Poinsettia Bowl 2010: Is Ronnie Hillman the Next Marshall Faulk?

So, I have been tracking down the Poinsettia Bowl over the week and first off, I have to say that the staff at Qualcomm Stadium are the real winners of this match because they crushed Mother Nature's wrath and turned back 1.5 million gallons of water.

Ten Commandments-worthy material, I tell you.

But after watching the San Diego State Aztecs destroy the Navy Midshipmen by the tune of 35-14, I have to wonder: Is this Ronnie Hillman guy the second coming of Marshall Faulk?

And I ask this because, as you all know, Faulk was—before Hillman arrived on the scene—San Diego State's last great tailback. He put up some very good records, but one of those records sunk faster than a battleship on Thursday night.

Hillman dashed for 228 yards—the same amount in a game against Missouri earlier this season—against Navy. It broke the old school bowl record of 164 yards rushing by Marshall Faulk in the 1991 Freedom Bowl, broke the previous Poinsettia Bowl record of 129 yards rushing by Navy's Adam Ballard in 2005 and set a new school single-season rushing record by a freshman.

"It was very surprising," Hillman said of his efforts which also marked the sixth time this season he gained at least 150 yards. "But the O-line, like I said, you could put a high school senior back there and he would have 1,000 yards behind this line. I can't say enough about them."

Nonetheless, with 1,532 yards under his belt, Hillman became just the second tailback in history to rush for over 1,500 yards as a freshman at San Diego State.

These numbers have to make you think: This guy may not just be the next Marshall Faulk, he may be even better than Marshall Faulk.

Hillman is better than Faulk in one category: He has won a bowl game. Faulk evens that out with a Super Bowl ring.

Besides the honor of winning Super Bowl XXXIV, we all know the reputation Faulk has had as an NFL player. Seven Pro Bowls, three-time first-team and second-team All-Pro respectively, his No. 28 jersey retired on the rafters of the Edward Jones Dome and so on and so forth.

While, admittingly, it's much too early to say if Ronnie Hillman can not only equal those plaudits but exceed them, it's performances against teams like Navy that make you wonder: Boy, this kid might be better than Marshall Faulk.

Navy is a run-oriented team and San Diego State outrushed them.

Maybe the Middies could have used Hillman on their team. This young lad is the real deal.

28 carries, 228 yards and three touchdowns. You know, you don't win Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year for nothing; you must have done something right.

I think the country is going to have to get used to watching Hillman, who won offensive MVP honors. Although, credit must come from him staying humble and pointing out that the defense also pitched in.

"Defense, again," Hillman said after the game. "It was a statement. They did a great job, stopping them the whole game."

If you think you've seen enough of the next Marshall Faulk, well, you ain't seen nothin' yet.