College Football: Do Defensive Players Deserve More Heisman Love?

Every year, the best offensive player is chosen to win the Heisman. No, that's not a typo, it's the best offensive player. Save for one—Charles Woodson, the only predominantly defensive player to win the Heisman—the chosen one striking the pose is playing on the offense.

It's too bad, because there are some outstanding defensive players who get the Outland or Butkus Award (and even that award may become extinct very shortly) as a consolation prize—albeit a nice one—when they should have been caressing the Heisman.

So who are these guys who should be on stage this December, but will never get a shot? The list of super-studs is long and impressive, and unfortunately, will be ignored by the Heisman Trust. We have all heard of the Sean Lee's in college football, but it is the unheralded ones who deserve some love.

The 2009 NFL draft will be honored with their presence. Should Heisman as well?

George Selvie, DE, South Florida

Averages over one sack per game, with 14.5 sacks for 87 yards in 13 games. He also averages around 2.5 tackles-for-loss per game; no one can stop him from getting into the backfield. He had a total of 31.5 tackles-for-loss in 2007, making him the tackles-for-loss leader going into his junior year.

He was a 2007 Walter Camp First Team All-American, and in the 2006 upset against West Virginia, Selvie had eight tackles, (3.5 for a loss), a forced fumble and scored a touchdown on a nine-yard fumble recovery. Is on Lott Trophy and Lombardi Award watch lists for 2008. Dude should be striking the pose.

Greg Middleton, DE, Indiana

A Hoosier who consistently gets into the backfield and greets quarterbacks with "Who's there?" Had 16 sacks for 102 yards in 13 games with a 1.23 sack average per game in the tough Big Ten. Was First Team All-Big Ten, and capped last season off with a 2.5 sacks total against Purdue. Made a prediction of 15 sacks prior to the 2007 season (when the Hoosiers' total team sacks in 2006 were 14), and made his critics eat his words when he exceeded that goal.

Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest

Smith, a senior this year, had 8 interceptions in 13 games and returned 3 of them for touchdowns and 166 yards. Nicknamed "Prime," he also blocked a kick against North Carolina and returned it for a touchdown in 2006. Against Maryland, he intercepted a pass and returned it hundred yards for a touchdown and school record.

He is ranked fifth among 154 cornerbacks for the 2009 NFL draft. First team All-ACC team and second team All-American, and is on the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Award for the best defensive player in the nation. Smith is ranked 16th in ACC history for career interceptions.

P.J. Mahone, SS, Bowling Green

Only a junior, last year Mahone had 7 interceptions for 220 yards and 1 touchdown in 12 games. Led the MAC with interceptions in 2007, and his 4.4 speed is one of the reasons why he has amassed so many yards off of interceptions. He also recorded 80 tackles, and for his efforts, made the 2007 All-Mac team, even though he didn't even start the 2007 season as a starter.

Dominique Faust, OLB, Louisiana Tech.

In his freshman year, Faust blocked four punts in 11 games. In his freshman year. Can you say stud? He is also a rebel; he considered Georgia, Auburn, Florida and Florida State before signing with Louisiana Tech and was one of the top 50 players recruited out of Georgia. He is the No. 1-ranked kick blocker in the nation.


Walter Thurmond III, DB, Oregon

In 23 passes Thurmond defended, 18 were broken up and 5 were intercepted. Thurmond, a junior this year, is ranked the #1 pass defender in the nation going into 2008, giving new meaning to the phrase "Quack attack."

And finally, one from a high-profile school, but still deserves a big hug...

Rey Maualuga, LB, USC

While he doesn't lead any boards on stats, he is the toughest hitter in college football. He was Juice Williams' worst nightmare in the 2008 Rose Bowl, and Patrick Cowan of UCLA received one of the most vicious hits ever seen a few years ago from Rey-Rey. He's a beast. He's in a league of his own.