College Football Predictions: Favorites to Win Top Awards of 2011

Throughout the course of the 2011 college football season we will see who emerges as the top players in the country. The preseason favorites to win the top awards typically do just that, but occasionally a player will come from nowhere to claim an award. 

A lot can happen during the season, but the majority of the elite players heading into this season will shine in 2011.

For this article, we'll discuss the favorites to win the award for best coach, running back, wide receiver, quarterback and best overall player.  

Home Depot Coach of the Year Award

The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award is given to the top head coach in college football. It's tough to say who will win this award, but it usually goes to a coach who carries his team through adversity and excels above expectations. Here are the three favorites to win this award. 

Frank Beamer — Virginia Tech Hokies 

The Hokies must replace their three biggest offensive stars from 2010, which won't be easy. The ACC is down this year, which means Virginia Tech has a good chance to win it all despite going through so many changes. If Beamer can pull this team together and storm through the ACC to a BCS Bowl, then that's worthy of coach of the year honors. 

Dan Mullen — Mississippi State Bulldogs 

The Bulldogs may be the fourth or fifth best team in the SEC West, but they're still a top 25 caliber team, and it's all because of Mullen. With an experienced group ready coming off an impressive 9-4 record in 2010, Mullen has a chance to guide these Bulldogs to major upsets in the SEC. If he manages to do that, then he will deservingly win the award for top heap coach. 

Luke Fickell —Ohio State Buckeyes 

Fickell isn't the man the Buckeyes want as head coach, but he'll have to do for now. Given everything this program has gone through recently, if Fickell can find a way to win the first ever Big Ten Championship game with some of his top players suspended for the first five games and a quarterback controversy that is sure to last all season, then it will be justified to give him this award.   

Prediction — Beamer wins it 

Fred Biletnikoff Award

The Fred Biletnikoff Award is given to the top wide receiver in college football. Michael Crabtree is the only player to have ever won the award twice, but the chances of another player joining him in that rare class are pretty good. Here are the three favorites to win this award. 

Justin Blackmon —Oklahoma State Cowboys

The 2010 Biletnikoff Award winner returns for another season, looking to tear apart Big 12 defenses once again. Blackmon had 111 receptions for over 1,600 yards and 20 touchdowns. The likelihood of him dominating like this again is very high, because this speedy receiver is too tough to stop. 

Ryan Broyles — Oklahoma Sooners 

The Sooners star wideout led the nation in receptions a year ago with 131, and he will be a high target for Landry Jones again in 2011. Broyles is exceptionally fast and a great route runner with solid hands. Oklahoma needs him to be performing at high level in 2011 if they expect to live up to the preseason No. 1 ranking.

Alshon Jeffery — South Carolina Gamecocks 

The only way Jeffery will win this award is if he can find the end zone more often in 2011. A year ago, Jeffery was fourth in the country in receiving yards, but he only scored nine touchdowns. He will still be a top target for whoever the Gamecocks quarterback is, but scoring touchdowns will be the key to him winning this award. 

Prediction — Blackmon wins it  

Doak Walker Award

The Doak Walker Award is given to the top running back in the country. It's not such a rarity for a player to win this award two years in a row, and the chances of it happening in 2011 are highly likely. Here are the three favorites to win the award. 

LaMichael James —Oregon Ducks

The 2010 Doak Walker Award winner enters the 2011 as the best running back in the country and a front runner for multiple awards. The departure of a few key offensive starters in Oregon means the Ducks will need James to be all that and more this year. James is hungry for revenge and he wants a National Championship, which will fuel him to dominate the stat sheet once again. 

Trent Richardson —Alabama Crimson Tide

There may not be another player in the country that will be counted on more by his team than Richardson. With the the starting quarterback job up in the air, the only sure thing on offense for the Crimson Tide is Richardson. We've seen what he can do in a limited role, and now that his carries will probably double expect Richardson to run wild in the SEC. 

Marcus Lattimore — South Carolina Gamecocks 

The surprise player for the Gamecocks last season, Lattimore stole the show in the SEC and helped lead South Carolina to their first ever SEC East title. In 2011, the Gamecocks expect Lattimore to be one of the leading rushers in the country, and to help them hopefully win the entire SEC this time. 

Prediction — Richardson wins it 

Davey O'Brien Award

The Davey O'Brien Award is given to the best quarterback in the country, and there won't be a repeat winner in 2011. There are some very good quarterbacks in the college game right now, which means this will be a very interesting race to watch all season. Here are the three favorites to win the award. 

Kellen Moore —Boise State Broncos 

One of the top quarterbacks in the country a year ago, Moore lost his top two receivers to the NFL. He is a very accurate quarterback, which means he'll put it right where his new receivers will want, it's just up to them to bring it in. With an easier schedule than most, Moore is going to put up outstanding numbers in every game.

Andrew Luck —Stanford Cardinal

The consensus No. 1 pick for the 2012 NFL Draft, Luck will be among the top quarterbacks for 2011. He would have won this award last year if it weren't for a stellar dual threat quarterback that stole the show. Like Moore, Luck is also losing his leading receivers, but he spreads the ball around enough like Peyton Manning and Drew Brees that isn't too big of deal.

Landry Jones —Oklahoma Sooners 

With one of the best receivers in the country, Jones is a prime candidate to be crowned as the best quarterback in the country. He was second in the country last year in passing yards, and he'll be near the top again in 2011. If he can beat the elite teams on his schedule, then he has a great shot at this award. 

Prediction – Luck wins it  

Heisman Memorial Trophy

The most prestigious award in all of college football, the Heisman Memorial Trophy is something all skill players covet. There are talented players at every position in the game, but realistically a quarterback or running back is going to win the Heisman. Here are the three favorites to win this award. 

Andrew Luck — Stanford Cardinal 

The best quarterback in college football may have lost his head coach and top receivers, but his skills are superb and he'll still flourish in 2011. The Cardinal had to adjust to a lot of change in the offseason, but with Luck they are set for a great season. His talent is far above everyone else, but to win this award he'll have to find a away to crush everyone on his schedule and win games. Voters love winners. 

Trent Richardson —Alabama Crimson Tide 

The Crimson Tide are relying on Richardson to deliver big in 2011. He's never had over 145 carries in his career, but now that he is the feature back he will rush for well over 200 carries. Richardson is capable of busting a big run on any play, and he will lead the country in rushing yards and touchdowns in 2011, as he will be the focal point of the Crimson Tide's offense. 

Landry Jones — Oklahoma Sooners 

When you're the quarterback of the preseason No. 1 team and you're set to be in the top three of passing yards, you're going to be considered for the Heisman. The voters love winners, which means that Jones has to carry the Sooners all season and make sure they stay undefeated. His numbers will be Heisman worthy, but he must deliver in the big moments for the Sooners.

Prediction — Richardson wins it