandijo, Alabama - Matthews will need to step into Luke Joeckel's shoes. All 6 of these lineman are important cogs to their teams success this year.
Defense
DE - JADEVEON CLOWNEY, South Carolina; DEVONTE FIELDS, TCU; Stephen Tuitt, Notre Dame - With Clowney heading this group, no justification is really necessary. I look for Fields to take a huge leap this year. Tuitt had 12 sacks last year.
DT - WILL SUTTON, Arizona State; LOUIS NIX, Notre Dame; Tim Jernigan, Florida State; Dominque Easley, Florida - Sutton is the best collegiate DT since Ndamulkong Suh, and he can single-handedly stop a run game while also provide a bit of a pass rush up the middle. Easley might be the stretch here, but I look for him to be up to the challenge of the tough SEC trenches.
LB - C.J. MOSLEY, Alabama; ANTHONY BARR, UCLA; KYLE VAN NOY, BYU; Ryan Shazier, Ohio State; Chris Borland, Wisconsin; Denzel Nkemdiche, Mississippi - Mosley and Barr are no brainers, while Van Noy has 45 tackles for loss in his career. Shazier and Borland will rack up lots of tackles in the run happy Big 10. I include Nkemdiche because a couple of years ago I mentioned, but did not include, a young Jon Bostic. Nkemdiche has all kinds of talent and athleticism.
CB - BRADLEY ROBY, Ohio State; IFO EKPRE-OLOMU, JR., Oregon; Jason Verett, TCU; Louchiez Purifoy, Florida - Roby might not make a tackle or interception this year, teams are that scared of him. Ekpre-Olomu has the best name on the team. Purifoy might play both ways this year.
S - ED REYNOLDS, Stanford; HA HA CLINTON-DIX, Alabama; Craig Loston, LSU; Lamarcus Joyner, FSU - Ed Reynolds is a returning Thorpe Award finalist, and there is nothing funny about the way Clinton-Dix plays with his 5 interceptions last year. Joyner can play either corner or safety.
Special Teams
K - CAIRO SANTOS, Tulane - Nobody else is even close. Second easiest choice in this list.
P - KYLE CHRISTY, Florida - He was the best punter last year; he should continue to be the best punter this year.
KR/PR - DUKE JOHNSON, Miami; Dri Archer, Kent State; - Duke Johnson does it all, including starting running back this year. He is likely going to be the best player on the field in every game he plays this year. Scored touchdowns rushing, receiving and returning last year. Diggs and Thomas could also have been used here, but they are listed at WR and RB already.
Showing posts with label Jadeveon Clowney. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jadeveon Clowney. Show all posts
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Everybody's All-American
As college football has concluded its 2012 campaign and we are 1 step closer to a playoff to decide the national champion, this seems as if it is the right time to name the Pepster All-Americans. This is my reflection of the best players from college, and by no means is meant to indicate who will be high draft picks, or as my prognostication as to which players will become good or great professionals. It is simply who I thought played the best last year. Although there are more than 11 offensive and defensive players listed, the team is selected to account for the various offenses and defenses used around the country (trip receivers, spread, 3-4, 4-3, etc.). I also choose some backups to account for different styles of players. I chose to explain my picks in some instances, and not in others. Why? Because I feel like it. Now here are the Pepster 2012 All-Americans.
Offense
QB - Johnny Manzell, Texas A & M; Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois; Geno Smith, West Virginia- Manzell needs no explanation. Lynch set the record for most rushing yards by a quarterback and Smith put up ludicrous numbers - which he had to do because his defense was ludicrously awful!
RB - Kenjon Barner, Oregon; Montee Ball, Wisconsin, Stefphon Jefferson, Nevada - If you are asking why Barner and Ball, then you are not a true college football fan. Stefphon Jefferson because he was second in yards, second in touchdowns scored and first in "he spells his name, How?" Duke Johnson will be on this list next year - Guaranteed!
WR - Marquise Lee, USC; Stedman Bailey, West Virginia; DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson; Terrance Williams, Baylor - Lee had 118 receptions for 1721 yards; Bailey had 114 receptions for 1622 yards and 25 TDS!!!! Hopkins had only 82 catches for 1405 yards, but 18 TDs, while Williams had an astounding 1832 yards - on 97 catches - after losing Robert Griffin III.
TE - Zach Ertz, Stanford - and since nobody uses TEs anymore, no Tyler Eifort.
T - Luke Joeckel, Texas A & M; Cyrus Kuandijo, Alabama; D.J. Fluker, Alabama. Joeckel is by far the best offensive lineman in the country, and well, did you see Alabama's running game?
G - Chance Warmack, Alabama; Cyril Richardson, Baylor - Once again - Alabama's offensive line and as for Richardson, just watch the Kansas State tape, with Lache Seastrunk constantly running up the middle.
C - Barret Jones, Alabama - Seriously, they were that good.
Defense
DE - Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina; Damontre Moore, Texas A & M; Bjoern Werner, FSU - Clowney - just for the bowl game hit. Yes THE Bowl Game HIT! Moore because A & M played a lot more than just offense. Werner is most people's starter, but I thought he just took too many plays off.
DT - Star Lotulelei, Utah; Sharif Floyd - Lotulelei might have been the best player of which you have never heard. Floyd was a beast that anchored a darn good Florida Gator defense this year (and to appease the Gator fans before they see that I did not include Matt Elam on my team).
OLB - Jarvis Jones, Georgia; Khaseem Greene, Rutgers; C.J. Mosley, Alabama - Jones needs no explanation - but he did lead the country in sacks, and the only reason Greene needs an explanation is because nobody watches Rutgers. Mosley is phenomenal, and to be honest, the only reason I have Greene ahead of him is that I really like watching Greene play.
ILB - Manti Te'o, Notre Dame; Arthur Brown - Kansas State - Te'o received most of the acclaim and all of the apostrophes, but Arthur Brown can flat play defense as well.
CB - Dee Milliner, Alabama; Johnthan Banks, Mississippi State; Jordan Poyer, Oregon State - Milliner was my MVP of the BCS Championship game, and Banks allowed Mississippi State to play an extra safety in the box against all of the tough SEC offenses. Poyer had 7 interceptions.
S - Phillip Thomas, Fresno State; Ed Reynolds, Stanford; Eric Reid, LSU - Thomas led the country with 8 interceptions, while Ed Reynolds anchored a tough, tough Cardinal defense. Eric Reid is included because the LSU defense was way too good to not have someone on the team, and I personally found Barkevious Mingo incredibly disappointing - and I can give lots of examples, if you prefer.
Now for my Matt Elam aside. I attended 3 Florida games and watched at least a portion of every other game. While Elam is a talent, (he was a consensus All-American for everyone else and is the highest rated safety in the draft - to date), he often runs himself out of plays, is often out-of-position, over pursues way too much, is way too eager to make the big hit/play rather than make a tackle and takes stupid - and I mean STUPID - penalties, often personal fouls. I personally saw that in the LSU game there were times where Elam was on the bench in the second half for several plays - and not for an injury or equipment reasons either. In fact, his signature play, running the receiver down and causing the fumble in the LSU game, only happened because he bit horribly on the play-action fake and was WAY out of position. I will give him credit for not giving up on the play, though.
Special Teams
K - Cairo Santos, Tulane - 47 - 48 on the year, and that miss was on an extra point. Plus, my Palm Beach County brethren, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, felt he was the best kicker in awarding him the Lou Groza award. This was a category that should have, and was, fought over by the 3 Florida kickers, Dustin Hopkins, Caleb Sturgis and Jake Wieclaw, but Santos rose above them all.
P - Kyle Christy, Florida - Although Christy only finished seventh in punting with a 45.8 yard (Ryan Allen of Louisiana Tech had an astounding 48 yard average, Christy affected each and every game with his punts, giving the Gators great field position on subsequent drives after pinning the opponents deep in their own endzone, and the Gators desperately needed the short field with their offense.
R - Marcus Murphy - Missouri - He had a 24.1 yard kickoff return average with 1 touchdown and a 13.9 yard punt return average with 3 touchdowns. I would love to put Duke Johnson here, but he didn't return any punts I could divide the return duties, but then I would just be playing favorites.
Offense
QB - Johnny Manzell, Texas A & M; Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois; Geno Smith, West Virginia- Manzell needs no explanation. Lynch set the record for most rushing yards by a quarterback and Smith put up ludicrous numbers - which he had to do because his defense was ludicrously awful!
RB - Kenjon Barner, Oregon; Montee Ball, Wisconsin, Stefphon Jefferson, Nevada - If you are asking why Barner and Ball, then you are not a true college football fan. Stefphon Jefferson because he was second in yards, second in touchdowns scored and first in "he spells his name, How?" Duke Johnson will be on this list next year - Guaranteed!
WR - Marquise Lee, USC; Stedman Bailey, West Virginia; DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson; Terrance Williams, Baylor - Lee had 118 receptions for 1721 yards; Bailey had 114 receptions for 1622 yards and 25 TDS!!!! Hopkins had only 82 catches for 1405 yards, but 18 TDs, while Williams had an astounding 1832 yards - on 97 catches - after losing Robert Griffin III.
TE - Zach Ertz, Stanford - and since nobody uses TEs anymore, no Tyler Eifort.
T - Luke Joeckel, Texas A & M; Cyrus Kuandijo, Alabama; D.J. Fluker, Alabama. Joeckel is by far the best offensive lineman in the country, and well, did you see Alabama's running game?
G - Chance Warmack, Alabama; Cyril Richardson, Baylor - Once again - Alabama's offensive line and as for Richardson, just watch the Kansas State tape, with Lache Seastrunk constantly running up the middle.
C - Barret Jones, Alabama - Seriously, they were that good.
Defense
DE - Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina; Damontre Moore, Texas A & M; Bjoern Werner, FSU - Clowney - just for the bowl game hit. Yes THE Bowl Game HIT! Moore because A & M played a lot more than just offense. Werner is most people's starter, but I thought he just took too many plays off.
DT - Star Lotulelei, Utah; Sharif Floyd - Lotulelei might have been the best player of which you have never heard. Floyd was a beast that anchored a darn good Florida Gator defense this year (and to appease the Gator fans before they see that I did not include Matt Elam on my team).
OLB - Jarvis Jones, Georgia; Khaseem Greene, Rutgers; C.J. Mosley, Alabama - Jones needs no explanation - but he did lead the country in sacks, and the only reason Greene needs an explanation is because nobody watches Rutgers. Mosley is phenomenal, and to be honest, the only reason I have Greene ahead of him is that I really like watching Greene play.
ILB - Manti Te'o, Notre Dame; Arthur Brown - Kansas State - Te'o received most of the acclaim and all of the apostrophes, but Arthur Brown can flat play defense as well.
CB - Dee Milliner, Alabama; Johnthan Banks, Mississippi State; Jordan Poyer, Oregon State - Milliner was my MVP of the BCS Championship game, and Banks allowed Mississippi State to play an extra safety in the box against all of the tough SEC offenses. Poyer had 7 interceptions.
S - Phillip Thomas, Fresno State; Ed Reynolds, Stanford; Eric Reid, LSU - Thomas led the country with 8 interceptions, while Ed Reynolds anchored a tough, tough Cardinal defense. Eric Reid is included because the LSU defense was way too good to not have someone on the team, and I personally found Barkevious Mingo incredibly disappointing - and I can give lots of examples, if you prefer.
Now for my Matt Elam aside. I attended 3 Florida games and watched at least a portion of every other game. While Elam is a talent, (he was a consensus All-American for everyone else and is the highest rated safety in the draft - to date), he often runs himself out of plays, is often out-of-position, over pursues way too much, is way too eager to make the big hit/play rather than make a tackle and takes stupid - and I mean STUPID - penalties, often personal fouls. I personally saw that in the LSU game there were times where Elam was on the bench in the second half for several plays - and not for an injury or equipment reasons either. In fact, his signature play, running the receiver down and causing the fumble in the LSU game, only happened because he bit horribly on the play-action fake and was WAY out of position. I will give him credit for not giving up on the play, though.
Special Teams
K - Cairo Santos, Tulane - 47 - 48 on the year, and that miss was on an extra point. Plus, my Palm Beach County brethren, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, felt he was the best kicker in awarding him the Lou Groza award. This was a category that should have, and was, fought over by the 3 Florida kickers, Dustin Hopkins, Caleb Sturgis and Jake Wieclaw, but Santos rose above them all.
P - Kyle Christy, Florida - Although Christy only finished seventh in punting with a 45.8 yard (Ryan Allen of Louisiana Tech had an astounding 48 yard average, Christy affected each and every game with his punts, giving the Gators great field position on subsequent drives after pinning the opponents deep in their own endzone, and the Gators desperately needed the short field with their offense.
R - Marcus Murphy - Missouri - He had a 24.1 yard kickoff return average with 1 touchdown and a 13.9 yard punt return average with 3 touchdowns. I would love to put Duke Johnson here, but he didn't return any punts I could divide the return duties, but then I would just be playing favorites.
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