Projected 2011 Walter Payton Watch List

[SmallCollegeFBFan]

Here is an early look at the projected Payton list with the top candidates bolded.

QB DeAndre Presley, Appalachian State, Sr., 5-11, 170
QB B.J. Coleman, Chattanooga, Sr., 6-5, 210
QB Mike Brown, Liberty, Sr., 6-0, 205
QB Casey Therriault, Jackson State, Sr., 6-3, 205
QB Tirrell Rennie, Northern Iowa, Sr., 6-0, 201
QB Matt Scheible, Southeast Missouri State, Sr., 6-1, 200
QB Josh McGregor, Jacksonville, Sr., 6-2, 200
QB Denarius McGhee, Montana State, Soph., 6-0, 197
RB Taiwan Jones, Eastern Washington, Sr., 6-1, 200
RB Nate Eachus, Colgate, Sr., 5-10, 216
RB Jonathan Grimes, William & Mary, Sr., 5-10, 201
RB Mike Mayhew, North Carolina A&T, Sr., 5-10, 205
RB Jamaine Cook, Youngstown State, Jr., 5-9, 195
RB D.J. McNorton, North Dakota State, Sr., 5-10, 203
RB Mike Harris, Murray State, Sr., 5-11, 200
RB Andrew Pierce, Delaware, Soph., 5-10, 200
FB Eric Breitenstein, Wofford, Sr., 5-11, 225
WR Chris Summers, Liberty, Sr., 6-4, 210
WR Joel Bradford, Chattanooga, Sr., 6-0, 165
WR Tim Benford, Tennessee Tech, Sr., 6-1, 195

JUST MISSED
RB Tim Flanders, Sam Houston State, Soph.

[SuperHornet]

Two from Liberty? That kills it right there. Bush-Leinart not withstanding, it's VERY rare that a double-nominated school wins awards like this. Paul Hornung won the Heisman for 3-8 Notre Dame because two Sooners got the vote split.



Surprised no Chickens are on the list. Given that, if they hold the voting deadline until after the title game, there will be a VERY good chance Jones wins.

[AZGrizFan]

Two from Liberty? That kills it right there. Bush-Leinart not withstanding, it's VERY rare that a double-nominated school wins awards like this. Paul Hornung won the Heisman for 3-8 Notre Dame because two Sooners got the vote split.



Surprised no Chickens are on the list. Given that, if they hold the voting deadline until after the title game, there will be a VERY good chance Jones wins.

It's not that there are two from the same school. It's that that school is LIBERTY that kills it.

[blukeys]

The Payton award is a joke. I realized it when I was watching Colgate's Branch in 2003 (the Payton award winner) and came to the conclusion that he would not be 3rd off of the bench competing against Delaware's running backs.

The UNI quarterback coming in 2nd when Joe Flacco wasn't on the ballot, (Flacco out performed in the Dome to the Max) was icing on the cake. The politics that are played in this award are unreal. Midwest folks in particular are the worst homers of all.

[CatMom]

Keep an eye on that RB from SAM. He's impressive. (I was impressed but maybe I'm easily swayed )

[Rob Iola]

The Payton award is a joke. I realized it when I was watching Colgate's Branch in 2003 (the Payton award winner) and came to the conclusion that he would not be 3rd off of the bench competing against Delaware's running backs.

The UNI quarterback coming in 2nd when Joe Flacco wasn't on the ballot, (Flacco out performed in the Dome to the Max) was icing on the cake. The politics that are played in this award are unreal. Midwest folks in particular are the worst homers of all.

Remember - they're looking for athletes, not stationary 1st-round taking his team to the AFC championship game in his rookie season thrower types...

[McNeese75]

Keep an eye on that RB from SAM. He's impressive. (I was impressed but maybe I'm easily swayed )

Yep, he is good and we have three (or is it 4?) just as promising

[bjtheflamesfan]

Brown-Summers is one of the most lethal combinations in I-AA (note I said one of) and it would not surprise me if both of them were on the official watch list come next summer. Chris Summers had a major coming out party this past season and became a legitimate threat to score every time he got the ball. If you put a ball up within arms length, he got it...especially in the end zone. Mike Brown did have his troubles in his first year as teh man at QB but what he lacked in passing, he more than made up for in running. I think that if LU can get the running game going next year Mike could really have a chance to put up some mind blowing numbers.

[DJH]

The Payton award is a joke. I realized it when I was watching Colgate's Branch in 2003 (the Payton award winner) and came to the conclusion that he would not be 3rd off of the bench competing against Delaware's running backs.

The UNI quarterback coming in 2nd when Joe Flacco wasn't on the ballot, (Flacco out performed in the Dome to the Max) was icing on the cake. The politics that are played in this award are unreal. Midwest folks in particular are the worst homers of all.

lol. Was that a serious post?....

[guinzone]

Although Cook got all the glory for YSU this past year, I still believe that Adaris Bellamy will end up taking the starting job over this year and absolutely dominate the MVFC. As a true freshmen he was running over defenses all year long, and I mean literally, just ask WIU's defense.

Maybe not next year, but watch this Bellamy kid over the next three years. Remember he was the 4-star Rivals RB with offers to USF, Cincy, and a number of other Big East/ACC schools. He lost his schollie to USF when Holtz came to town.

[kalm]

It will be interesting to see, given Taiwan Jones' injury problems and the potential emergence of a second back in Mario Brown, if his touches go down and his stats suffer enough to take him out of contention.

[clenz]

The Payton award is a joke. I realized it when I was watching Colgate's Branch in 2003 (the Payton award winner) and came to the conclusion that he would not be 3rd off of the bench competing against Delaware's running backs.

The UNI quarterback coming in 2nd when Joe Flacco wasn't on the ballot, (Flacco out performed in the Dome to the Max) was icing on the cake. The politics that are played in this award are unreal. Midwest folks in particular are the worst homers of all.

lol. Was that a serious post?....

Yeah. Had UNI won that game UD would have gone full mental on UNI and the NCAA about Sanders finishing second, a head of Flacco. Since they won the game they aren't going to bitch too much though. They will just point to the fact that they won the game as the reason he should have finished a head of Sanders - never mind the fact Sanders set the completion % record

[eagleskins]

With GSU's triple option running at full cylinder next year, I think one of the Eagles will get on the list.

[GannonFan]

lol. Was that a serious post?....

Yeah. Had UNI won that game UD would have gone full mental on UNI and the NCAA about Sanders finishing second, a head of Flacco. Since they won the game they aren't going to bitch too much though. They will just point to the fact that they won the game as the reason he should have finished a head of Sanders - never mind the fact Sanders set the completion % record

What is a good reason to say why Flacco should've been ahead of Sanders is not the win or the loss, but the simple fact that when they shared the same field Flacco was simply heads and shoulders a far better QB. The side by side comparison was eye opening, and that had nothing to do with the NFL prospects of the two - that came later. But on that day, with everything on the line, there was no question of who the better QB was.

[GannonFan]

Here is an early look at the projected Payton list with the top candidates bolded.

QB DeAndre Presley, Appalachian State, Sr., 5-11, 170
QB B.J. Coleman, Chattanooga, Sr., 6-5, 210
QB Mike Brown, Liberty, Sr., 6-0, 205
QB Casey Therriault, Jackson State, Sr., 6-3, 205
QB Tirrell Rennie, Northern Iowa, Sr., 6-0, 201
QB Matt Scheible, Southeast Missouri State, Sr., 6-1, 200
QB Josh McGregor, Jacksonville, Sr., 6-2, 200
QB Denarius McGhee, Montana State, Soph., 6-0, 197
RB Taiwan Jones, Eastern Washington, Sr., 6-1, 200
RB Nate Eachus, Colgate, Sr., 5-10, 216
RB Jonathan Grimes, William & Mary, Sr., 5-10, 201
RB Mike Mayhew, North Carolina A&T, Sr., 5-10, 205
RB Jamaine Cook, Youngstown State, Jr., 5-9, 195
RB D.J. McNorton, North Dakota State, Sr., 5-10, 203
RB Mike Harris, Murray State, Sr., 5-11, 200
RB Tim Flanders, Sam Houston State, Soph., 5-9, 208
FB Eric Breitenstein, Wofford, Sr., 5-11, 225
WR Chris Summers, Liberty, Sr., 6-4, 210
WR Joel Bradford, Chattanooga, Sr., 6-0, 165
WR Tim Benford, Tennessee Tech, Sr., 6-1, 195

Why no Andrew Pierce? I think Grimes is a great back as well, but considering that Pierce led him in rushing in the CAA this year and Pierce is going to be running behind the same OL he has this year (UD returns 4 starting linemen and a guy who has started the last few games for the Hens) it stands to reason that AP is poised to have a very good sophomore season. Surprised he wouldn't be on the list.

[SmallCollegeFBFan]

Here is an early look at the projected Payton list with the top candidates bolded.

QB DeAndre Presley, Appalachian State, Sr., 5-11, 170
QB B.J. Coleman, Chattanooga, Sr., 6-5, 210
QB Mike Brown, Liberty, Sr., 6-0, 205
QB Casey Therriault, Jackson State, Sr., 6-3, 205
QB Tirrell Rennie, Northern Iowa, Sr., 6-0, 201
QB Matt Scheible, Southeast Missouri State, Sr., 6-1, 200
QB Josh McGregor, Jacksonville, Sr., 6-2, 200
QB Denarius McGhee, Montana State, Soph., 6-0, 197
RB Taiwan Jones, Eastern Washington, Sr., 6-1, 200
RB Nate Eachus, Colgate, Sr., 5-10, 216
RB Jonathan Grimes, William & Mary, Sr., 5-10, 201
RB Mike Mayhew, North Carolina A&T, Sr., 5-10, 205
RB Jamaine Cook, Youngstown State, Jr., 5-9, 195
RB D.J. McNorton, North Dakota State, Sr., 5-10, 203
RB Mike Harris, Murray State, Sr., 5-11, 200
RB Tim Flanders, Sam Houston State, Soph., 5-9, 208
FB Eric Breitenstein, Wofford, Sr., 5-11, 225
WR Chris Summers, Liberty, Sr., 6-4, 210
WR Joel Bradford, Chattanooga, Sr., 6-0, 165
WR Tim Benford, Tennessee Tech, Sr., 6-1, 195

Why no Andrew Pierce? I think Grimes is a great back as well, but considering that Pierce led him in rushing in the CAA this year and Pierce is going to be running behind the same OL he has this year (UD returns 4 starting linemen and a guy who has started the last few games for the Hens) it stands to reason that AP is poised to have a very good sophomore season. Surprised he wouldn't be on the list.

Actually I did this list late one night and when double checking I saw he was not on there. I put him on the list and dropped Flanders. Now I think it looks pretty close to what might actually be the preseason list.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Here is an early look at the projected Payton list with the top candidates bolded.

QB DeAndre Presley, Appalachian State, Sr., 5-11, 170
QB B.J. Coleman, Chattanooga, Sr., 6-5, 210
QB Mike Brown, Liberty, Sr., 6-0, 205
QB Casey Therriault, Jackson State, Sr., 6-3, 205
QB Tirrell Rennie, Northern Iowa, Sr., 6-0, 201
QB Matt Scheible, Southeast Missouri State, Sr., 6-1, 200
QB Josh McGregor, Jacksonville, Sr., 6-2, 200
QB Denarius McGhee, Montana State, Soph., 6-0, 197
RB Taiwan Jones, Eastern Washington, Sr., 6-1, 200
RB Nate Eachus, Colgate, Sr., 5-10, 216
RB Jonathan Grimes, William & Mary, Sr., 5-10, 201
RB Mike Mayhew, North Carolina A&T, Sr., 5-10, 205
RB Jamaine Cook, Youngstown State, Jr., 5-9, 195
RB D.J. McNorton, North Dakota State, Sr., 5-10, 203
RB Mike Harris, Murray State, Sr., 5-11, 200
RB Frank Pierce, Delaware, Soph., 5-10, 200
FB Eric Breitenstein, Wofford, Sr., 5-11, 225
WR Chris Summers, Liberty, Sr., 6-4, 210
WR Joel Bradford, Chattanooga, Sr., 6-0, 165
WR Tim Benford, Tennessee Tech, Sr., 6-1, 195

JUST MISSED
RB Tim Flanders, Sam Houston State, Soph.

Frank Pierce? Wasn't he the 14th POTUS?

[DJH]

Yeah. Had UNI won that game UD would have gone full mental on UNI and the NCAA about Sanders finishing second, a head of Flacco. Since they won the game they aren't going to bitch too much though. They will just point to the fact that they won the game as the reason he should have finished a head of Sanders - never mind the fact Sanders set the completion % record

What is a good reason to say why Flacco should've been ahead of Sanders is not the win or the loss, but the simple fact that when they shared the same field Flacco was simply heads and shoulders a far better QB. The side by side comparison was eye opening, and that had nothing to do with the NFL prospects of the two - that came later. But on that day, with everything on the line, there was no question of who the better QB was.

That is not true. Flacco certainly was a better prospect than Sanders, but he was not a "head and shoulders" above Sanders as an FCS QB.

Flacco won that game, but it was not because of Sanders shortcomings.

And that is besides the point anyway. Do you understand how awards like this work? They don't give them out for single game performances, or to the guy who is an NFL prospect, or even the guy who makes a playoff run. It is a regular season award, and goes to the guy who had the best overall season.

[blukeys]

Here is an early look at the projected Payton list with the top candidates bolded.

QB DeAndre Presley, Appalachian State, Sr., 5-11, 170
QB B.J. Coleman, Chattanooga, Sr., 6-5, 210
QB Mike Brown, Liberty, Sr., 6-0, 205
QB Casey Therriault, Jackson State, Sr., 6-3, 205
QB Tirrell Rennie, Northern Iowa, Sr., 6-0, 201
QB Matt Scheible, Southeast Missouri State, Sr., 6-1, 200
QB Josh McGregor, Jacksonville, Sr., 6-2, 200
QB Denarius McGhee, Montana State, Soph., 6-0, 197
RB Taiwan Jones, Eastern Washington, Sr., 6-1, 200
RB Nate Eachus, Colgate, Sr., 5-10, 216
RB Jonathan Grimes, William & Mary, Sr., 5-10, 201
RB Mike Mayhew, North Carolina A&T, Sr., 5-10, 205
RB Jamaine Cook, Youngstown State, Jr., 5-9, 195
RB D.J. McNorton, North Dakota State, Sr., 5-10, 203
RB Mike Harris, Murray State, Sr., 5-11, 200
RB Frank Pierce, Delaware, Soph., 5-10, 200
FB Eric Breitenstein, Wofford, Sr., 5-11, 225
WR Chris Summers, Liberty, Sr., 6-4, 210
WR Joel Bradford, Chattanooga, Sr., 6-0, 165
WR Tim Benford, Tennessee Tech, Sr., 6-1, 195

JUST MISSED
RB Tim Flanders, Sam Houston State, Soph.

By the way Delaware's running back is Andrew Pierce.

Frank Pierce was a U.S. President in the 19th century.

[blukeys]

What is a good reason to say why Flacco should've been ahead of Sanders is not the win or the loss, but the simple fact that when they shared the same field Flacco was simply heads and shoulders a far better QB. The side by side comparison was eye opening, and that had nothing to do with the NFL prospects of the two - that came later. But on that day, with everything on the line, there was no question of who the better QB was.

That is not true. Flacco certainly was a better prospect than Sanders, but he was not a "head and shoulders" above Sanders as an FCS QB.

Flacco won that game, but it was not because of Sanders shortcomings.

And that is besides the point anyway. Do you understand how awards like this work? They don't give them out for single game performances, or to the guy who is an NFL prospect, or even the guy who makes a playoff run. It is a regular season award, and goes to the guy who had the best overall season.

Typical Midwest homerism and myopia. Make all the excuses you want. I would pick Flacco as a QB over Saunders at any level. The fact that you buy your own Midwest BS over what your own eyes could see IN YOUR DOME says it all.

[DJH]

That is not true. Flacco certainly was a better prospect than Sanders, but he was not a "head and shoulders" above Sanders as an FCS QB.

Flacco won that game, but it was not because of Sanders shortcomings.

And that is besides the point anyway. Do you understand how awards like this work? They don't give them out for single game performances, or to the guy who is an NFL prospect, or even the guy who makes a playoff run. It is a regular season award, and goes to the guy who had the best overall season.

Typical Midwest homerism and myopia. Make all the excuses you want. I would pick Flacco as a QB over Saunders at any level. The fact that you buy your own Midwest BS over what your own eyes could see IN YOUR DOME says it all.

lol, ok

[clenz]

Let's compare numbers from the entire season on Sanders and Flacco


Flacco:
331-521 4263 yards 63.5 % 8.18 ypa 23 td 5 int 15 sacks 144.91 rating

Sanders:
237-315 2842 yards 75.2% 9.02 ypa 17 td 6 int 9 sacks 165.02 rating

So yes, Flacco had more yards and touchdowns. He also completed more passes than Sanders attempted.

Sanders had a higher yards per attempt rate (the yards per completion was nearly identical at right around 12), set the NCAA record for completion %, was sacked less, and had a MUCH higher rating.

Sanders lowest passer rating in his career was still better than Flacco's best passer rating. (146.05 to 144.91).

Let's bring Sanders passing attempts to the number than Flacco had and compare the stats


Flacco:
331-521 4263 yards 63.5 % 23 td 5 int 144.91 rating

Sanders (getting as close to those numbers as possible)
391-521 4692 yards 75.2% 30 td 10 int 165.86

So yes, Flacco had "more impressive" numbers. However, when brought into similar passing attempts Sanders was better.

Keep using "Delaware beat UNI at UNI in the playoffs" as your reasoning for being pissed. As for saying he was heads and shoulders above Sanders on the field, I don't buy that either.

Passing (comp.-attempts yards TD-INT )
Flacco: 25-45-2-0 312 yards
Sanders:26-38-1-1 291 yards

You also have to take into account that UNI ran for 98 more yards that UD. Sanders wasn't asked to throw on every down because the run game was complete shit (even though Cuff was supposed to go for about 500 yards on us. His 3.8 ypc was amazing compared to Lewis's 7.8).

The reason UD won wasn't Flacco, it wasn't Sanders, it wasn't Cuff. It was the 2 lost fumbles for UNI. The fi rst, which came when Victor Williams hauled in a pass from Sanders and
then lost the ball, resulted in a 55-yard touchdown return by Erik Johnson, who scooped the ball off the turf and ran it back untouched to give the Blue Hens a 19-10 lead with 3:02 to play in the first half. The second came when Matt Marcorelle broke into the backfield and stripped the ball from Sanders, who had dropped back to pass. The fumble halted a 41-yard drive by the Panthers and gave Delaware, already holding a nine-point lead, possession with 13:46 left to play. The turnover led to a 46-yard field goal by Kicker Joe Striefsky and effectively sealed things for the Blue Hens.

At a very minimum that is a 13 point swing. Taking 10 points off of UD's total and adding at least 3 from one of those UNI drives.

[HenZoneNation]

What is a good reason to say why Flacco should've been ahead of Sanders is not the win or the loss, but the simple fact that when they shared the same field Flacco was simply heads and shoulders a far better QB. The side by side comparison was eye opening, and that had nothing to do with the NFL prospects of the two - that came later. But on that day, with everything on the line, there was no question of who the better QB was.

That is not true. Flacco certainly was a better prospect than Sanders, but he was not a "head and shoulders" above Sanders as an FCS QB.

Flacco won that game, but it was not because of Sanders shortcomings.

And that is besides the point anyway. Do you understand how awards like this work? They don't give them out for single game performances, or to the guy who is an NFL prospect, or even the guy who makes a playoff run. It is a regular season award, and goes to the guy who had the best overall season.

Do you think that Flacco was the 18th best player that year? That's what he came in.

[Gil Dobie]

Typical Midwest homerism and myopia. Make all the excuses you want. I would pick Flacco as a QB over Saunders at any level. The fact that you buy your own Midwest BS over what your own eyes could see IN YOUR DOME says it all.

Please don't confuse Midwest homerism and myopia with IOWA homerism and myopia

[isutom]

One candidate I would hope that you keep in mind for the Payton Award is Indiana State QB Ronnie Fouch. He'll be entering his first full offseason with a new offensive coordinator/quarterback coach (Steve Englehart) who was hired just before the start of fall drills. Fouch is due for a even bigger year in 2011 than he had in 2010.