Justin Blackmon and 8 Players Who Will Have Big Games in Week 7

No one's going to remember Russell Wilson's showing against the Indiana Hoosiers this weekend. Putting up big numbers in a tough game is how legends are born.

Week 7 of the 2011 college football season presents challenges for several of the nation's elite playmakers. The question is, which ones will answer the bell?

Here are the eight players who will be dominating ESPN's highlight reels Saturday night.

Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State Cowboys

Landry Jones embarrassed the Texas Longhorns last Saturday, throwing for 367 yards and three touchdowns.

The Texas secondary left more open space than the Longhorns' fans did as they filed out of the stadium at halftime.

Unfortunately for Texas, there's no rest for the weary. The Longhorns face an even more prolific passing attack this week in the form of the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

The Cowboys have the No. 2 passing offense in the country, while the Longhorns passing defense is ranked just 55th.

Cowboys receiver Justin Blackmon has accrued 534 yards and six touchdowns in just five games. However, these ostensibly high numbers are still short of his production last season, when he averaged 148.5 yards per game and caught 20 touchdowns.

This will be a huge game for Blackmon. Cowboys quarterback Brandon Weeden will find him early and often.

Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina Gamecocks

It's hard to believe, but South Carolina Gamecocks star wideout Alshon Jeffery has yet to record a 100-yard receiving game this season, despite having eight such games last year.

However, Jeffery's production surged last weekend when Connor Shaw replaced Stephen Garcia at quarterback. Jeffery caught six passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns (he only has four on the season). Shaw wants to keep his job, so he'll keep looking at his safest target, which is Jeffery. 

The Mississippi State Bulldogs have a stingy pass defense, having only given up seven touchdowns through the air all season. Shaw won't have many open targets, so he'll throw it up to Jeffery again and again.

Jeffery will victimize the Bulldogs defense like no receiver has all season.

Robert Griffin III, Baylor Bears

Robert Griffin III is the surprise name on the Heisman short list right now.

After five games, Griffin has completed 80 (that's right, 80) percent of his passes for 1,520 yards and 19 touchdowns, with only one interception.

This weekend, the Baylor Bears face the Texas A&M Aggies, who currently rank dead last in the FBS in passing defense. While those numbers are somewhat skewed (as Texas A&M has played a difficult early schedule), the Aggies still have a bad pass defense.

If Griffin can overcome what will be the toughest crowd he's faced all season, he should have a very good game. I expect another huge (~350 yards, four touchdowns) performance from Griffin, even if the Aggies win.

Tajh Boyd, Clemson Tigers

What happens when you match a high-powered offense with a porous defense? The Maryland Terrapins will find out on Saturday, though they'd probably rather not.

Clemson Tigers quarterback Tajh Boyd has been the most integral part of the Tigers first 6-0 start in a decade. Boyd has 1,742 yards, 15 touchdowns, and just two interceptions on the season.

He will cement his place in Clemson fans' hearts this weekend by bouncing back from his frightening injury with a huge performance in an ACC road game.

Facing an opponent that ranks just 84th in total defense, Boyd will have no difficulties in College Park. Look for wideout Sammy Watkins to continue his impressive freshman campaign with a few touchdowns, too.

Denard Robinson, Michigan Wolverines

The Michigan State Spartans are currently ranked first in total defense and third in scoring defense. Color me unimpressed.

The Spartans have only faced one good offense, that of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and they lost that game 31-13.

Denard Robinson has been an offensive machine, passing for 206 yards per game and rushing for 134 yards per game. He put up 446 yards on a respectable Notre Dame defense.

The Spartans may have a pretty good defense, but they will not stop the Michigan Wolverines, nor impede Denard Robinson's Heisman hopes.

He will put up big numbers, just as the Alabama Crimson Tide did on the Spartans at the end of last season.

Michael Dyer, Auburn Tigers

The Florida Gators run defense has not looked good the last two games.

After giving up 226 rushing yards to the Alabama Crimson Tide two weeks ago, the Gators gave up 238 to the LSU Tigers on the ground last Saturday.

Florida faces an elite running back this week in Michael Dyer. Dyer is currently No. 16 in the country in rushing yards per game, despite facing several tough defenses.

Dyer has rushed for over 100 yards against all three SEC opponents (and the Clemson Tigers) Auburn has faced. He will easily eclipse that mark again this week.

Darron Thomas, Oregon Ducks

The Oregon Ducks have been playing angry since their opening defeat to the LSU Tigers.

After outgaining the Tigers in the loss, the Ducks offense has continued to dominate, averaging 539 yards and 50 points per game.

With tailback LaMichael James out with a dislocated elbow, even more responsibility will fall on quarterback Darron Thomas. The Arizona State Sun Devils mediocre defense, ranked 41st in the country in yards allowed, will not be able to stop the Ducks (but then again, who can?).

With a little help from speedy running backs Kenjon Barner and De'Anthony Thomas, the Ducks offense will continue to fly, even without James. Look for Thomas to pass more than usual, and perhaps get some significant rushing yards himself.

Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech Hokies

Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Logan Thomas has made headlines for very different reasons the past few games.

Two weeks ago he was the Achilles' heel in the Hokies' loss to the Clemson Tigers, while last Saturday he was the hero in the thrilling victory over the Miami Hurricanes, completing 23-25 passes for three touchdowns and scoring two more on the ground.

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons have already given up over 300 yards passing twice this season. They don't even have the athletes the Hurricanes have, so Thomas should be poised for another big game. Last week imbued him with confidence, the likes of which he has not yet had in his shaky first season starting.

It appears he turned a corner against Miami, and he's not looking back. The Demon Deacons have been the surprise team in the ACC so far at 4-1, but they will be no match for the Hokies. Thomas will be the third quarterback to throw for over 300 yards against Wake Forest.