O' Brien Schofield: What's Not To Love?

By (Featured Columnist) on October 24, 2009

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Meet O'Brien Schofield. He is a defensive end for the Wisconsin Badgers of the Big Ten.
Ever heard of him? You should have. You probably haven't because of the media's(ESPN) lovefest with all things SEC. As a matter of fact, Schofield not being on the final Lombardi award watch list is a downright travesty. The Lombardi award is given annually to the most outstanding linemen/linebacker in college football on either side of the ball. To the best of my knowledge, Wisconsin head coach Brett Bielema wrote in Schofield as a member of the preseason watch list, yet he was ignored completely for the award. As a matter of fact, of the 12 finalists for this year's award, six-yes, six-are from the SEC. Four others are from the Big 12 and the remaining two are from the Big East and Mountain West Conference.
In this slide show, I will make an attempt to show you that Schofield is one of the best defensive players in the country, and why he should get more love.

George Selvie - South Florida Bulls

RALEIGH, NC - SEPTEMBER 27:  Defensive end George Selvie #95 of South Florida Bulls looks out at the action on the field from the bench in the third quarter of the college football game against North Carolina State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium on Sep

South Florida defensive end George Selvie had a breakout season in 2007, amassing 14 sacks and forcing two fumbles. This season? Selvie has three sacks through seven games and only 26 tackles through six games this season. Compare that to Schofield. With 6.5 sacks this season, Schofield is 19th nationally in sacks. He also has recorded 38 tackles through seven games, including two multiple sack games. Clearly better numbers than Selvie, who has no business on the Lombardi list for this season...let us move on.

SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 23:  Defensive End Jerry Hughes #98 of the TCU Horned Frogs celebrates his sack Quarterback Kellen Moore #11 of Boise State Broncos during Frogs' 17-16 win over the Broncos in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl at Q

Jerry Hughes - TCU Horned Frogs

SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 23:  Defensive End Jerry Hughes #98 of the TCU Horned Frogs celebrates his sack Quarterback Kellen Moore #11 of Boise State Broncos during Frogs' 17-16 win over the Broncos in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl at Q

Jerry Hughes, defensive end from Texas Christan, has been a force for TCU this season, and has seven sacks on the season to go with 31 tackles this season. Hughes should legitimately be on the Lombardi list, and is at least Schofield's equal, if not better...

Terrence Cody and Rolando McClain- Alabama Crimson Tide

TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 24:  Terrence Cody #62 of the Alabama Crimson Tide walks off the field after a defensive series against the Tennessee Volunteers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 24, 2009 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Ima

Terrence Cody, senior defensive lineman for Alabama, is a mammoth of a man at 350 pounds. But the guy only has 15 tackles on the season. Sure he blocked a field goal to seal the game for the Tide today, but what in the Sam Hill?
Another member of the Crimson tide, who certainly deserves his name on the list, is linebacker Rolando McClain. McClain has recorded 50 tackles this season, including two sacks, and has two interceptions as well.

Rennie Curran - Georgia Bulldogs

ATHENS, GA - SEPTEMBER 12:  Rennie Curran #35 of the Georgia Bulldogs against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Sanford Stadium on September 12, 2009 in Athens, Georgia.  (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Rennie Curran has produced tackles at Georgia this season, amassing 73 already this year, but has no forced fumbles, no sacks, no interceptions, and few tackles for loss. Why he is on this list is a mystery to me, considering players like Schofield, and even Michigan State's Junior linebacker, Greg Jones, who has more tackles and five sacks; and yet they were left out, and Jones is not much talked about.

Carlos Dunlap and Brandon Spikes- Florida Gators

LEXINGTON, KY - SEPTEMBER 26:   Defensive end Carlos Dunlap #8 of the Florida Gators celebrates with teammate Brandon Spikes #51 after Dunlop sacked quarterback Mike Hartline #5 of the Kentucky Wildcats during the third quarter of the game at Commonwealth

Pardon the picture...'Nuff said. Spikes and Dunlap both play at Florida, and the Gators won the National Championship, so they are both highly publicized as being great individual performers. However, Dunlap has less than half as many tackles as Schofield, and Spikes and Dunlap combined have fewer sacks. Go figure.

Gerald McCoy - Oklahoma Sooners

KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 06: Gerald McCoy #93 of the Oklahoma Sooners and teammates celebrate after the Sooners defeated the Missouri Tigers to win the Big 12 Championship game on December 6, 2008 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by

McCoy, defensive tackle for the beleaguered Oklahoma Sooners squad, has only three sacks this season, and 9.5 tackles for loss...once again, 'Nuff said.

Eric Norwood - South Carolina Gamecocks

ATHENS, GA - SEPTEMBER 12:  Eric Norwood #40 of the South Carolina Gamecocks against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on September 12, 2009 in Athens, Georgia.  (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Norwood has dominated this season from the linbacker position, posting 44 tackles and 6 sicks to go with two interception, one that was returned for a touchdown....definitely a talent that has few equals.

Ndamukong Suh - Nebraska Cornhuskers

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Suh has 36 tackles, three sacks, and one interception this season, leading the Nebraska defense. Once again, good numbers, but not as good as Schofield's.

Sean Weatherspoon - Missouri Tigers

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Weatherspoon has 1 sack to go along with 49 tackles this season, low numbers for a linebacker...he also has no business on this list.

In Summary

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 27:  O'Brien Schofield #50 of the Wisconsin Badgers reacts to a missed interception during the Champs Bowl against the Florida State Seminoles on December 27, 2008 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida.  (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Get

The slant towards the SEC/Big 12 can be clearly seen by the fact Schofield, among other has been left off this list and out of most national talk when great defensive lineman are mentioned. Why, just last week against, arguably the best offensive line in the nation, Schofield recorded three tackles for loss. Which brings up the biggest argument for him to be included in this discussion. Schofield leads the NATION in tackles for loss, with 16.5. The next closest man on the list of the aforementioned, Gerald McCoy, and Hughes of TCU, have only 9.5. Hughes is also the only player on this list to have more sacks than Schofield. Clearly,it is time for the pundits to start giving the award to those who earn it by play on the field, rather than reputation and bias. Give the man some love!

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