SEC Awards My Way: Alabama Takes The Cake

When I thought about a mid-season awards article, I thought that maybe it would be a bit premature, or that other people would beat me to the punch.

After careful consideration, I decided that I could make a great case for my award winners and I have not seen a whole lot of articles doing this sort of thing, so here we go.

The awards I am giving out are not exactly the same as those handed out by the SEC. I am going to throw a few more in there. And call me biased and whatever if you want, it is bound to happen no matter what I say!

SEC Offensive Player of the Mid-Season

Ryan Mallett, QB Arkansas

Mallett is the best offensive weapon on any team in the SEC. He leads the league, along with Jonathan Crompton, in touchdown passes, but has only thrown three interceptions on the year.

His efficiency rating sits second in the league behind Saint Timothy. He has thrown almost twice as many passes as Tebow but only has one more pick and six more touchdowns.

Mallett easily is the best pure passing QB in the league. And he showed he can tuck it against Auburn for a touchdown run.

SEC Defensive Player of the Mid-Season

Eric Norwood, LB South Carolina

Norwood is the most valuable player on his football team. He has kept his team in some ball games and has won them others. His six sacks leads the SEC and he has added 38 tackles, six-and-a-half for losses, outside of the sacks.

He has two picks on the year, one that he took to the house.

SEC Special Teams Player of the Mid-Season

Wes Byrum, PK Auburn

Byrum has been all but money this year. Missing just one kick so far this season—PAT or field goal—is pretty impressive.

Byrum is second in the league in scoring by a kicker, scoring 10 points per contest. Byrum has been less than stellar in past seasons, but this year he has been on target and someone the Tigers can count on at any point in a game.

SEC Freshman of the Mid-Season

Trent Richardson, RB Alabama

This was the toughest decision yet. Richardson and Chad Bumphis have great numbers. No other Frosh has the stats to compare with those two.

I chose Richardson because the games I have seen him play, the kid runs like a freight train, oiled and ready to go on all cylinders at all times. One particular run comes to mind against Arkansas. But let's give Bumphis his props too!

SEC Newcomer of the Mid-Season

Greg McElroy, QB Alabama

G-Mac, as the Tide faithful have come to know him, has been especially effective in his first season as Alabama's signal caller. His completion percentage ranks among the highest in the league and he has taken care of the football for the Crimson Tide.

In this offense, McElroy has shined. Alabama quarterbacks are not supposed to throw for 4,000 yards and 30 scores. They are supposed to manage the game and be able to keep defenses honest against the run.

This is exactly what McElroy does. His last outing was not his best, as he tried to force far too many passes toward Julio Jones, but throughout the season, G-Mac has been spectacular.

SEC Most Underrated Player of the Mid-Season

Montario Hardesty, RB Tennessee

When you play on a mediocre football team, it is hard to get your props. But I had to give this award to Hardesty for many reasons. He runs for 100 yards every game, sans those missing three yards last week, and the opposing defenses know that Tennessee will have to rely on the running game.

Like Knowshon Moreno, he has to get his yards against eight, sometimes nine, in the box. But every week you can expect Hardesty to get to the century mark and into the end zone at least once.

SEC Coach of the Mid-Season

Bobby Petrino, Arkansas

Another tough one here. Gene Chizik has already matched his win totals from two seasons at Iowa State. Petrino has taken the bad Hogs and turned them into a football team that is fun to watch.

Don't know if you caught the Arena Football game featuring Arkansas and Auburn last week, but it was fun to watch. Except Auburn decided that they were only going to play in the second half.

The success of the Hogs could be placed on the arm of Ryan Mallett, but Petrino's offensive genius has put Mallett in great positions all season long. The defense has been suspect, but in their last two games, they have stepped up and stopped two very prolific offenses.

SEC Player of the Mid-Season

Mark Ingram, RB Alabama

I do not think there is another player on his team outside of the quarterbacks that means more to their football team. Ingram is not only the work horse, pound-it-out runner, but he is a great blocking back that has helped propel the Alabama passing attack to new heights.

Ingram leads the non-quarterbacks in scoring and is fourth in rushing yards per game, despite giving half the carries to other running backs. His 10 touchdowns leads the SEC in scoring and he has an amazing 5.9 yards per carry.

Only Ben Tate has a better average by a starting tailback. Did I mention that he leads the Alabama squad in receiving touchdowns? No? Oh, well he does.

Let the debate begin, because I know every homer out there is dying to tell me how much their team's players deserved these awards over my picks!