The Heisman Trophy isn’t the only award worth watching on a weekly basis. The Lombardi, Outland, Davey O’Brien and Biletnikoff races are all worth watching and debating as the season goes along.
Throughout the season, we’ll keep an eye on all the prominent position trophies through college football in addition to the Heisman.
If you’re looking for our thoughts on that other trophy, check our weekly Heisman poll [24].
Week 11 Previews and Predictions
ACC [25] | Big 12 [26] | Big East [27] | Big Ten [28] | Pac-12 [29] | SEC [30]
OFFENSIVE AWARDS
Davey O’Brien (Top quarterback)
Our leader: Collin Klein, Kansas State
In an injury-shortened game against Oklahoma State, Klein accounted for only one touchdown, the fewest since the Sept. 22 win over Oklahoma. That didn’t hamper the Wildcats’ offense in a 44-30 win. Klein still went 16 of 22 for 245 yards and rushed for 64 yards on 17 carries.
Others: Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater, Louisiana Tech’s Colby Cameron, Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel, Oregon’s Marcus Mariota, Alabama’s A.J. McCarron, Ohio State’s Braxton Miller
Doak Walker (Top running back)
Our leader: Kenjon Barner, Oregon
North Carolina’s Giovani Bernard had the best month of October of anyone in the country, but Barner had the best day of any runner against USC in program history. Barner rushed for 321 yards and five touchdowns on 38 carries against the Trojans, making him the second-leading rusher in the country.
Others: North Carolina’s Giovani Bernard, Kansas State’s John Hubert, Nevada’s Stefphon Jefferson, Stanford’s Stepfan Taylor
Biletnikoff Award (Top wide receiver)
Our leader: Marqise Lee, USC
Lee’s 469 all-purpose yards against Arizona and 408 all-purpose yards against USC, both in the last two weeks, are the two highest totals for any player this season. And now Lane Kiffin says Lee has been practicing on defense.
Others: West Virginia’s Tavon Austin, West Virginia’s Stedman Bailey, Clemson’s DeAndre Hopkins, Louisiana Tech’s Quinton Patton, Baylor’s Terrance Williams
Mackey Award (Top tight end)
Our leader: Austin Sefarian-Jenkins, Washington
With eight catches for 154 yards and a touchdown against Cal, Sefarian-Jenkins topped the 100-yard mark twice in the last two weeks. He also has three touchdown catches in his last four games.
Others: Arizona State’s Chris Coyle, North Carolina’s Eric Ebron, Notre Dame’s Tyler Eifert, Stanford’s Zach Ertz
Outland Trophy (Top interior lineman)
Our leader: Barrett Jones, Alabama
Alabama struggled for most of the second half against LSU, but otherwise, Jones and he Alabama front pushed around the Tigers’ defensive line until the game-winning screen pass by T.J. Yeldon.
Others: North Carolina’s Jonathan Cooper, Texas A&M’s Luke Joeckel, Utah’s Star Lotulelei, Notre Dame’s Stephon Tuitt, Alabama’s Chance Warmack
Rimington Trophy (Top center)
Our leader: Jones, Alabama
Others: Kansas State’s B.J. Finney, Clemson’s Dalton Freeman, USC’s Khaled Holmes
DEFENSIVE AWARDS
Bednarik Award/Nagurski Award (Defensive Player of the Year)
Our leader: Manti Te’o, Notre Dame
Despite a season-low seven tackles against Pittsburgh, Te’o still has nearly twice as many tackles (87) as anyone else on the Notre Dame roster. Allowing Pitt’s Ray Graham to rush for 172 yards and a touchdown may have cut into Te’o’s Heisman campaign, but he remains the leader for national defensive player of the year honors.
Others: Kansas State’s Arthur Brown, South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney, Georgia’s Jarvis Jones, Utah's Star Lotulelei, LSU’s Kevin Minter
Lombardi Award (Top lineman or linebacker)
Our leader:Jarvis Jones, Georgia
Jones had three tackles and one tackle of a loss against Ole Miss. The Georgia linebacker has been dominant in some games this season (Missouri, Florida), but less visible in others. A game against Auburn should be a time to thrive.
Others: Kansas State’s Arthur Brown, Rutgers’ Khaseem Greene, Utah’s Star Lotulelei, Penn State’s Michael Mauti, Texas A&M’s Damontre Moore, Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o, Notre Dame’s Stephon Tuitt
Butkus Award (Top linebacker)
Our leader: Te’o, Notre Dame
Others:Kansas State’s Arthur Brown, Rutgers’ Khaseem Greene, Iowa State’s Jake Knott, Penn State’s Michael Mauti, LSU’s Kevin Minter, Alabama’s C.J. Mosely
Thorpe Award (Top defensive back)
Our leader: Jordan Poyer, Oregon State
Poyer missed last week’s game against Arizona State with a knee sprain, but he’s expected to return Saturday against Stanford. After recording five interceptions in a three-game span in September and October, Poyer will try to get back into the turnover game against Stanford’s redshirt freshman quarterback Kevin Hogan, who will be making his first career start.
Others: Mississippi State’s Johnthan Banks, Florida’s Matt Elam, Oklahoma’s Tony Jefferson, Alabama’s Dee Milliner
SPECIAL TEAMS AWARDS
Groza Award (Top kicker)
Our leader: Dustin Hopkins, Florida State
Since missing tow field goals against Clemson, Hopkins is 15 of 17 in the last five games. Among kickers with at least 20 attempts, only Steven Schott of Ball State has made a higher percentage of field goals than Hopkins’ 81.8 rate.
Others:Northwestern’s Jeff Budzien, Clemson’s Chandler Catanzaro, Michigan State’s Dan Conroy, Ball State’s Steven Schott, Oklahoma State’s Quinn Sharp
Ray Guy Award (Top punter)
Our leader: Louisiana Tech’s Ryan Allen
The defending Ray Guy winner leads the nation in yards per punt (48.8), and Louisiana Tech leads the nation in net punting (44.3 yards per kick).
Others: Florida’s Kyle Christy, Ball State’s Steven Schott, Utah’s Sean Sellwood, Oklahoma State’s Quinn Sharp
OTHER NATIONAL AWARDS
Freshman of the Year
Our leader: Marcus Mariota, Oregon
The debate between Mariota and Texas A&M Johnny Manziel will be ongoing this season. The edge this week goes to Mariota, who was 20 of 23 for 304 yards with four touchdowns and 96 rushing yards last week against USC.
Others: Louisiana Tech’s Kenneth Dixon, TCU’s Devonte Fields, UCLA’s Brett Hundley, Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel
Coach of the Year
Our leader: Bill Snyder, Kansas State
The most stunning statistic in K-State’s undefeated start: The Wildcats have scored 111 points off turnovers this season. Kansas State’s opponents have scored none.
Others: Ohio State’s Urban Meyer, Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly, Penn State’s Bill O’Brien, Oregon State’s Mike Riley
Broyles Award (top assistant)
Our leader: Art Kaufman, Texas Tech
The Red Raiders remain ranked 18th nationally in total defense (314.1 yards per game) compared to a 114th a year ago (485.6 yards). The Tech defense has faded a bit the last few weeks, but still remains light years ahead of where it was last season.
Others: Oregon State’s Mark Banker, Notre Dame’s Bob Diaco, Texas A&M’s Kliff Kingsbury, Alabama’s Kirby Smart
by David Fox
Follow @davidfox615 [31]
