The 2007 college football season is now officially underway, and before we get too far along, it’s time for me to finish off my preview of the season with my individual player highlights. For people that aren’t huge college football fans (and you don’t care who the sleeper in the Sun Belt Conference is), these guys are a good place to start if you want to learn more about the game.

I’ll start where a lot of people start- with the Heisman candidates. For those who don’t know, the Heisman Trophy is the most celebrated individual award in college football. It’s awarded to the most outstanding player, and even though it’s much like an MVP award, it’s considered something seperate (The Maxwell Trophy and Walter Camp Award are for the MVP). The award generally goes to offensive players, although defensive players who also contribute on offense and special teams have won. These players are not listed in any particular order, they are just a group of potential winners.

Heisman Trophy

• Steve Slaton, RB- Jr., West Virginia- One of my favorite players in the country, this guy averaged 7-yards-per-carry last year en-route to 1,744 yards on the season. He came out of nowhere two seasons ago after not even being the most highly touted freshman RB on his team. Slaton has good vision and incredible speed, and his 16 TD’s showed he has a nose for the endzone. Playing for a national title contender as part of an offensive juggernaut should keep him in the public’s eye until the end of the season, and help his Heisman chances. He’d probably put up even bigger individual numbers if it wasn’t for…
• Pat White, QB- Jr., West Virginia- Consider the fact that White was the Big East Offensive Player of the Year, and third in the conference in rushing…Behind Ray Rice and teammate Steve Slaton. Third in the conference in rushing as a QUARTERBACK. On top of that, he silenced many critics last season by proving he could also effectively put the ball in the air. West Virginia’s offense will never call on him to throw 25 or 30 times a game, but White’s dangerous feet allow him to be effective when he is asked to pass.
• Ray Rice, RB- Jr., Rutgers- One of the key players in Rutgers’ sudden and unexpected rise is Ray Rice. Not the strongest or fastest running back, his great vision, balance, and determination set him apart. He rushed for 1,794 yards last year and 20 touchdowns, the greatest season ever for a Rutgers running back. If the Rutgers passing game can be effective at all and keep defenses from stacking up in the box, Rice should be able to repeat last season’s numbers as the featured member of this offense. Need further proof? Look no further than the 184 yards and 3 touchdowns Ray put up in last night’s season opener. Media attention should be strong for Rice all season, as he tries to help prove that Rutgers is here to stay.
• Brian Brohm, QB- Sr., Lousiville- That’s right- Heisman candidate number four, and we still haven’t left the Big East Conference yet. Had he entered the NFL draft last year, Brian Brohm would have been a first round draft pick. Instead, he chose to return to Lousiville and take one final shot at a national championship and the Heisman Trophy. Brohm is considered by many to be the top NFL prospect at QB. Smart and strong, he has plenty of offensive weapons around him. Brohm led the Big East in passing yars (3,049) and passing touchdowns (16, compared to only 5 interceptions), all while missing two games due to injury.
• John David Booty, QB- Sr., USC- What would a Heisman list be without the quarterback for USC? In his second season as a starter, Booty will lead one of the country’s top teams towards the national title. With the media fixation on the Trojans and their championship hopes, it’s hard not to put Booty in the Heisman mix. He threw for 3,347 yards and 29 touchdowns last year…in his first year as a starter. While there is no doubt Booty is one of the best quarterbacks in college football, a lack of experienced receivers may prevent him from putting up the same numbers as last year. However, too much talent is there to count him out.

• Darren McFadden, RB- Jr., Arkansas- McFadden is so good that he essentially drove a pass-happy offensive coordinator and a top QB recruit out of town. But who can blame Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt for handing the ball to what may be the most complete back in the game? McFadden has explosive speed and power, pass catching ability, and throwing ability (he threw for three touchdowns last season). He won the Doak Walker Award (for top running back) and was runner-up for the Heisman last year. So what do you do to follow up a sophomore year like that? Probably run for over 1,600 yards and 16 touchdowns again and win the Heisman Trophy. Everyone knows McFadden’s name, but the question will be whether the team around him will be good enough to keep McFadden in the Heisman hunt. While a championship team is not a requirement for this individual award, it definitely helps. This will likely be McFadden’s last shot at the trophy and an SEC title. His mother announced Darren would leave for the NFL after this year, and while Darren tries to avoid that distraction and says he’s only worried about this season, nobody expected him to stay for his senior year anyway.

• Colt Brennan, QB- Sr., Hawaii- Brennan will put up Heisman numbers. There is no doubt about that. Reference last season: 5,549 yards, 58 TDs, 72.6% completion rate. Are you kidding me? Colt will try to exceed those numbers this season and lead Hawaii to the BCS bowl promised land. The main obstacles for Brennan in his Heisman chase are the team he plays for and their schedule. The Hawaii offense operates in the run-and-shoot under head coach June Jones- a system built to put up huge passing numbers. The naysayers will forever scream that Brennan’s numbers are simply a result of the system in which he plays, taking away from his actual ability. Hawaii might go undefeated this season, but a soft schedule may prevent them from being considered a top team. In addition, the fact that most of their games will be on when many people in the country are fast asleep means that a lot of fans, media people, and Heisman voters will not get to see Colt Brennan play. The numbers might be there for Colt in his final season, and he will live on in the record book, but there are probably too many obstacles for him to take home the Heisman Trophy.Others to watch for:
  • DeSean Jackson, WR- Jr., California- Jackson is an explosive, highlight-reel wide receiver and kick returner. You’ll see him on Sportscenter and he’ll make the Cal Bears dangerous, but it’s tough for receivers to get enough touches on the ball to make them legitimate Heisman contenders.
  • Ian Johnson, RB- Jr., Boise St.- If you don’t know who Ian Johnson is, you may have just emerged from a six-month coma. Johnson was the hero of the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, the greatest football game I’ve ever seen, and the leader of everyone’s favorite underdogs, the Boise State Broncos. This guy is made for a movie after playing through a collapsed lung during the season and proposing to his girlfriend (a cheerleader) on the sidelines immediately after scoring the winning touchdown in OT of one of the biggest bowl upsets ever. He’s not all fluff though, as he rushed for 1,714 yards on 6.2-yards-per-carry and 25 touchdowns last year. He deserves to be a top Heisman contender, but playing for a non-BCS team will likely hold him back.
  • ColtMcCoy, QB- So., Texas- All McCoy did last year was have one of the best freshman seasons ever for a quarterback (note his 29 touchdowns). If the Texas running game can be productive, it should help Colt McCoy (hey, the name alone should get him added Heisman points) contend for the Heisman trophy and lead Texas in their national championship chase.
  • Percy Harvin, WR- So., Florida- As a true freshman, Harvin was a big reason that the Gators were national champs. Look for him to get even more touches on the ball this year. This is a guy who can line up anywhere on the offensive field and be a homerun threat. His versatility should help him get some Heisman attention, although he still might be a year away from being a serious contendor (especially given an inexperienced QB throwing to him).
  • The Michigan Trio- Chad Henne, Mike Hart, and Mario Manningham are all Heisman hopefuls heading in to the season. Henne, in his fourth year as a starter, leads an offense that should have no trouble scoring. Mike Hart is a downhill runner who is tough and smart, but he may not be flashy enough to capture Heisman voting attention. Mario Manningham is a big receiver with big-play ability, and should be Henne’s main target.

Breakout Players to Watch

Here are some players poised for breakout years, so keep a close eye on them.

• Adarius Bowman, WR- Sr., Oklahoma State- It might not be a breakout season if you have already put up 1,181 yards and 12 TDs (his numbers last season), but Bowman still doesn’t get the attention he deserves. That may change this year. Scouts already like his NFL potential as a big receiver (6′4″, 220 lbs) who is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. Oklahoma State’s offense is monstrous, and having weapons around him should open up the field for Bowman. He should be on the national radar this year.
• P.J. Hill, RB- So., Wicsonsin- Big Ten fans already know all about Hill, but does the rest of the country? They will this year as Wisconsin looks to win their conference and even more. Hill is a big, powerful back who many compare to the best running back Wisconsin has ever seen, Ron Dayne. If he can stay healthy, Hill could improve on last year’s numbers, in which he led the Big Ten in rushing. Hill is coming into this season in the best shape of his life, and that should help him lead Wisconsin’s offense to the Big Ten title and possibly to the National Championship.
• Brandon Ore, RB- Jr., Virginia Tech- Ore already ran for over 1,100 yards last year and scored 16 TDs. If Sean Glennon and the Hokie passing game can improve over last year’s struggles, it should open up more holes for Ore on the ground. Ore is a steady, strong back who hits holes hard and has just enough speed to break big runs. The national eye will be on Tech all year after the shooting tragedy, so Ore should get plenty of media attention.
• Chris Wells, RB- So., Ohio State- Chris “Beanie” Wells landed at Ohio State last year as possibly the top running back recruit in the nation. Splitting time with Antonio Pittman, Wells showed his talent hadn’t been over-hyped. With Pittman in the NFL now, Beanie should have the backfield to himself as the main ball carrier for the Buckeyes. He has the speed to run away from guys and the strength to bowl over defenders. If the OSU offense can recover from their personnel losses enough to stay balanced, Wells should deliver on all his promise.
• Derrick Williams, WR- Jr., Penn State- Can you really be a breakout player after already having broken out once before? Williams came crashing onto the national scene as a freshman two years ago, but he fell back a little last year. With a more experienced quarterback and learning experience, Williams should put up numbers more similar to his freshman year. He shed some excess weight he had last year, and that should allow him to be extremely explosive again. He’s similar to Florida’s Percy Harvin in that he’s a dangerous receiver but he can also line up in the backfield and take handoffs.
• Justin Forsett, RB- Sr., California- Forsett averaged 6.4 yards-per-carry last year and has run for over 1,600 yards in his three seasons with the Bears. With Marshawn Lynch out of the picture and a strong offense around him, this is Forsett’s time to shine as the featured back.

Freshman to Watch

These guys may not have the experience, but they should have the talent to make a name for themselves with a big freshman year.

• Joe McKnight, RB, USC- The Trojan backfield may be a busy and crowded place, but it will make room for this uber-recruit. Stolen away from LSU at the last minute, McKnight was one of the top recruits in the country. There’s a reason for that. Need some proof? Go watch some clips of McKnight as a high school senior. McKnight will make an impact this year, and by the time he leaves USC, some people might be saying, “Reggie who?”
• Eric Berry, CB, Tennessee- It’s yet to be seen how much Berry will play as a true freshman, but if he gets playing time he will help the Volunteers in their quest to win the SEC east.
• Jake Locker, QB, Washington- This resdshirt freshman has been hailed as a savior who will return the Washington Huskies to glory. Will that happen? It’s hard to say, but he should be the real deal. He’s a dual-threat in the air and on the ground and is very poised for a QB in only the starting phases of his career.
• Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois- Nobody has ever questioned Illini head coach Ron Zook’s ability to pull in top recruits. He’s managed to do this even at Illinois, and Benn is his latest prize. “Regis,” as many call him, is big and fast, and already has the star receiver attitude. He should help quarter Juice Williams improve and may start the turn-around at Illinois.

Other Players to Keep an Eye On

Finally, here are some other guys to keep an eye on. They haven’t been mentioned in any of the other categories, but should be some of the best players in the country.

• Tim Tebow, QB- So., Florida- It’s undeniable that Tebow had a positive impact on the Gators last year and helped them win a title. However, he’ll be asked to play a more prominent role this year. Taking over as the full-time starter, Tebow will need to prove he can be an efficient passer at the college level. He has all the tools to be a great quarterback, now he’ll need to add experience to his resume
• The Clemson backfield- With all the questions about the Clemson Tigers heading into this season, there is one thing we know for sure: This team can run the ball. James Davis and C.J. Spiller are a dynamic one-two punch who are sure to rack up yards and touchdowns. Davis is the bigger, stronger back who can also make defenders miss and break down the field. Spiller is smaller but very slippery and is one of the fastest players in college football. Finding a way to get both of these guys enough touches could be key to the Tigers’ season.
• Yvenson Bernard, RB- Sr, Oregon State- Bernard is a player I think is very underrated, and his Beavers are one of my sleepers in both the Pac-10 and on the national scene. Bernard will be asked to be the leader of this team, as the Beavers try to find a new starting quarterback. He’s not the fastest back, but he is patient, strong, and never gives up. He already ran for 165 yards and 2 touchdowns in last night’s opener against a good Utah team.
• Jonathan Stewart, RB- Jr., Oregon- In 2005 Stewart was a heralded recruit who was expected to put up big numbers for the Ducks. It never happened. For whatever reason, be it injuries or a struggling quarterback, Stewart has yet to become the player many thought he could be. This could be the year that changes. Stewart had fewer than 20 touches a game eight times last season. A new offensive coordinator could mean a stronger commitment to getting the ball in his hands and letting him reach his long-ballyhooed potential.
• Andre Woodson, QB- Sr., Kentucky- Kentucky was proof last year of how deep the SEC really is. The leader of that Wildcat team, Andre Woodson, will again hold the reigns. Big, strong, and able to throw outside the pocket, Woodson has suddenly become one of the top NFL prospects at quarterback. He threw for 3,515 yards and 31 touchdowns last year, while only throwing 7 interceptions. Don’t be surprised if he puts up similar numbers this year.

I could go on and on highlighting things you don’t want to miss, but that should be a good start. The only thing left for me to do is to make the mother of all predictions- Who will win the National Championship? Here it is, folks, my final prediction:

BCS National Championsip Game: USC Trojans 17- Virginia Tech Hokies 10

Call me crazy, but that’s my pick. It’s hard to go against the Trojans. College football is an unpredictable beast, but USC just has too much talent. Barring major injuries, even if they lose a game, I think they will play for the championship. After the Trojans things are pretty wide open. There are a lot of very good teams in the top ten who could contend for the championship. I think Virginia Tech, with the eyes of the nation watching them and mourning their losses, will go into Baton Rouge on September 8th and beat the LSU Tigers before winning the ACC and playing for the National Championship. Call me a homer, but I stand by my pick.

So what does all this mean? Well, quite simply, it means that Pete Carroll will be able to recruit another 35 five-star players, and the USC dynasty will roll on.

Enjoy the season, thanks for reading, and don’t forget to come back for more.

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