College Football Awards Show: Who Deserves the Hardware?

Tomorrow night, ESPN will broadcast their annual college football awards show live from the Atlantic Dance Hall at the Walt Disney Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The ceremony, which kicks off at 7 p.m. ET, recognizes and honors some of the top performers from this past season with prestigious honors such as the Maxwell Award, the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Davey O’Brien Award.

Auburn’s Cam Newton, Stanford’s Andrew Luck, Oregon’s LaMichael James and Boise State’s Kellen Moore, this year’s four Heisman finalists, will all be in attendance as nominees for various awards along with many other of college football’s big names such as LSU’s Patrick Peterson, Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon and Wisconsin’s John Clay.

Auburn’s Gene Chizik has already been announced as the recipient of the Coach of the Year award after leading the Tigers to a 13-0 season, an SEC Championship and a berth in the national title game in just his second season at the school.

While we know Chizik will be taking home some nice hardware, there are still nine other awards up for grabs.

Let’s take a look at which players should hoist up the trophies tomorrow.  

Chuck Bednarik Award: Nick Fairley, Auburn

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 04: Nick Fairley #90 of the Auburn Tigers cheers during pregame warmups before facing the South Carolina Gamecocks during the 2010 SEC Championship at Georgia Dome on December 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Ge

Awarded For: Best Defensive Player

Finalists
Da'Quan Bowers, Clemson

Nick Fairley, Auburn

Patrick Peterson, LSU

It’s hard to get your fair share of accolades when you just so happen to play on the same team as Cam Newton, but that didn’t seem to faze Auburn’s Nick Fairley one bit this year.

The 6‘5", 300-pound tackle was college football’s most dominant defensive lineman this season and routinely overpowered some of the best offensive lines in the country.

Fairley finished with 21 tackles for a loss and 11 sacks on the year and drew both praise and fear from anybody who had the unenviable task of trying to block him.

There were those around the SEC who chastised Fairley for his overaggressive playing style but that only goes to show the type of impact the junior really had. When your good at what you do, the cynics will look for any reason to try and bring you down.

Biletnikoff Award: Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

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STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 05: Wide receiver Justin Blackmon #81 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys warms up before the college football game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Boone Pickens Stadium on September 5, 2009 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Cowboys defe

Awarded For: Best Receiver

Finalists
Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma

Alshon Jeffery,  South Carolina

Justin Blackmon came out of relatively nowhere to explode onto the college football scene in 2010.

After catching just 20 balls in 2009, the redshirt sophomore stepped his game up and became the go- to-weapon for Oklahoma State’s high-powered offense in 2010.

Blackmon made Cowboy fans forget about Dez Bryant by hauling in 102 passes for 1,665 yards. He also led the country with 18 touchdown receptions.

Blackmon was the main reason this Oklahoma State team, which had lost a good amount of key players from the 2009 squad, was able to achieve so much success this season.

Lou Groza Award: Dan Bailey, Oklahoma State

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STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 5: Kicker Dan Bailey #95 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys kicks for the extra point as Darius Dewberry #52 of the Georgia Bulldogs tries to block in the fourth quarter of the game at Boone Pickens Stadium on September 5, 2009 in S

Awarded For: Best Kicker

Finalists
Dan Bailey, Oklahoma State

Danny Hrapmann, Southern Miss

David Ruffer, Notre Dame

All three of these kickers could make their separate cases for the award.

David Ruffer was a perfect 15-15 on field goal tries but did miss three extra points.

Danny Hrappman led the country with 26 made field goals, hitting on 86 percent of his tries.

With a high powered offense on his side, Dan Bailey led the country with 137 total points, hitting 24 of his 28 field goal attempts and converting 65 extra points.

Ray Guy Award: Chas Henry, Florida

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 30: Chas Henry #17 of the Florida Gators raises his helmet in vicrtory following the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at EverBank Field on October 30, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Awarded For: Best Punter

Finalists
Drew Butler, Georgia

Ryan Donahue, Iowa

Chas Henry, Florida

After a prolific four year career in Gainesville, Florida’s Chas Henry capped things off as a senior with his best season yet.

Henry led the nation with a 46.4 per punt average and helped flip the field on numerous occasions for a Gator offense that struggled at times this season.

Jim Thorpe Award: Patrick Peterson, LSU

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BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 25: Patrick Peterson #7 of the Louisiana State Univeristy Tigers runs for a touchdown against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Tiger Stadium on September 25, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Ima

Awarded For: Best Defensive Back

Finalists
Prince Amukamara, Nebraska

Tejay Johnson, TCU

Patrick Peterson, LSU

Prince Amukamara may end up getting this award based off of seniority. But if he does, it won’t be well deserved.

Not to take anything away from Amukamara, who is a terrific player in his own right. But the fact is, nobody can compare with LSU’s Patrick Peterson.

Peterson has every trait you look for in a top flight coverman. He’s up there on that utmost level with the recent greats like DeAngelo Hall, Champ Bailey and Charles Woodson.

The 6‘1", 220-pound junior has the size of a safety and the natural skills of a cornerback. When combined, the result is one of the best defensive backs to grace the game of college football in nearly a decade.

Peterson is one of the rare defensive gamechangers.

If he doesn’t win the award, it would be an injustice.

The darkhorse is of course Tejay Johnson, who could be picked based on all the success the TCU defense had this year. While he’s probably one of the more unheralded players in the college game, it’s hard to justify singling out Johnson when the TCU defense has been the definition of a unit this season.

Outland Trophy: Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin

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TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 1: Lineman Gabe Carimi #68 of the Wisconsin Badgers sets to block against the Tennessee Volunteers in the 2008 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2008 in Tampa, Florida. The Volunteers won 21 - 17. (Photo by Al Mess

Awarded For: Best Interior Lineman

Finalists
Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin

Rodney Hudson, Florida State

Nate Solder, Colorado

Wisconsin already has Joe Thomas’ 2006 Outland Trophy sitting in their trophy case but the school might have to get ready to make room for another one.

Gabe Carimi, who took over for Thomas at left tackle in 2007, has helped pave the way for the Badgers rushing attack these past four years.

Carimi, a first team All Big Ten selection in 2009, assumed the senior leadership role along with fellow trenchmen John Moffitt as they overpowered opposing defenses this season.

The 6‘6", 325-pound former high school All-American created space for big John Clay and other Badger backs to rush for nearly 250 yards a game and a combined 46 touchdowns on the season.

Doak Walker Award: LaMichael James, Oregon

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CORVALLIS, OR - DECEMBER 4: LaMichael James #21 of the Oregon Ducks celebrates a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the game at Reser Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Corvallis, Oregon. The Ducks beat the Beavers 37-20 to likely go on to the BCS Championshi

Awarded For: Best Running Back

Finalists
John Clay, Wisconsin

Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State

LaMichael James, Oregon

He’s definitely not the biggest back out there, but 5‘9", 185-pound LaMichael James seems to make more big plays than any other runner in college football.

James followed up his eye opening 1,500 yard rushing season as a freshman in 2009 by topping himself as a sophomore.

The human highlight reel with blazing track speed covered over 1,600 yards on the ground and found the end zone 22 times for an Oregon offense which scored more points than any other team in the entire country.

James was the key that ignited Oregon’s spread attack. He accounted for more rushing yards per game than any other back in the country.

Maxwell Award: Cam Newton, Auburn

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 04: Quarterback Cam Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers celebrates after their 56-17 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks during the 2010 SEC Championship at Georgia Dome on December 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox

Awarded For: Best All-Around Player

Finalists
Andrew Luck, Stanford

Kellen Moore, Boise State

Cam Newton, Auburn

Is there even any need for debate?

Newton will likely go down as one of the most exciting, explosive and captivating players in college football history and the junior will probably only have one season’s worth of work on his resume.

But that one season has certainly been a doozy.

49 total touchdowns, over 4,000 total yards and most importantly 13-0.

Say what you want to say about Newton, but in that description you better have the word unstoppable.

From a sheer electricity standpoint, we may not come across another college player like this anytime soon.

Cam Newton has crossed that threshold from being just another great player to now being a figure, an icon of sorts.

Blowing kisses to your critics, jumping into the student section for a winning embrace, making confetti angels during the postgame celebration in Atlanta - we’re all waiting to see what you do next Cam. You kept your smile through scandal, held your poise through adversity and maintained an unbelievable level of excellence all the way through.

You truly deserve to be celebrated for all you’ve done this season.

Davey O’Brien Award: Andrew Luck, Stanford

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PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Andrew Luck #12 of the Stanford Cardinal in action against the Oregon State Beavers at Stanford Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Awarded For: Best Quarterback

Finalists
Andrew Luck, Stanford

Kellen Moore, Boise State

Cam Newton, Auburn

While Newton may be the best “all around” difference maker in college football, when it comes to pure quarterback play, there’s no on in the game that can hold a candle to what Stanford’s Andrew Luck accomplished this season.

Luck, who has dethroned conference counterpart Jake Locker as the media’s trendy new No. 1 pick darling, was nothing short of sensational this season.

Luck has helped elevate the Stanford program to national relevancy as the leader of the 11-1 Cardinal powerhouse.

This season, the star sophomore totaled for over 3,000 yards through the air and hit 28 touchdown strikes while completing over 70 percent of his passes, one of the most efficient marks in the country.