College Football Awards Finalists 2011: Complete Rundown of CFB Finalists

Believe it or not, the 2011 college football season is going to be over very soon. It won't be long now before we're watching conference championship games and cursing the bowl matchups arranged by the BCS.

It also won't be long before we're celebrating the winners of the 2011 Home Depot College Football Awards, which will be revealed on Dec. 8. As it is, the finalists for said awards were announced on Monday, and that means we have things to discuss.

There are nine awards and 27 finalists to talk about. If you're looking to be educated on them, you must read on.

Chuck Bednarik Award (College Defensive Player of the Year)

Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

No surprise here. I want to say that Hightower is the heart and soul of the nation's best defense, but the truth is that he's one of many fine players the Crimson Tide is lucky to have on defense. He has 70 tackles and three sacks this season, and is a worthy finalist for this award.

Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU

The Tigers wreak an awful lot of havoc on defense, and it seems like Tyrann Mathieu is always right in the middle of it. The man they call "Honey Badger" was actually in Heisman Trophy discussions early on in the season, so it makes sense that he would at least be up for the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Devon Still, DT, Penn State

It's not all bad in Happy Valley. Devon Still has been a revelation this year, piling up 47 tackles, four sacks and 14 tackles for loss. The Nittany Lions have a beastly front seven, and Still is the biggest beast of the bunch.

Biletnikoff Award (Nation's Most Outstanding Receiver)

Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

Justin Blackmon won this award in 2010, and here he is again. He hasn't been quite as dominant this season as he was last year, but he still leads all wide receivers with 15 touchdown receptions. Dude is a machine.

Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma

Bit of an interesting choice here, seeing as how Broyles is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL. That said, you have to award 83 receptions, 1,157 yards and 10 touchdowns somehow, and nominating Broyles for the Biletnikoff Award is a good way to do it. Besides, how can you not pull for a guy who is one of the most prolific pass-catchers in college football history?

Robert Woods, USC

Robert Woods is fourth in the country with 99 receptions, and he also has 1,179 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. He's caught two touchdown passes in four different games this season. No argument here.

Lou Groza Award (Nation's Most Outstanding Placekicker)

Randy Bullock, Texas A&M

He's made 21 of his 25 field goals and 51 of 53 extra points. Amazingly, he's 9-of-11 from 40-49 yards. That's not too shabby for a college kicker.

Dustin Hopkins, Florida State

He's made 20 of his 24 field goals, and all 41 of his extra points. He has a long of 53 yards this season. He's not Sebastian Janikowski, but he's pretty good.

Caleb Sturgis, Florida 

He's made 21 of his 25 field goals, and is one of just four kickers to make three field goals from beyond 50 yards this season, with a long of 55 yards. Dude can kick.

Ray Guy Award (Nation's Most Outstanding Punter)

Ryan Allen, Louisiana Tech

Ryan Allen has booted it away 74 times this season, and is averaging 46.4 yards per punt with a long of 72. His leg is better than yours and mine combined.

Steven Clark, Auburn

Steven Clark's average punt of 40.4 yards is just okay, but he tends to place his punts pretty well. He has placed 30 of them inside the 20-yard line, which is tied for second-most in the country.

Jackson Rice, Oregon

Yes, Oregon has a punter. A darn good one, too. Jackson Rice has only booted it 40 times this season, but he is averaging 45.6 yards per punt. Not bad for a guy who is rarely needed.

Maxwell Award (College Player of the Year)

Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

He's the best quarterback prospect since the dawn of man, so it's no surprise that Andrew Luck is up for the Maxwell Award. He's among the leaders in virtually every passing category, and has led the Cardinal to a 10-1 record. Something tells me this award is his for the taking.

Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State

This hasn't felt like Kellen Moore's best season, but it probably is once you consider the fact that he doesn't have the weapons he's used to having. Without him, Boise State wouldn't be nearly as good. Plenty of other teams would love to have Moore and his 35 touchdown passes.

Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Trent Richardson is a monster. He's fourth in the country with 1,380 rushing yards and fifth with 20 rushing touchdowns. There are running backs with better numbers, but they don't have to go against SEC defenses.

Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award (Nation's Best Quarterback)

Robert Griffin III, Baylor

Kinda surprised RG3 didn't make the cut for the Maxwell Award, as he's been brilliant all season. He has over 3,500 yards passing this season, and has completed just under 73 percent of his passes. All totaled, he's scored 38 touchdowns this season.

Case Keenum, Houston

To say that Case Keenum has put up video game numbers this season actually doesn't quite cut it. I don't care which system you use; you're not going to throw 38 touchdown passes and just three interceptions. His 38 touchdowns lead the country, and so do his 4,269 passing yards.

Andrew Luck, Stanford

If he's a finalist for the Maxwell Award, he better be a finalist for the Davey O'Brien Award.

Outland Trophy (Nation's Most Outstanding Interior Lineman)

David DeCastro, Stanford

David DeCastro keeps Andrew Luck safe from men who don't want to be safe. When he's not doing that, he's paving the way for the nation's most underappreciated rushing attack.

Barrett Jones, Alabama

There are some pretty dangerous defensive linemen in the SEC, and it's Barrett Jones' job to make sure they don't devour any of his teammates. He's done a fine job of that this season. Both Trent Richardson and A.J. McCarron will vouch.

Devon Still, Penn State

If he's good enough for the Chuck Bednarik Award, he's good enough for the Outland Trophy.

Jim Thorpe Award (Nation’s Most Outstanding Defensive Back)

David Amerson, NC State

David Amerson leads the country in interceptions, and it's not even close. He has 11 this season; the next closest guy has seven.

Mark Barron, Alabama

Mark Barron is an awesome football player. His numbers (60 tackles, two picks) are solid, but they don't quite do him justice. He's a true difference maker, and an invaluable member of Alabama's amazing defense.

Morris Claiborne, LSU

Honey Badger gets all the hype, but Morris Claiborne is a better player. Throwing the football in his direction is a really bad idea, and he's proved as much with his four picks this season. He'll be a top 10 pick on draft day.

Doak Walker Award (Nation’s Most Outstanding Running Back)

Montee Ball, Wisconsin

Montee Ball is second in the country with 1,466 rushing yards, and he leads all running backs with 25 touchdown carries. The next closest guy has 22. Running backs don't get much more productive than Ball.

LaMichael James, Oregon

LaMichael James won this award last year, and here he is again despite missing two games this season with a nasty arm injury. He's one of the most dangerous players in the country, and he would be leading it in many categories if he hadn't gotten hurt.

Trent Richardson, Alabama

See above, apply it here. Richardson's a stud.