College Football Power Rankings: The Top 10 Players in the Nation at Midseason
Well brothers and sisters, it's here. The mid-point of the college football season of 2010 is finally here.
So far investigations, upsets, and Mark Dantonio have highlighted yet another fantastic season, and you wanna know what the best part is?
We're only half way there!
Woah! We're halfway there, WOAHH, livin' on a prayer!
Sorry, got a little excited and channeled my inner Bon Jovi.
But seriously folks, let's take a look at the Top 10 players in college football so far this season.
Sound good?
Great.
Remember, the journey of a thousand steps begins with the first step...
*EDIT: I inserted Alshon Jeffery with A.J. Green as well as Cameron Newton with Terrelle Pryor after popular response from the readers.
No. 10—Greg Jones, Michigan State, LB
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Greg Jones, the true definition of just a football player.
Only a three-star prospect coming out of high school, Jones has made an incredible impact at Michigan State being the unquestioned leader of a team that needed leadership on that side of the ball.
Jones has 45 tackles on the season, and while that's not as impressive as his overall impact, Greg has eclipsed the 400 tackle mark this season and will again rack up his third 100 tackle season at season's end.
What many won't see on the stat sheet is the hustle and motivation that Jones brings to the huddle of the Spartans.
When I need a defensive stand made, I would want this guy standing in my middle linebacker position ready for the ball carrier.
Jones deserves to be on this list.
No. 9b—A.J. Green, Georgia, WR
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Green is the example of a game-changer.
In Georgia's first four games, the Bulldogs lacked any sort of vertical passing game for quarterback Aaron Murray and UGA seemed to be anemic on the offensive side of the ball.
Insert Green (after a sloppy loss at Colorado) and the Georgia Bulldogs turn into the New England Patriots as they blow out Tennessee 41-14.
Green is averaging 107.5 yards per game and is on pace for great numbers even while missing a quarter of the season.
Whether you say the stats don't back it up or not, this guy belongs on this list and he'll continue to display his game-changing ability during the second half of the season.
No. 9a—Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina, WR
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I'm sad to announce that I made a mistake... But I'm happy to say that I can swallow my pride and admit that my B/R readers had my back.
Alshon Jeffery has proved to be a dominant force thus far in the SEC as he carried the Gamecocks to their upset win over Alabama this past Saturday.
Jeffery has averaged 125 yards per game and a touchdown, as compared to A.J. Green who has averaged 107.5 yards and 1.5 touchdowns.
Do note though, that Jeffery has played in EVERY game while Green has only played in two games.
Don't get me wrong, I think Green is still one of the best if not the best wide receiver in the country, but Jeffery deserves the spot as the No. 1 wideout and I will reward him with that.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No. 8—Mark Ingram, Alabama, RB
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There's a trend being established if you've noticed that SEC players are dominating this list.
It will continue as Alabama's Mark Ingram, last year's Heisman Winner, finds his place on the list at No. 8.
Now I will state, I think Ingram will move up and he should, but at midseason I believe his stock fell and he doesn't have the same edge he had last season.
Not discounting Ingram's talent by any means, he's just in a crowded backfield and he's just struggled a tad.
Ingram is still heating up as he scored twice against Florida on two clinching touchdown runs, so the potential is there to return to the top five if Ingram gets on a roll in the second half of this season.
No. 7—Ryan Mallett, Arkansas, QB
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Ryan Mallett, who was deemed a Heisman front-runner and possible National Title contender the week BEFORE the Alabama-Arkansas game, has faded a little, but folks let's not discount this guys, because he's a player.
Although Mallett had two interceptions that cost Arkansas the game against the Crimson Tide, he has recovered nicely as he sports 17 touchdown passes and over 1,300 passing yards on the year.
Mallett has scouts ooh-ing and ah-ing about the loads of potential he displays and his own improvement over the past two seasons has only added coal to the Hype Train.
Talent, potential, and leadership—this young man displays all three of these characteristics and is one of the best in all of college football.
No. 6—Andrew Luck, Stanford, QB
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Look mom! Another quarterback!
Yep, you nailed it. The quarterbacks are about the take over this list, and as they rightfully should as this truly has been the Year of the Quarterback in college football.
Luck has had clutch wins this season over Notre Dame and USC, and also had a tough loss at Oregon. Luck has a future, and a very bright one at that.
Luck is on pace for well over 3,000 passing yards and could even notch 40 total touchdowns.
These are gaudy stats and Luck has done even better than expected shouldering the entire offensive load this season after the departure of Toby Gerhert to the NFL in the offseason.
Luck would be higher if he had taken down the mighty Oregon Ducks, but Luck could easily be 5b.
No. 5—Patrick Peterson, LSU, DB
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Charles Woodson anyone? Patrick Peterson has generated just as much buzz as any offensive player so far thus season and he isn't done yet folks.
After a punt return touchdown against West Virgina, Peterson dropped the ball and struck the Heisman pose (as pictures above), which only added to the legend and prompted fans to support/promote Peterson like never before.
But it's deserved. Peterson is as lock-down of a corner as a player can be and he hasn't allowed any receiver outside of A.J. Green to gain any leverage on him.
What does this mean?
In short, Peterson averages 15 yards per punt return and is as close to Charles Woodson as we've seen in the game since his 1997 Heisman campaign.
No. 4—LaMichael James, Oregon, RB
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Two words: Combo Breaker.
Even if LaMichael James did break the quarterback love-fest that was going on, he belongs in the top five and is the undisputed No. 1 running back this season.
James has run for 850 yards on the ground and is projected to tackle the 1,700 yard mark and add 200 yards in receiving as well. Tack on a possibility of 20 touchdowns and James is on pace to put up Reggie Bush numbers, minus the whole housing and money thing...
Besides that, James could and possibly should be No. 1 on this list, keep an eye on James in the Heisman race, especially if the Ducks remain undefeated.
No. 3—Kellen Moore, Boise State, QB
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I wanna see more Moore! That's the complaint of many Heisman voters as Kellen Moore has continued his dominance over all things College Football as his Boise State Broncos are on pace to go undefeated and possibly play in the BCS National Title Game.
This honestly could be the biggest game in College Football History and if Boise could compete and beat a Ohio State/Oregon/Nebraska/Alabama then that could make the strongest argument for a playoff system yet.
Aside from my logic, Kellen Moore has posted 16 touchdowns and only a single interception on the year. One. Uno.
The definition of consistency and clutch, Moore led his Broncos down for a game-winning drive against Virgina Tech in the opening game of the season.
This only adds to the case of Moore being clutch, and as much as I'd like to make him No. 1, I have to realize the competition and I will wait to see if Boise survives Nevade and Co. before I jump fully on the Kellen Moore for Heisman bandwagon.
No. 2b—Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State, QB
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Pryor is good.
What more is there to add?
A 70 percent completion percentage, on pace for 3,000 passing yards, on pace for 30 or more touchdowns.
All these stats are fantastic and the best part is that he is the quarterback of a famous program that just so happens to be No. 1 in the country as well.
Not bad, eh?
However Pryor doesn't have the incredible stats that blow you away and he has considerably more talent around him than the player that is No. 1.
Pryor is good, and everything he does is good. But to be No. 1 you have to be great at everything you do.
That is exactly what the No. 1 player this season has done.
And without further adieu...
No. 2a—Cameron Newton, Auburn, QB
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Fans, Parents, and Children of all ages, I'm sad to announce that I made a mistake (again).
*Gasp*
I left Mr. Cam Newton off of my list, and sorrowfully regret this.
But on the bright side, many of my B/R fellows caught my mistake and I felt it was needed that I write in Newton and Jeffery as they deserved to be on this list as much as anybody does.
Newton is in contention to win the Heisman at the rate he is moving and it looks like the only thing that could stop him is Alabama.
Newton leads the SEC in pass efficiency and has accounted for a whopping 21 touchdowns and shows no signs of letting up.
Cam has burst on to the scene and made impact felt.
If your looking for a Heisman darkhorse to make a run at it as we hit the second semester of the season then this is your guy to watch.
No. 1—Denard Robinson, Michigan, QB
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Here he is folks, the 'Nard Dog himself, Denard Robinson.
Was this really a surprise?
Not quite.
But Robinson's stats are heading for the record books if he keeps up this pace. Let me throw some numbers out for you...
Robinson is on pace to pass for 2,500 yards, rush for 2,000 yards, and rush for 18 touchdowns while throwing for 16 more.
These numbers are outrageous! For a player to even be in the running for 2,000-2,000 campaign is remarkable in it's own.
Robinson is the undisputed No. 1 on this list and has helped his cause by leading his Wolverines to a 5-1 record after a tough loss to Michigan State in the Battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe.
No fear though, Robinson looks to get back on track and should be in for even more highlight reel plays the second semester of the college football season.
Gage Arnold is a student at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and is a Writing Intern for Bleacher Report.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
