Campus Confidential

By Adam Abramson
**See my side note below

Adrian Peterson. Gone.

Calvin Johnson. Gone (for the second week in a row).

It has been no secret that I’ve been on the AP bandwagon, so to see him freakishly break his shoulder hurt me too, because my Heisman favorite was gone. Although, I think his pain might be a little more intense…

As far as Calvin, the guy is now the best player in college football. The guy is just an unstoppable force. But there’s just no way he’s putting up the numbers to be in the Heisman running. He didn’t have a catch against Clemson, which pretty much ended his Heisman campaign.

I read an article in the last Sports Illustrated that pointed out something important: Reggie Ball won’t be throwing to him after he goes to the NFL. The guy completes about 50% of his passes. I’ll go out on a limb and say he’ll be Alex Smith’s big target in San Francisco if he goes pro after this year (I know it’s not that big of a limb…but it’s a limb).

I started going through the numbers trying to find replacements and I noticed…this is for sure the year of the sophomore running back. You’ll see what I mean below:

Troy Smith, Ohio State
Quarterback, Senior
The play where he did the spin move off the defender and found Ted Ginn Jr. in the end zone should kick off his highlight reel. With AP out of the mix, he’s gotta be the clear favorite to win the award – he’s only thrown two INTs this year.
Last week: 15-23, 220 yards, 4 TDs, vs Indiana
This week: versus Minnesota

Brady Quinn, Notre Dame
Quarterback, Senior
Not only is he putting up good numbers, he’s creating miraculous moments on the field that people are going to remember. He’s 34th in the country in passing, but the facts that he is leading a winning Notre Dame team coupled with the wins over Georgia Tech, Michigan State and UCLA offset his shortcomings.
Last week: 27-45, 304 yards, 2 TDs
This week: at Navy

Ray Rice, Rutgers
Running back, Sophomore
I said it last week and I want to say it again. I was on this guy’s scene before almost anyone else was. Okay, thanks. In all seriousness, he and Rutgers are blowing up. He has 12 touchdowns this year, he’s gotta beef that up, quick. Also, he’s one of three guys to have over 200 carries this year (201), I hope he doesn’t start to break down against Louisville and West Virginia.
Last week: 39 carries, 225 yards, 1 TD at Pittsburgh
This week: versus Connecticut

James Davis, Clemson
Running back, Sophomore
This guy is a tough runner. If you missed him destroy Georgia Tech, tune in Thursday night to the Virginia Tech-Clemson game. He might rip off VT linebacker Brenden Hill’s face and step on it. I know he hasn’t eclipsed 1,000 yards yet (he only has 139 attempts), but he’s a touchdown machine with 16. Freshman backfield mate CJ Spiller (who is absolutely nasty) is keeping him from being higher on the list.
Last week: 21 carries, 216 yards, 2 TDs vs Georgia Tech (career high yards)
This week:at Virginia Tech, Thursday night

Steve Slaton, West Virginia
Running back, Sophomore
He’s been on here before, and he’s back. He’s fourth in the country in rushing, but he only has nine touchdowns. He’s got four big games: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Louisville and Rutgers and if he is a monster in all of those games, he has to be involved in the mix. I also love that he averages 7.01 yards per carry.
Last week: 19 carries, 128 yards, 1 TD at Connecticut
This week: idle

Making moves:

Iam Johnson
Running back, Sophomore
This guy is absolutely money. Fifth in the country in rushing, first in rushing touchdowns (18), 6.99 yards per carry. He’s the west’s version of Garrett Wolfe, except he is younger and isn’t the nation’s leading rusher (he’s also like 4 inches taller).
Last week: 27 carries, 183 yards, 4 TDs at Idaho
This week: idle

Defensive bruiser:

Ameer Ismail, Western Michigan
What a nose for the backfield: 2.29 tackles for loss per game (tops in the country). He’s responsible for opponents losing 92 yards this year (that’s 8 yards shy of an entire field, mind blowing, I know). He tackles on his side of the line of scrimmage too (60 in 7 games). But, last week, he was just the man and he was recognized as the Walter Camp Football Foundation National Division I-A Defensive Player of the Week. Atta boy.
Last week: 13 tackles, SIX SACKS and an interception returned for a touchdown at Ball State
This week: versus Eastern Michigan

**I am filing from Blacksburg. I got off work and drove through the night to watch the Virginia Tech-Clemson game. So, tomorrow's weekend preview might be abbreviated, we'll see what I can crank out.