First Quarter Report Card: College Football's 25 Best Heading Into Week 4
Evaluating the best players just three weeks into the season is akin to applying to Harvard after your child makes straight As in first grade.
But it's college football and we love to evaluate players and teams every week. And we love lists.
Could there be 10 or even 15 other players on this list? Of course. The sample size is small and there are offensive linemen out there who have had dominating performances so far this season. But without some long sessions in the film room, it's hard to really decide which one to put in a top-25 listing.
Another reason doing a list like this so early in the season is a recipe for disaster—there's not a single Alabama player on it. Of course the Crimson Tide are loaded with talent, but do you really put Mark Ingram on here after missing two games? You could make an argument for Greg McElroy, and the defense has played well, but singling out one player is tough.
So, after a thorough evaluation of statistics, feedback from other bloggers, and a pinch of personal insight, here is your first quarter report card: grading college football's 25 best players heading into Week 4.
25. Manti Te'o, LB, Notre Dame
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The Notre Dame linebacker may only be a sophomore, but he's quickly becoming the defensive leader for the Irish. Manti Te'o has tied or led the Irish in tackles in each of the first three games this season. Of course, Notre Dame is 1-2.
Te'o started last year as a true freshman, and he still makes some youthful mistakes, but he's learning more and more that he doesn't have to make the big hit on every play. Instead, coach Brian Kelly has said Te'o is becoming a complete player.
He has recorded 32 tackles, 3.5 for loss, and forced one fumble. Te'o will be called upon Saturday to lead the Irish defense against one of the country's better offenses at Stanford.
24. LaMichael James, RB, Oregon
2 of 25
Oregon's offense has been putting up astounding numbers while playing below-average talent. While James was suspended for the first game, he made up for it by rushing for 227 yards on just 14 carries against Portland State.
On the road in SEC country against Tennessee, the Ducks' toughest opponent so far in 2010, James was too much for the Vols defense as he rushed for 134 yards on 16 carries. Also to his credit was a 72-yard touchdown scamper through the Tennessee defense.
James and the rest of the Ducks should get a little tougher challenge in their first Pac-10 game of the season. Oregon travels to Arizona State, which has a solid defense, Saturday. Oregon then hosts another league front-runner, Stanford, the following week.
Will James still be riding high then? Don't count him out.
23. Drake Nevis, DT, LSU
3 of 25
The 6'2", 285-pound LSU Tiger, who may be in the best shape of his college career, is making the most of his senior season.
Drake Nevis already has 3.5 sacks, just one shy of reaching an all-time high. He even tallied an interception in last week's 29-7 victory over Mississippi State.
Not only is Nevis in better shape this season, but he has perfected his rushing technique, making him a tough assignment for any opposing offensive lineman.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
22. Shane Vereen, RB, California
4 of 25
It may seem blasphemous, but Cal's Shane Vereen is better than former Bears running back Jahvid Best.
In last week's loss at Nevada, Vereen was a bright spot for Jeff Tedford's offense. The shifty back rushed for 198 yards, but had two runs of 50 yards or more.
Vereen is also averaging 108 yards a game, and he has a Pac-10-best eight total touchdowns.
If Cal wants to remain relevant in the conference this season, it might not be a bad idea to give the ball to Vereen a lot against Arizona on Saturday.
21. Mario Harvey, DE, Marshall
5 of 25
It's rare you'll pull a guy from a winless team and say he's playing some of the best football in the nation. But, don't overlook the play of Harvey.
Through three losses, the first-team Conference USA player in 2009 has been an animal. He has the size, speed, and athletic ability to be a special player, and he's doing just that for first-year coach Doc Holliday.
He leads the nation with 39 tackles, including 21 unassisted stops. He's also tied for seventh in the nation in sacks with four and he has six tackles for loss.
So far, he may be the only real bright spot for Marshall this season.
20. Taylor Martinez, QB, Nebraska
6 of 25
The dual-threat Taylor Martinez is a big reason why Cornhuskers fans believe Nebraska is a legitimate Big 12 contender, but also a dark horse to reach the BCS Championship.
With Martinez effectively guiding the offense, a lot of pressure is taken off Bo Pelini's defense.
Martinez may have his doubters, but he ranks seventh nationally in rushing with 140.3 yards a game average, while completing 65 percent of his passes.
His breakout start has also taken the focus off I-backs Roy Helu and Rex Burkhead.
19. Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia
7 of 25
WVU's speedy Noel Devine is lacking one of those signature runs that have defined his career, but the Heisman candidate is having a productive season.
With defenses game planning for Devine, he has still managed to eclipse the 100-yard mark in each of the Mountaineers' first three games, all victories.
Devine is only averaging 4.85 yards a carry and has just two touchdowns. But he's playing within the system and not getting frustrated by the extra focus defenses are paying him.
Saturday's night game against LSU in Death Valley is an opportunity for Devine to remind the nation why he is so electric when he touches the ball.
18. Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina
8 of 25
The super freshman has drawn comparisons to former South Carolina great and Heisman winner George Rogers, and others liken him to Florida great Emmitt Smith. And that's just three games into his career.
Marcus Lattimore's 182-yard, two-touchdown performance against Georgia is what caught everyone's attention.
He's averaging just 4.8 yards a carry, but he's averaging 111 yards a game and has five touchdowns. The fact Lattimore is on this list shouldn't be a shock, considering he was one of the most sought-after players coming out of high school last year.
If he has a big game Saturday at Auburn, Lattimore could become a serious Heisman candidate.
17. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
9 of 25
Through three games, Andrew Luck looks like a guy who is more poised and has the confidence to do anything.
So far, the results are impressive. During a 3-0 start against weak competition, he has thrown for 674 yards and 10 touchdowns with no interceptions. His completion percentage is an impressive 64.3.
The 17th-ranked Cardinal get their biggest challenge of the season this week—and that's not saying much—against Notre Dame.
Last week, he completed 17-of-23 passes for 207 yards and four touchdowns in a blowout win over Wake Forest. The only negative so far this season is Luck hasn't played an entire game because of the dominating performances.
16. John Clay, RB, Wisconsin
10 of 25
John Clay is another preseason Heisman guy who may not be totally living up to the hype, but that doesn't mean he's not having a great season.
Clay is averaging 6.18 yards a carry and is ranked 11th in the nation in rushing with 383 yards. He also has five touchdowns, as he is averaging nearly 21 carries a game.
When the Badgers get into the heart of their Big Ten schedule, Clay will be called on to carry a bigger load for the offense.
He was last year's Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in 2009 and he should be in the discussion again this season.
15. Chimdi Chekwa, CB, Ohio State
11 of 25
The Ohio State cornerback had his best outing of the season in the biggest game so far for the Buckeyes. Chimdi Chekwa had two interceptions and six tackles in the Buckeyes' victory over Miami.
He also has 11 tackles and a forced fumble for one of the nation's best defenses.
Expectations were high for Chekwa this season, and it's nice to see him live up to the hype. You could argue he's played as good as any other corner in the nation so far.
14. Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada
12 of 25
The Wolf Pack quarterback is big and athletic, and if it weren't for Michigan's Denard Robinson, Colin Kaepernick would probably be considered the best dual threat QB in the nation.
Last week's five-touchdown showing against California helped remind people why this guy is so much fun to watch play. He ran for 148 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 181 yards and two more scores in a 52-31 victory.
Kaepernick has greatly improved his accuracy, as he is completing 70 percent of his passes. He could have another big game Saturday as the Wolf Pack face a young BYU defense.
He's currently rated among the top 15 passers and runners in the game.
13. Janoris Jenkins, CB, Florida
13 of 25
While Florida is 3-0, the Gators haven't really been playing the style of football most of us are used to seeing.
One player that has played up to his potential is Janoris Jenkins.
He is unquestionably one of the best cover men in the nation, which is evidenced by his two interceptions this season. He also returned one of those for a touchdown.
Jenkins's aggressive style reminds UF fans and coaches of former Gators CB Joe Haden, the No. 7 pick in this past year's NFL draft. Jenkins is a junior, but he is one of the top draft-eligible prospects in the country.
Don't overlook his tackling ability either. Jenkins will stick his nose in there and make a play. He's also a major threat on the return team.
12. Cameron Newton, QB, Auburn
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The 6'6", 250-pound Cameron Newton has proven to be a perfect fit for Gus Malzahn's offense at Auburn, and he already appears to be the type of leader the Tigers have been lacking at quarterback for a few years.
Newton is another dual-threat quarterback who put up some real big numbers the first two weeks. Now, those numbers dipped a bit in a big game against Clemson, but Newton stepped up big when the Tigers needed him.
He has completed 27-of-47 passes for 525 yards and seven touchdowns, while he's also amassed 309 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Newton will get his biggest challenge of the young season this Saturday when Auburn hosts undefeated South Carolina, which has one of the SEC's top defenses.
11. Tyler Moeller, S, Ohio State
15 of 25
Tyler Moeller is the feel-good story of 2010. He sat out last season after an off-the-field incident in Florida led to a serious head injury.
Now, Moeller has arguably been the Buckeyes' best defensive player this season. The senior has made 16 tackles, including 3.5 for loss, and one sack. He also has one interception.
So, if you took a vote today, Moeller would be the Ohio State's MVP on defense.
10. Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma
16 of 25
Ryan Broyles is Oklahoma's home-run threat. He ranks third nationally in catches (10.3 per game) and sixth in receiving yards (127.3 per game). He has also had 100 receiving yards in six consecutive games dating back to last season.
Broyles' size (5'11", 187 pounds) may appear to be a weakness, but don't be fooled, as he plays like he's 6'3".
He torched the Florida State defenders for 12 receptions, 124 yards, and one touchdown as the Sooners thrashed the Seminoles.
He's also an outstanding punt returner.
9. Greg Jones, LB, Michigan State
17 of 25
Greg Jones isn't the flashiest player in the country, but he shows up every game and gives an All-American performance.
He has 29 tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack as Michigan State looks to improve to 4-0 this weekend.
He's well on his way to repeating as a first-team All-American.
8. Kendall Hunter, RB, Oklahoma State
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Kendall Hunter burst back onto the scene by rushing for 257 yards in the season opener. Since then, defenses have stacked the box to keep him from hurting them. It has cut down on his production, but he's a special talent that will find his yards.
Hunter is still averaging 157.7 yards a game and 7.9 yards a carry for the undefeated Cowboys. He also has six touchdowns and has pulled in 11 receptions.
It's also nice to see he has returned to his 2008 production levels when he earned All-Big 12 honors.
7. Nick Foles, QB, Arizona
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Really, Nick Foles? Yep. The Arizona quarterback is very deserving of this high ranking.
His statistics are solid: 77-of-98 for 877 yards, with five touchdowns and three interceptions. His leadership skills were on full display last weekend as he led the Wildcats from a near disaster to beat No. 9 Iowa, 34-27.
The junior completed 28-of-39 passes for 303 yards and two touchdowns against the Hawkeyes, which has one of the nation's top defenses.
It seems like everyone has one of these sites nowadays, but there is a Heisman hype website for Foles at foles4heisman.com.
6. Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State
20 of 25
Kellen Moore is Mr. Consistency. He just keeps completing passes and winning games.
Moore threw for 370 yards and two touchdowns at Wyoming last week as Boise State extended its winning streak to 16.
Moore gets another national stage this weekend as ESPN's College GameDay will broadcast from Boise, and the game with Oregon State is a must-watch, as the lefty quarterback gets another shot to prove he's a Heisman frontrunner and the Broncos are a serious BCS Championship team.
He's completed 43-of-68 passes for 585 yards and five touchdowns, as Boise is 2-0.
5. Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
21 of 25
Is there a better cover corner in college football today?
Patrick Peterson is the definition of a lock down corner, and quarterbacks almost never look to throw the ball his direction. The 6'1", 222-pound junior is almost a certain first-round pick if he decides to leave early.
Peterson is also one of the country's top kick returners. It's hard to believe he didn't start returning kicks until this season, but he's still averaging 31.7 yards on six kickoff returns and has run back seven punts for an average of 23.9 yards, including an 87-yard touchdown against North Carolina.
He's so physically gifted, you almost expect the guy to play offense for Les Miles also.
4. Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
22 of 25
Ryan Mallett would more than likely be on this list even if he hadn't led Arkansas to a last-second game-winning drive at Georgia last week.
But man, that was a signature moment that Mallett needed. His 40-yard touchdown pass to Greg Childs in the waning seconds helped the Razorbacks avoid a major meltdown and gave Mallett his first road SEC win.
His numbers are impressive. Mallett has completed 70-of-100 passes for 1,081 yards and nine touchdowns in leading the Razorbacks to a 3-0 start.
Mallett looks more like a tight end than a quarterback at 6'6", 238 pounds.
3. Nick Fairley, DL, Auburn
23 of 25
The 6'5", 298-pound Nick Fairley secured a starting job this year and, ever since, has been a dominating force on the Auburn defensive front.
The former tight end has been terrorizing quarterbacks in each of the Tigers' first three games. He was a force last week against Clemson, tallying seven tackles, a sack, three tackles for loss, and four hurries.
He followed his 1.5-performance in the season opener against Arkansas State, by earning SEC defensive player of the week honors for his impressive performance against Mississippi State, which included five tackles, another 1.5 sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery, and three quarterback hurries.
2. Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State
24 of 25
Here is a sure sign of the maturation of Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State's extremely talented but sometimes inconsistent performer: In last week's dismantling of Ohio University, Pryor completed 16 consecutive passes at one point in the game.
That's definitely not what Woody Hayes had in mind when he coached the Buckeyes. But since last year's Rose Bowl victory over Oregon, Pryor has performed very well each week and he's clearly one of the nation's best players.
His statistics entering Saturday's game against Eastern Michigan—51-of-81 passing for 715 yards, six touchdowns, two interceptions and a passer rating of 156.61—may not be the best in the Big Ten, but he's doing what he needs to as Ohio State makes a serious run at going 12-0.
At 6'6", 233 pounds, Pryor is a physical player who makes things happen with both his feet and arm. If the Buckeyes reach the BCS Championship game, it's likely Pryor will give the Buckeyes another Heisman for the trophy case.
1. Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan
25 of 25
Just one day before the 2010 season began, no one outside of Ann Arbor was sure who the Wolverines starting quarterback would be in the opener vs. Connecticut.
Since that first game, it has been clear UM coach Rich Rodriguez made the right choice.
Denard Robinson, a sophomore dual-threat quarterback, exploded onto the national scene by completing 19-of-22 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown. He also led the Wolverines in rushing with 198 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries.
Robinson is now a leading Heisman Trophy candidate as he leads the nation in rushing (183.3 yards a game), and in total offense (410.0). He's also thrown for four touchdowns and rushed for another four scores.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
