By Skeeter Smith
As we gear up for what looks to be a fantastic finish for this football year, I’ve decided to do a mid-season superlative for players, coaches, and teams that have stood out so far this season.
Best QB – Cam Ward, Miami
Cam Ward has been excellent to start the season. He currently leads college football in passing touchdowns and ranks second in yards. In just one season, he has completely flipped the script for the Hurricanes, establishing them as the team to beat in the ACC.
Best RB – Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
You know you’re doing something right on the field when your name is mentioned alongside legends like Barry Sanders. With 1,248 yards and 17 touchdowns this season, Jeanty has been by far the most electric player in college football. If he continues at this pace, a Heisman trophy could soon be added to his resume.
Best WR – Tre Harris, Ole Miss
While many aspects of Ole Miss’s season have been disappointing, Tre Harris has not been one of them. He has been nearly unguardable all year, accumulating 912 yards and 6 touchdowns thus far.
More Sports News
Best DL – Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
Nine sacks in seven games sounds incredible, but that’s exactly what Donovan Ezeiruaku has achieved to start the season. More than just a pass rusher, he has also racked up 49 tackles, leading the Eagles at this point in the season.
Best LB – Jay Higgins, Iowa
Jay Higgins is Mr. Do-It-All for Iowa’s dominant defense this year, whether it’s rushing the passer, dropping into coverage, or playing the run. He currently leads the Big Ten in tackles with 62 on the season and has created plenty of turnovers for the Hawkeyes, including two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Best DB – Nohl Williams, Cal
Nohl Williams has quickly made a name for himself with a tremendous start to the season. With a nation-leading 6 interceptions, no one has been a better ball hawk than Williams. If he keeps up this pace, we may witness a historic season from this fifth-year player.
Best Coach – Curt Cignetti, Indiana
Don’t look now, but the Hoosiers have been crushing teams to start the year. After going 3-9 last season, Curt Cignetti has completely turned things around in his first year with a 6-0 record. With a manageable schedule to finish the season, Cignetti and Indiana are positioned for a shot at the playoffs, as crazy as it sounds.
Biggest Surprise Team – Vanderbilt
The Commodores entered the season with a win total of 2.5 and have already exceeded that at the halfway point with a 4-2 record. If that isn’t enough to get you excited, they also pulled off the biggest upset in college football this season, knocking off top-ranked Alabama at home.
Biggest Disappointment Team – Ole Miss
This seemed like the year for Lane Kiffin, as he assembled the most talented team he’s had during his tenure in Oxford. What appeared to be a sure playoff team going into the year has quickly turned into a squad needing significant outside help to have a chance at a playoff berth, currently sitting at 5-2 (1-2 in the SEC).
Best Team – Texas
No one has looked more dominant than the Longhorns to start the season. The Longhorns have cruised through the first half without being challenged by anyone on their schedule. This weekend, they’ll face their biggest test against Georgia, where they can really make a statement to the rest of the nation.
