College Football Week – Preseason 2: TT’s Consensus Top 40
Still preseason, or is it Week 1?

Well, that’s a good question.

Normally at this point in the season – or preseason – we are still a week and a half away from the first game. Traditionally, for several years now, Labor Day weekend was the official start of the college football season, with the first games kicking off on the Thursday night before the weekend.

The first games on Thursday night were followed by more games on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and one final game of the opening weekend on Monday – Labor Day night.

Well, so much for tradition.

Things started to change a little bit last year. You might remember that California and Hawaii played a game the Saturday before Labor Day weekend. But we kind of accepted that. After all, the game was played in Sydney, Australia. Cal beat Hawaii 51-31.

That was just one game. This year we have, not one, but five games jumping the gun. Yes, five games will be played this weekend – the Saturday before Labor Day weekend. Four of the five games are on national television.

Now granted, none of the five games is bash your head in, Katie bar the door, slobber-knockers. They don’t call for cold pizza, chili dogs and beer for breakfast on Saturday morning. The world is not going to come to an end if you don’t see them – only if I don’t see them. One of the games isn’t on TV. Even I won’t see that one. And three of the games will be routs – maybe by the end of the first quarter.

The best game, or maybe I should say most interesting game, of the bunch is the first of the five – Oregon State at Colorado State. Both coaches – Gary Andersen at Oregon State and Mike Bobo at Colorado State are in their third season at their respective schools.

Andersen at 6-18 is on the hot seat. Bobo at 14-12 is faring a little better. After two seasons in Corvallis, Andersen is supposed to have his best season yet with the Beavers. But all he has to do is go 5-7 and it will be his best season yet. Oregon State is a bit of a mystery. The Beavers could be a surprise in 2017. Then again, they may not.

Colorado State could be an exciting team this year. Bobo, the former Georgia quarterback and offensive coordinator, has two potentially dynamic players – quarterback Nick Stevens and running back Dalyn Dawkins. Stevens and Dalyn could make for interesting times in Fort Collins this fall. The Rams have a tough opening slate, playing Oregon State, Colorado and Alabama in three of their first four games.

The next game is the first of the three routs – Portland State at BYU. The Cougars should have their cheerleaders in the game by the start of the second quarter.

The third game on Saturday – Hawaii at Massachusetts – is the only one that’s not televised – not nationally. It might be regionally televised and playing in some pub or two in Massachusetts or a tiki bar or two in Honolulu. Then again, it might not. In this encounter, you have Hawaii, a school thinking about dropping football, against Massachusetts, a school that was thrown out of the Mid-American Conference after the 2015 season.

Next up is South Florida at San Jose State – the second of three blowouts. South Florida is a hot team this season. The Bulls could finish the year as the highest-ranked Group of 5 team and could play in a New Year’s Six bowl. USF truly has an exciting quarterback in Quinton Flowers. The Bulls are loaded in most of the other positions too. Flowers should tear up the San Jose State defense.

Last year’s college football game in Sydney, Australia, (Cal-Hawaii) was such a success they decided to have another one there. The fifth and final game Saturday is from Sydney – Rice vs. Stanford. It’s the third and final blowout game. Stanford is ranked in everyone’s Top 20 – somewhere between 14th and 18th. The Trees should have little trouble from the Owls. It’s a tough opener for Rice coach David Bailiff, who is on the hot seat.

So that’s your lineup (Oregon State-Colorado State, Portland State-BYU, Hawaii-Massachusetts, South Florida-San Jose State and Rice-Stanford) for opening weekend….I mean….preseason weekend or whatever it is. I know you won’t lose any sleep waiting for these games to start, but one or two of them could be interesting.

Speaking of interesting, Steve Spurrier’s grandson, Gavin Spurrier, made his first start as a high school quarterback in Kentucky this past Friday. Gavin’s team, South Warren High School, beat Hopkinsville High, 35-14, in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Gavin, a junior, was 14-for-30 passing for 263 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Gavin’s father, Steve Spurrier Jr. is the assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach at Western Kentucky University.

And talking about Gators, Bootsie and Rockledge Gator are hosting a college football kickoff party this week. But I understand there will be some Alabama and Florida State fans at the party, among others. Swamp Mama and I are looking forward to it. We can’t wait. After all, Rockledge is planning to entertain us by singing a few songs by the Skillet Lickers. That is if his knickers aren’t still in a twist or if his onions aren’t in a bundle.

It was good hearing from Jan Fields, Tim Muth, Bob Willey, Larry Brewer and Susan Eaton last week.

Then again, I may not be able to resist some cold pizza, chili dogs and beer on Saturday morning. But you have a good week.

Touchdown Tom
August 21, 2017
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com


Quotes of the Week

“I think this is the most talented football team I’ve seen at Auburn, top to bottom,” former Auburn coach Pat Dye, on the 2017 Auburn football team.

“I fucked up last year’s team. I was the absent professor. I wasn’t paying attention to the details we needed,” Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly, whose Irish went 4-8 last season.

“I’m going with the Washington Huskies to win the national championship. I look at that team with Jake Browning, a really good college quarterback. They’ve got the coach (Chris Petersen). They’ve got studs up front. They’ve got speed at linebacker,” NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. (Note: Kiper’s other three picks to make the playoffs are Auburn, Florida State and Ohio State.)

“The role (Art) Briles played in aiding and abetting the rotten culture at Baylor – and his lack of answers for how to fix it – should be disqualifying for him to ever work in college athletics again,” USA Today sports writer Dan Wolken, on hearing that schools have reached out to the former Baylor coach.


The Teams – 2017 (Touchdown Tom’s Consensus Top 40)

Every year I get my hands on all the preseason polls out there – Coaches, ESPN, CBS, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, Street & Smith, Athlon, Lindy’s, etc, etc. Then I merge the results of these polls to come up with my Consensus Top 40.

This year I found 13 preseason polls. The only one missing is the AP Poll which isn’t out yet. The AP Poll will be released at 12 noon ET today.

Who are the top teams for 2017?

The Top Five teams in my Consensus Poll for 2017 are (1) Alabama; (2) Ohio State; (3) Florida State; (4) USC, and (5) Clemson. Alabama was the No. 1 team in 12 of the 13 polls I sourced. One poll – ESPN – has Alabama ranked No. 2.

Ohio State was either second or third in all the polls but one. The one poll – ESPN – has the Buckeyes ranked No. 1. Florida State was either second or third in 11 of the 13 polls. Two polls have the Seminoles ranked No. 4. USC was ranked as high as No. 2 and no lower than No. 5 in all the polls. Clemson was positioned anywhere from No. 4 to No. 8 in the 13 polls.

Rounding out the Top 10 in my Consensus Poll are (6) Oklahoma; (7) Penn State; (8) Washington; (9) Auburn, and (10) Oklahoma State. Looking at the Top 10, there are two teams each from the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC. That’s good balance.

The second 10 consists of (11) Wisconsin; (12) LSU; (13) Michigan; (14) Louisville; (15) Georgia; (16) Florida; (17) Stanford; (18) Miami-Florida; (19) Kansas State, and (20) South Florida. South Florida from the AAC is the highest-ranked Group of 5 team.

Rounding out the Top 25 are (21) Texas; (22) Virginia Tech; (23) TCU; (24) Notre Dame, and (25) Washington State. Looking over the Top 25, there are five teams each from the ACC, Big 12 and SEC, and four teams each from the Big Ten and Pac-12. That’s still good balance among the Power 5 conferences. Also in the Top 25 are one team from the AAC and one Independent.

The next five teams in the Consensus Top 40 are (26) Tennessee; (27) West Virginia; (28) NC State; (29) Northwestern, and (30) Oregon. The Power 5 conferences remain balanced through the Top 30 – six teams each from the ACC, Big 12 and SEC, and five teams each from the Big Ten and Pac-12.

The final 10 teams in the Top 40 are (31) Boise State; (32) Texas A&M; (33) BYU; (34) Arkansas; (35) Nebraska; (36) UCLA; (37) Georgia Tech; (38) Pitt; (39) Colorado, and (40) Utah. The Big 12 slipped, while the Pac-12 gained, but the Power 5 conferences remain somewhat evenly balanced with eight teams each from the ACC, Pac-12 and SEC, and six teams each from the Big 12 and Big Ten. Two more Group of 5 teams entered the picture – Boise State from the MWC and BYU an Independent.

Just missing the Consensus Top 40 were (41) Mississippi State; (42) Iowa, and (43) Memphis.

Seven of the 10 FBS conferences (five Power 5 and two Group of 5), plus one Power 5 Independent and one Group of 5 Independent are represented in the Top 40. The three Group of 5 conferences with no representatives in the Top 40 are C-USA, the MAC and the Sun Belt. The highest ranked C-USA team is Western Kentucky at No. 55. The highest ranked team from the MAC is Toledo at No. 58, and the highest ranked team from the Sun Belt is Appalachian State at No. 54.

The Consensus Top 40 predicts that the four teams in the college football playoff at the end of the season will be Alabama, Ohio State, Florida State and USC.

Last year, the top four teams in my Consensus Top 40 were Alabama, Clemson, Florida State and Oklahoma. Alabama and Clemson played for the national championship. Florida State and Oklahoma failed to make the four-team playoff. The other two teams in the playoff last season were Ohio State and Washington. Ohio State was No. 6 and Washington was No. 11 in last year’s preseason Consensus Top 40.

The final AP Poll last season consisted of (1) Clemson; (2) Alabama; (3) USC, and (4) Washington. Oklahoma was No. 5, Ohio State No. 6, and Florida State finished at No. 8.


The Running Backs – 2017

This could be the year of the running back. No less than seven of them are leading the pack at the start of the season. Of the seven, two are currently setting the pace. They are Penn State junior Saquon Barkley (5-11, 225) and LSU junior Derrius Guice (5-11, 212).

Last year, Barkley rushed for an impressive 1,496 yards. He averaged 107 yards per game and scored 18 touchdowns. Guice, meanwhile, rushed for 1,387 yards, averaging 7.6 yards per carry. He averaged 116 yards per game and scored 15 touchdowns.

Two more running backs are on the heels of Barkley and Guice. The pair are Oregon senior Royce Freeman (5-11, 231) and Northwestern senior Justin Jackson (5-11, 193). Last season, Freeman, a bit disappointing, rushed for 945 yards. On the other hand, Jackson rushed for 1,542 yards, averaging 119 yards per game. He scored 15 touchdowns.

Rounding out the top echelon of running backs are USC junior Ronald Jones (6-1, 195), Washington junior Myles Gaskin (5-10, 191) and Auburn junior Kamryn Pettway (6-0, 235). Jones tallied 1,082 yards last season. He averaged 6.4 yards per carry and scored 12 touchdowns.

Gaskin rushed for a hefty 1,373 yards. He averaged 98 yards per game. And last but not least, Pettway rushed for 1,224 last year. He averaged an impressive 122 yards per game.

Looking around the Power 5 conferences, the SEC features an array of good running backs, topped by Alabama and Georgia when it comes to running back duos. The Crimson Tide will hit opponents coming and going with the twosome of junior Damien Harris (5-11, 216) and junior Bo Scarbrough (6-2, 232). Last season, Harris rushed for 1,037 yards, averaging 7.1 yards per carry. Scarbrough came on particularly strong towards the end of the season for Alabama.

Over in Athens, Georgia still have senior Nick Chubb (5-10, 228) and senior Sony Michel (5-11, 222). It seems like these two have been around forever. Last year, Chubb rushed for 1,130 yards, while Michel added 840 yards rushing.

And speaking of backfield duos, don’t count out Auburn. Along with Kamryn Pettway, mentioned above, the Tigers have another threat in junior Kerryon Johnson (6-0, 204). Last year, Johnson accounted for 895 yards rushing.

Four more running backs to keep an eye on in the SEC are Texas A&M sophomore Trayveon Williams (5-9, 200), Vanderbilt senior Ralph Webb (5-10, 202), Florida junior Jordan Scarlett (5-10, 213) and Arkansas junior Rawleigh Williams (5-10, 226).

Last season, Williams rushed for 1,057 yards, averaging 6.8 yards per carry. Webb was no slouch, rushing for 1,283 yards and averaging 99 yards per game. The Gators’ Scarlett rushed for 889 yards. Arkansas’ Williams had an impressive freshman season last year, but was out for the season after an injury in the Razorbacks’ seventh game.

The Pac-12 is looking strong in running backs. We’ve already talked about three – Royce Freeman, Ronald Jones and Myles Gaskins. Five more should ground-out some big numbers in 2017, led by Colorado senior Phillip Lindsay (5-8, 190). Last year, Lindsay rushed for 1,252 yards. He averaged 96 yards per game and scored 16 touchdowns.

The other four outstanding backs are Washington State senior Gerard Wicks (6-0, 22), Arizona State senior Demario Richard (5-10, 219), Arizona senior Nick Wilson (5-10, 208) and California senior Tre Watson (5-11, 205).

The Big 12 returns a bevy of strong running backs this season. TCU is looking good with senior Kyle Hicks (5-10, 210). He rushed for 1,042 yards last year. West Virginia boasts three good running backs led by senior Justin Crawford (6-0, 202). Last season he rushed for 1,184, averaging 7.3 yards per carry. Crawford is backed up by sophomore Kennedy McCoy (6-0, 201) and sophomore Mantel Pettaway (5-9, 208).

Texas has a pair of good backs in junior Chris Warren (6-3, 250) and sophomore Kyle Porter (5-11, 215). Warren averaged 5.9 yards per carry last year. And we can’t leave the Big 12 without mentioning Baylor junior Terrence Williams (6-1, 220) and Oklahoma State sophomore Justice Hill (5-10, 185). Last season, Williams rushed for 1,048 yards, while Hill tallied 1,142 yards.

That leaves us with the Big Ten and the ACC. Along with Saquon Barkley and Justin Jackson, the other backs worth talking about in the Big Ten are Ohio State senior Mike Weber (5-10, 214), Minnesota junior Rodney Smith (5-11, 205) and Iowa senior Akrum Wadley (5-11, 195).

Last year, the Buckeyes’ Weber rushed for 1,096 yards, averaging 6.0 yards per carry. The Gophers’ Smith rushed for 1,158 yards and scored 16 touchdowns, and the Hawkeyes’ Wadley rushed for 1,081 yards, averaging 6.4 yards per carry.

The lone premier running back in the ACC at preseason is Miami junior Mark Walton (5-9, 205). In 2016, Walton rushed for 1,117 yards and scored 14 touchdowns.

Among the Group of 5 conferences, the MWC is looking healthy at the running back position. The two best in the MWC may be Nevada senior James Butler (5-9, 210) and Hawaii senior Diocemy Saint Juste (5-8, 200). Last season, Butler rushed for 1,336 yards, averaging 111 yards per game, while Saint Juste rushed for 1,006 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

Three other highly-respected running backs in the MWC are Air Force senior Tim McVey (5-9, 190), New Mexico junior Tyrone Owens (5-9, 187) and San Diego State senior Rashaad Penny (5-11, 220). And don’t count out Colorado State senior Dalyn Dawkins (5-9, 177). He could have a breakout season.

C-USA has a slew of potentially strong running backs. Two of the best in the conference are Southern Miss senior Ito Smith (5-9, 195) and Old Dominion senior Ray Lawry (5-10, 204). Last season Smith rushed for 1,459 yards. He averaged 112 yards per game and scored 17 touchdowns. Lawry rushed for 1,259 yards, averaging 105 yards a game. He also averaged 6.3 yards per carry.

Other good backs in C-USA are Louisiana Tech senior Jarred Craft (6-0, 213), Florida Atlantic sophomore Devin Singletary (5-9, 200), North Texas senior Jeffrey Wilson (6-0, 193) and Florida International senior Alex Gardner (5-10, 192). Last year Craft rushed for 1,075 yards, and Singletary rushed for 1,021 yards, averaging 6.7 yards per carry. Wilson and Gardner both rushed for more than 900 yards.

The best back in the AAC is Tulsa senior D’Angelo Brewer (5-9, 190). Last season, Brewer rushed for 1,425 yards, averaging 120 yards per game. Two other good running backs in the AAC are SMU junior Braeden West (5-10, 170) and Temple junior Ryquell Armstead (5-11, 205). In 2016, West rushed for 1,036 yards, while Armstead rushed for 919 yards, averaging 5.9 yards per carry.

In the MAC, Western Michigan is loaded in the backfield. The Broncos have senior Jarvion Franklin (6-0, 225) and junior Jamauri Bogan (5-7, 192). Last year, Franklin rushed for 1,353 yards, averaging 97 yards per game. Bogan posted 993 yards. The other good back in the Mac is Ball State junior James Gilbert (5-8, 190). Last season, Gilbert rushed for 1,332 yards and averaged 111 yards per game.


The two best backs in the Sun Belt are Appalachian State junior Jalin Moore (5-11, 205) and Troy senior Jordan Chunn (6-1, 240). In 2016, Moore rushed for 1,402 yards, averaging 108 yards per game. He also averaged 5.9 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Chunn rushed for 1,288 yards and averaged 99 yards per game. He scored 16 touchdowns.

The third good back in the Sun Belt is New Mexico State senior Larry Rose (5-11, 190). Last year Rose rushed for 865 yards, averaging 96 yards per game.


TT’s Top 10 Favorite Running Backs at Preseason:

1. Saquon Barkley – Penn state
2. Derrius Guice – LSU
3. Myles Gaskin – Washington
4. Justin Jackson – Northwestern
5. Kamryn Pettway – Auburn
6. D’Angelo Brewer – Tulsa
7. Jordan Chunn – Troy
8. Ronald Jones – USC
9. Justin Crawford – West Virginia
10. Royce Freeman – Oregon

But keep an eye on:

Damien Harris – Alabama; Nick Chubb – Georgia; Phillip Lindsay – Colorado; Bo Scarbrough – Alabama; Jalin Moore – Appalachian State; Ito Smith – Southern Miss; Ray Lawry – Old Dominion; Mike Webber – Ohio State; Kerryon Johnson – Auburn; Kyle Hicks – TCU, and Sony Michel – Georgia.


The Other Positions – 2017

Wide Receivers

With the SEC leading the other conferences in top quarterbacks, it is only fitting that the SEC is at the top in wide receivers to help out those quarterbacks. Five of the top 14 receivers in the country hail from the SEC. They are Texas A&M junior Christian Kirk (5-11, 200), Alabama junior Calvin Ridley (6-1, 190), Florida junior Antonio Callaway (5-11, 197), Missouri senior J’Mon Moore (6-3, 205) and LSU senior D.J. Clark (6-2, 187). Callaway will get off to a late start as he has been suspended for Florida’s first game against Michigan.

The Big 12 sports two of the best wide receivers with Oklahoma State senior James Washington (6-0, 205) and Iowa State senior Allen Lazard (6-5, 223). Notre Dame has a dandy in junior Equanimeous St. Brown (6-5, 204), as does the Pac-12 with Washington senior Dante Pettis (6-1, 192). The Big Ten counters with Indiana junior Simmie Cobbs (6-3, 220), while the ACC offers N.C. State senior Jaylen Samuels (5-11, 223).

Among the Group of 5 conferences, the AAC has two outstanding wide receivers in SMU junior Courtland Sutton (6-4, 218) and Memphis senior Anthony Miller (5-10, 190). C-USA has a star receiver in Middle Tennessee junior Richie James (5-9, 180).


Tight Ends

The Big Ten is sitting on top of the other conferences with the best tight ends in the country. The Big Ten has three of the top eight tight ends. They are Wisconsin senior Troy Fumagalli (6-6, 249), Penn State senior Mike Gesicki (6-6, 252) and Ohio State senior Marcus Baugh (6-5, 255).

The Big 12 has an ace tight end in Oklahoma junior Mark Andrews (6-5, 250), as does the Pac-12 with USC sophomore Daniel Imatorbhebhe (6-4, 240). The SEC has top-notch tight end in South Carolina junior Hayden Hurst (6-5, 250).

Among the Group of 5, the AAC is looking good with South Florida sophomore Mitchell Wilcox (6-4, 248). Independent Massachusetts has a winner in senior Adam Breneman (6-4, 250).


Centers

The Big Ten is also set at the center position with four of the best eight centers in the country. They are Ohio State senior Billy Price (6-4, 312), Michigan senior Mason Cole (6-5, 305), Wisconsin junior Michael Delter (6-6, 329) and Michigan State senior Brian Allen (6-2m 305).

The other four top centers come from the SEC and the Pac-12 with two each. They are Arkansas senior Frank Ragnow (5-5, 31), Texas A&M sophomore Erik McCoy (6-4, 309), UCLA senior Scott Quessenberry (6-4, 315) and Oregon sophomore Jake Hanson (6-5, 307).


Offensive Linemen (Guards and Tackles)

The SEC is the most established conference for offensive linemen. Six of the 18 best offensive linemen in the country play for SEC schools. They are Florida junior Martez Ivey (6-5, 305), Auburn senior Braden Smith (6-6, 303), Alabama sophomore Jonah Williams (6-5, 301), Arkansas junior Hjalte Froholdt (6-4, 318), LSU junior William Clapp (6-5, 309), and Ole Miss sophomore Greg Little (6-6, 322).

The Big 12 is well represented with three of the best offensive linemen. They are Texas junior Connor Williams (6-6,320), Oklahoma junior Orlando Brown (6-8, 360) and West Virginia senior Kyle Bosch (6-5, 304). Notre Dame has two outstanding linemen in senior Quenton Nelson (6-5, 329) and senior Mike McGlinchey (6-8, 312).

The Pac-12, ACC and Big Ten each have two of the 18 beat offensive linemen. They are Washington State senior Cody O’Connell (6-8, 370), Washington junior Trey Adams (6-8, 320), Clemson junior Mitch Hyatt (6-5, 295), Pitt junior Brian O’Neill (6-6, 300), Iowa senior Sean Welsh (6-3, 295) and Wisconsin junior Beau Benzschawel (6-6, 316).

Last but not least among the 18 top offensive linemen, from the Group of 5, is UTEP senior Will Hernandez (6-3, 330).


Defensive Linemen (Ends and Tackles)

The SEC is always known for its defense, but the ACC leads the conferences with the most celebrated defensive linemen at preseason. Six of the 18 best defensive linemen are from the ACC. They are Clemson sophomore Dexter Lawrence (6-5, 340), Boston College senior Harold Landry (6-3, 250), Clemson junior Christian Wilkins (6-4, 310), Florida State senior Derrick Nnadi (6-1, 312), NC State senior Bradley Chubb (6-4, 275), and Florida State junior Josh Sweat (6-5, 250).

The Big Ten and the SEC each have four players among the 18 top defensive linemen. From the Big Ten are Michigan sophomore Rashan Gary (6-5, 287), Ohio State senior Tyquan Lewis (6-4, 265), Michigan senior Maurice Hurst (6-2, 282) and Ohio State junior Sam Hubbard (6-5, 265).

From the SEC are Alabama junior Da’Ron Payne (6-2, 308), Ole Miss senior Marquis Haynes (6-3, 225), Georgia junior Trent Thompson (6-4, 295) and Florida sophomore Jabari Zuniga (6-3, 245).

The Pac-12 and Big 12 are represented by Washington junior Vita Vea (6-5, 344) and Kansas junior Dorance Armstrong (6-4, 246). From the Group of 5, the AAC and C-USA each have one top defensive lineman. They are Houston sophomore Ed Oliver (6-2, 290) and Louisiana Tech junior Jaylon Ferguson (6-5, 255).


Linebackers

Of the 19 best linebackers in the country, the Big 12 leads the way with five. They are TCU senior Travin Howard (6-1, 213), Oklahoma senior Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (6-1, 242), Texas junior Malik Jefferson (6-3, 240), West Virginia sophomore David Long (5-11, 228) and West Virginia senior Al-Rasheed Benton (6-0, 237). Note: Long will miss the first four or five games due to an off-season injury.

Four of the best linebackers hail from the Big Ten. They are Iowa senior Josey Jewell (6-2, 236), Indiana senior Tegray Scales (6-0, 230), Ohio State junior Jerome Baker (6-1, 225) and Wisconsin senior Jack Clichy (6-2, 233).

The SEC and ACC have three each among the 19 best linebackers. From the SEC are LSU junior Arden Key (6-6, 238), Kentucky junior Jordan Jones (6-2, 221) and Alabama senior Rashan Evans (6-3, 234). From the ACC are Virginia senior Micah Kisen (6-2, 240), Virginia Tech junior Tremaine Edmunds (6-5, 236) and Miami sophomore Shaq Quarterman (6-1, 240).

Notre Dame has a top linebacker in senior Nyles Morgan (6-1, 238). The Group of 5 is represented on the list by UCF senior Shaquem Griffin (6-1, 213).


Defensive Backs (Cornerbacks and Safeties)

Among the 19 best defensive backs in the nation, 10 are from the SEC (5) and ACC (5). The five from the SEC are Alabama junior Minkah Fitzpatrick (6-1, 201), Alabama junior Ronnie Harrison (6-3, 214), Florida senior Duke Dawson (5-10, 208), Texas A&M senior Armani Watts (5-11, 205) and LSU junior Kevin Toliver (6-2, 193).

The five from the ACC are Florida State junior Tarvarus McFadden (6-2, 198), Florida State sophomore Darwin James (6-3, 211), Louisville junior Jaire Alexander (5-11, 192), Virginia senior Quin Blanding (6-2, 215) and Virginia Tech senior Greg Stroman (6-0, 180).

The Big 12 has four of the top defensive backs. They are Oklahoma senior Jordan Thomas (6-0, 186), Kansas State junior D.J. Reed (5-9, 188), West Virginia junior Dravon Askew-Henry (6-0, 195) and West Virginia senior Kyzir White (6-2, 218).

Three of the top 19 defensive backs are from the Big Ten. They are Ohio State junior Denzel Ward (5-10, 191), Northwestern senior Godwin Igwebuike (6-0, 205) and Penn State senior Marcus Allen (6-2, 202).

The Pac-12 has two on the list. They are Stanford junior Quenton Meeks (6-2, 204) and USC junior Iman Marshall (6-1, 200).


Kickers

Four of the eight best placekickers in the country are from the SEC. They are Auburn senior Daniel Carlson (6-4, 218), Florida sophomore Eddy Pineiro (6-0, 173), Ole Miss senior Gary Wunderlich (6-0, 193) and Georgia sophomore Rodrigo Blankenship (6-1, 191).

Two more are from the ACC. They are Virginia Tech senior Joey Slye (5-11, 210) and Miami senior Michael Badgley (5-10, 178). The Big Ten has Minnesota junior Emmit Carpenter (6-0, 199) and from the Big 12 is West Virginia senior Mike Molina (5-7, 179).


Punters

Among the eight best punters in the country, three hail from the SEC. They are Alabama senior J.K. Scott (6-6, 204), Florida junior Johnny Townsend (6-1, 211) and Tennessee senior Trevon Daniel (6-1, 248). Also on the list from the Pac-12 is Utah junior Mitch Wishnowsky (6-2, 220), and from the Big 12 is Texas junior Michael Dickson (6-3, 205).

Three Group of 5 punters made the top eight list – one from the MAC, AAC and the Mountain West. They are Bowling Green senior Joe Davidson (6-7, 228), Memphis senior Spencer Smith (6-1, 195) and San Jose State senior Michael Carrizosa (5-10, 219).

Touchdown Tom
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com


P.S.

Not exactly college football related, but there were five passings of note last week – Joseph Bologna, Frank Broyles, Tommy Hawkins, Dick Gregory and Jerry Lewis.

Joseph Bologna, the quintessential tough guy who played sensitive male characters in films like “Lovers and Other Strangers” and “Made for Each Other,” died last week in Duarte, California, near Pasadena. He was 82. Bologna’s fame had its roots on the Broadway stage. His first movie, “Lovers and Other Strangers,” (1970) was a box-office hit, earning roughly three times its production cost in North America alone. The movie, originally a Broadway play which ran for only two months, was written by Bologna and his wife Renee Taylor. Their next creation “Made for Each Other” (1971) became their next film. He was cast as a mobster in the TV movie “Honor Thy Father” and as a police officer turned thief in “Cops and Robbers” (1973). His other movies included “Blame It on Rio” (1984), “Transylvania 6-5000” (1985), “Love Is All There Is” (1996) and “Big Daddy (1999). Joe Bologna was born on December 30, 1934, in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Brown University with a degree in art history. Bologna’s final film performance was in “Tango Shalom,” and his final television appearance was in a 2010 episode of “C.S.I.”

Frank Broyles, a football coach and athletic director who lifted Arkansas into the top ranks of college sports, most memorably by coaching the Razorbacks to an undefeated season in 1964 and their only national championship, died last week. He was 92. The 1964 Arkansas team beat Nebraska, 10-7, in the Cotton Bowl to win the national championship. Broyles left the head coaching job at Missouri to take over at Arkansas in 1958. By the time he resigned in 1976, at 52, to become athletic director, his teams had compiled a 144-58-5 record and, in addition to the national championship, won six Southwest Conference titles and 10 bowl games. He also became a college football commentator for ABC sports. His 1965 team went undefeated in the regular season and was ranked No. 1, but lost to LSU in the Cotton Bowl. Thirty of Broyles assistant coaches became head coaches of college or professional teams. Among them are Jimmy Johnson, Barry Switzer, Johnny Majors and Joe Gibbs. The Frank Broyles Award, established in 1996, is given annually to an outstanding assistant coach. When he resigned from coaching at Arkansas, Broyles picked Lou Holtz to succeed him. The Atlanta Falcons offered Broyles the head coaching job but he turned them down to remain as athletic director at Arkansas. John Franklin Broyles was born on December 26, 1924, in Decatur, Georgia. He was a standout quarterback at Georgia Tech, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial management. He led the Yellow Jackets to four bowl games. He was the Southeastern Conference player of the year in 1944. He held assistant coaching jobs at Baylor, Florida and Georgia Tech before becoming head coach at Missouri in 1957.

Tommy Hawkins, who was the first black basketball player to earn All-American honors at Notre Dame and who played for the Los Angeles Lakers during a 10-year NBA career, died last week. He was 80. Hawkins graduated from Notre Dame in 1959. A 6-foot-5 forward, Hawkins played six seasons for the Lakers and four seasons for the Cincinnati Royals. Thomas Jerome Hawkins was born on December 22, 1936, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He moved to Chicago with his mother and aunt as a child. In 1987, Hawkins was hired by Los Angeles Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley to be vice president of communications for the team. He retired from the Dodgers organization in 2004. Before joining the Dodgers, Hawkins worked in radio and television in Southern California. His son Kevin Hawkins played basketball for Notre Dame, graduating in 1981.

Dick Gregory, the pioneering black satirist who transformed cool humor into a barbed force for civil rights in the 1960s, died Saturday. He was 84. Gregory left his craft and began a life of protesting and fasting in the name of assorted social causes, health regimens and conspiracy theories. Richard Claxton Gregory was born in St. Louis on October 12, 1932. He graduated from Sumner High School in St. Louis and attended Southern Illinois University. Gregory was a track star at both schools. He left college in 1954 and joined the Army, where he honed his comedy routines. Out of the Army in 1956, Gregory moved to Chicago, where he worked in small-time clubs at night while working odd jobs during the day. His first big break came in January 1961 when he was asked to fill in for the comedian Irwin Corey at the flagship Playboy Club in Chicago.

Jerry Lewis, the comedian and filmmaker who was a defining figure of American entertainment in the 20th century, died yesterday at his home in Las Vegas. He was 91. Lewis knew success in movies, on television, in nightclubs and on the Broadway stage. Barely out of his teens, he shot to fame shortly after World War II with a nightclub act paired with Dean Martin. After his break with Martin in 1956, Lewis went on to a successful solo career. Jerry Lewis was born on March 16, 1926, in Newark, New Jersey. His birth name was Joseph (or Jerome) Levitch. By his 16th birthday, Lewis dropped out of Irvington High School and began looking for work, performing in clubs. He married and he and his wife Patti had six sons. The oldest son, Gary, had a series of hit records in the 1960s with his band Gary Lewis and the Playboys. Jerry and his wife Patti divorced in 1980. The success of Martin and Lewis in the late 1940s and early 1950s was like nothing show business had ever seen before. After a performance at the Copacabana on July 25, 1956, 10 years to the day after they had first appeared together, Martin and Lewis went their separate ways. Lewis’ recording of “Rock-a-Bye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody” became a Top 10 hit. Lewis made several movies, including “The Nutty Professor,” perhaps his most famous. Lewis’ charity work and Labor Day weekend telethons raised about $2 billion for Muscular Dystrophy, during a 40-plus-year span that began in 1966. During the 1976 telethon, Frank Sinatra arranged an on-air reunion between Lewis and Martin. But both men appeared to be uncomfortable. A more lasting reconciliation came in 1987 when Lewis attended the funeral of Martin’s oldest son. They continued to speak until Martin died in 1995.