Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas – Along with Mike Hart and Steve Slaton, McFadden is on the early top 3 for a lot of people. The reason why McFadden may have a good shot is the schedule. There’s a hefty amount of cream puffs to stat-pad early, and there is no Florida on the schedule. Tennessee and LSU may be the toughest on the schedule. No USC either, and by USC, I do not mean the Gamecocks. Yep, that’s right. McFadden has a great opportunity to lead his team to the promised land, and himself to the Big Apple.
Steve Slaton, WR, West Virginia – Unless he gets a brush date with Vegas chicks a la Pacman Jones, this guy might be the first-ever pure wide receiver since Desmond Howard (no, fellow Wolverine Charles Woodson doesn’t count) to bring home the hardware. Louisville and Rutgers may be the biggest competition on the season. Still, this schedule is tailor-made for some stat-padding. The match with the Scarlet Knights and Ray Rice may be a defining moment, should he catch the pigskin on the way to a Biletnikoff…and a train to Grand Central and Downtown AC.
Mike Hart, RB, Michigan – Hail, hail, the Heisman might come back to Michigan! OR…it might not. The biggest competition to McFadden for the Doak, Hart might surprise some people with a solid performance against the Buckeyes. With the 15th toughest schedule in the country, Hart might strike the pose if he rips the defenses apart this year: the schedule includes Notre Dame and Oregon, too, while the jump start might be seen against the FCS champions Appalachian State. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Ray Rice, RB, Rutgers – Is there a bad moon rising on the banks of the Raritan? Rutgers, long been a doormat of football until the rise of the Wood Chopper, Greg Schiano, finally broke through. Ray Rice raised eyebrows ridiculously, and he’s ready to raise the roof this season. The schedule might not work in his favor: the Scarlet Knights face Norfolk State, Army, and Buffalo. But big efforts against Navy, Louisville, and West Virginia might work wonders for his push up the turnpike to Manhattan.
Colt Brennan, QB, Hawaii – There are system quarterbacks, and then there’s Colt Brennan. With a reliable arm and NCAA single-season records for touchdowns and pass efficiency, Brennan is looking to cap off his college career as a key playmaker in June Jones’ Run and Shoot offense at Aloha Stadium. The biggest test for Brennan will be to pick apart a Boise State defense that has become a sign of utter frustration for the Green and White. A solid effort on November 23rd, combined with great playmaking the rest of the season could equal…well, we’ll leave it to you to figure it out.
Ian Johnson, RB, Boise State – Like Brennan, Ian’s biggest moment since running the Statue of Liberty to perfection and successfully proposing to a cheerleader in Tempe will be a great effort by the Broncos back. If Johnson is shut down defensively, his campaign might be off life support. Maybe worrying about thugs wrecking a wedding a la Hollywood silver screen flicks with Ahnuld might be the biggest priority.
My heart goes off to Wake Forest. Skip Prosser, the men’s basketball coach, died today. He was 56, and will be sorely missed. The Deacon will prepare his eulogy on the day of the funeral. All who are invited are welcome to attend.
