College football may have returned closer to a regular season in 2021, but the individual standout performances we saw were anything but ordinary.
The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) will honor these individuals who have helped bring us back the joy and excitement of the sport that is so often overlooked. interrupted by postponements, cancellations and short fixtures in 2020.
Just like the awards ceremony in 2020, the two-hour special will once again go virtual this year.
Here are some of the prizes to be announced on Thursday, along with the finalists who I believe will win and my predictions for who will win:
Chuck Bednarik Award (Defensive Player of the Year)
Was selected to the final: Will Anderson Jr., Alabama; Jordan Davis, Georgia; Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame; Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
Who is win: Anderson. In particular, he’s been the best defensive player in college football this season. He’s been a steady force for the Alabama defence, and has scored a total of 15.5 hits this season and 32.5 saves, both among the best in the country. However, the Georgia defense was the mainstay of the college football season, and Davis became the leader and absolute force on the field.
Who is win: Davis.
Biletnikoff Award (outstanding recipient)
Was selected to the final: Jordan Addison, Pittsburgh; David Bell, Purdue; Jameson Williams, Alabama
Who is win: Addison. Along with his midfielder, Kenny Pickett, Addison had a breakout season in 2021. As a true sophomore, Addison caught 93 passes (seventh in FBS) for 1,479 yards (third in FBS) and 17 touches ball (first in FBS). inside College football tournament epoch, only three Power 5 conference receivers with at least 90 catches, 1,500 yards total and 18 touchdowns total in a season: Justin Jefferson, DeVonta Smith and Addison. One of those guys is among the best receivers in the NFL, another just won a Heisman and the last will win this year’s Biletnikoff.
Who is win: Williams.
Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award (best kicker)
Was selected to the final: Gabe Brkic, Oklahoma; Jake Moody, Michigan; Noah Ruggles, Ohio State
Who is win: Sad. The striker has made 22 of 24 goals and is the perfect man for 56 points. I’m giving him the edge over Ruggles, who only miss one target on the field, but have five fewer tries. We’re split between the two, as long as one of them gets the prize – great.
Who is win: Sad.
Ray Guy Award (ball player of the year)
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San Diego State player Matt Araiza kicked it from the end area and pinned the Air Force inside 20 of itself with a massive 81-foot hit.
Was selected to the final: Matt Araiza, State of San Diego; Adam Korsak, Rutgers; Jordan Stout, Penn State
Who is win: Araiza. He’s the LeBron James of horse racing. Araiza conceded 76 times in 13 Aztec games with an average of 51.4 yards. If Araiza can maintain that average through their Frisco Bowl game against UTSA, that would give him an FBS record over Texas A&M’s Braden Mann, who averages 51 yards per pitch in 2018.
Who is win: Araiza.
Maxwell Award (College Player of the Year)
Was selected to the final: Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh; Kenneth Walker III, the state of Michigan; Bryce Young, Alabama
Who is win: Pickett. Some of our favorite college football players of all time feel like they’ve been around for 10 years or more, and Pickett is one of them. He has transformed into another player during his super senior year after the pandemic. Prior to this season, his best year was his junior campaign in 2019, throwing 3,098 yards, 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions with a 61.6 completion rate. In 2021, he throws 4,319 yards, 42 touchdowns and 7 interceptions with a completion rate of 67.2. It’s about making the most of the opportunity. Also, Young is marrying Heisman, give this to Pickett.
Who is win: Young.
Davey O’Brien National Midfielder Award (Best Midfielder)
Was selected to the final: Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh; CJ Stroud, State of Ohio; Bryce Young, Alabama
Who is win: Stroud. Statistically, he’s behind Pickett and Young when it comes to yards and touchdowns (he’s also played two fewer games), but he led arguably college football’s best game when the Buckeyes took action. together after losing to Oregon in Week 2. Stroud finished the season with 3,862 yards, 38 touchdowns and just five interceptions in 11 games. Any of these three quarterbacks could win this award, and the most sensible college football fans will be fine with it. They’re all good and fun to watch, and their teams would be dramatically different without them.
Who is win: Young.
Outland Trophy (best interior player)
Was selected to the final: Jordan Davis, Georgia; Ikem Ekwonu, NC State; Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
Who is win: Davis. Get a feel for who you want to win any of these other awards, but there’s no question about this one. Stage = Stage. Georgia’s defense is the most impressive unit in college football at any stage of the game, and Davis is the anchor. Davis had a total of 28 tackles with 3.5 loss hits and two sack hits. Outside of the numbers, he stood out physically in meetings with the best athletes in the country, and although we watched it weekly, it has never been less impressive.
Who is win: Davis.
Paycom Jim Thorpe Award (Best Defensive Defender)
Was selected to the final: Coby Bryant, Cincinnati; Verone McKinley III, Oregon; Jalen Pitre, Baylor
Who is win: Pitre. In 13 games, the Bears hybrid defender made a total of 70 tackles – 17.5 of which were lost, and 2.5 were intercepted. He also had 2 interceptions, 7 tackles, 3 fumbles and 3 tackles on Dave Aranda’s defence.
Who is win: McKinley.
Doak Walker Award (top prize run back)
Was selected to the final: Tyler Badie, Missouri; Breece’s Hall, State of Iowa; Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State
Who is win: Walker. The Michigan State star is second in the FBS for dash yards with 1,636 and third in hasty touchdowns with 18. Walker has been Heisman’s contender for many years, with his special moment being against Michigan, when he ran for 197 yards and made five touches. That game in itself was impressive, but now seeing Michigan represent the Big Ten in the CFP, it means a little more. More generally, if you ask someone what they want to run on their college team again this season, the answer is Walker without thinking twice.
Who is win: Walker.
John Mackey Award (excellent tight ending)
Was selected to the final: Trey McBride, State of Colorado; Charlie Kolar, State of Iowa; Jalen Wydermyer, Texas A&M
Who is win: Kolar. Iowa State didn’t have the season the Cyclones expected, but Kolar once again played his part in the attack. In 11 games, Kolar had 58 hits for 723 yards and five touchdowns. It’s impressive to come up with those numbers and at the same time win the Campbell Cup, given to the top academic-athlete in college football (he’s a mechanical engineering student with a GPA) average close to 4.0).
Who is win: Wydermyer.
Rimington Trophy (center of excellence)
Was selected to the final: Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa; Alec Lindstrom, Boston College; Olusegun Oluwatimi, Virginia
Who is win: Linderbaum. He made it to the finals in 2020, and lost Landon Dickerson of Alabama, that’s understandable. In 2021, he was voted the All-Big Ten by the league’s coaches and media. ESPN’s draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. also has him as his top center for the 2022 NFL draft. Take the time to watch him play in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day as Iowa continues. receive Kentucky.
Who is win: Linderbaum.
