Fri 7 Mar 2008
Offensive Difference Makers
Posted by Russell Loede under College Football, Elite Impact Players, Heisman
Game Breakers, Game Changers, Elite Players, Impact Players, you name it. Some of the finest athletes you’ll come by, so call it what you want but be sure to call ‘em, these difference makers are the best at what they do in College Football and if you blink you might miss ‘em!
RIVALS.Com Presents To You: The “Scariest Offensive Weapons” In The Game Today! By The Way, Mizzou’s Blazing Speedster Do-It-All Jeremy Maclin Should Be Ranked #1 - But I’ll Leave The Debating Up To You The Readers!
8. USC TB Joe McKnight: He rushed for “only” 540 yards and three touchdowns as a freshman last season, but he never got more than 14 carries and had only 36 rushes through the first seven games. He had touchdown runs of 59 and 51 yards, ripped off a 65-yard run against Illinois in the Rose Bowl and was effective on punt returns and as a receiver. McKnight figures to have a greater role this season.
7. Oklahoma TB DeMarco Murray: The Texas Longhorns can attest to Murray’s game-breaking ability. His 65-yard touchdown run turned the tide in last season’s 28-21 OU victory. That was one of seven touchdowns Murray scored from at least 20 yards. He also scored on kickoff returns of 91 and 81 yards and had a 92-yard touchdown run. He rushed for 764 yards – averaging 6 yards per carry – despite playing much of the season in a reserve role and missing the final three games because of injury.
6. Clemson TB C.J. Spiller: A threat on runs, receptions and returns, Spiller scored five touchdowns that covered at least 44 yards last season - including four of at least 68 yards. He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns while averaging 28.8 yards per return. Still, he touched the ball on fewer than 14 plays from scrimmage per game. If Clemson makes it a point to get him the ball more, he could be really scary this fall.
5. Ohio State TB Chris Wells: Playing defense against Wells is like trying to suppress a sneeze … no, no, no, then he blasts through. If a hard-running 235-pounder plowing ahead isn’t scary enough, he’s also fast enough to break off long runs. He frequently demonstrated that ability last season – his first as a starter. Wells had several runs of more than 40 yards, including touchdowns from 62 yards against Michigan and 65 against LSU.
4. Florida WR Percy Harvin: Although he missed two games, Harvin still rushed for 764 yards and had another 858 yards receiving. He averaged 11.4 yards each time he touched the ball, and each of his six rushing touchdowns covered at least 10 yards. He posted more than 200 all-purpose yards in three games, and that’s without returning kicks. Harvin was a big factor in Florida winning the 2006 national title, and he will be a big factor in the Gators contending in 2008.
3. Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree: If 134 catches, 1,962 yards and 22 touchdowns aren’t scary enough, consider that Crabtree was just a redshirt freshman last season. He’s a big target with the hands of a reliable possession receiver. But he also had 10 touchdown receptions that covered at least 20 yards, which shows he can get deep and/or break tackles and make a short pass a big play.
2. Missouri WR Jeremy Maclin: He was the only player in the nation last season to score touchdowns via receiving, rushing and kickoff and punt returns, and he did it all as a redshirt freshman. In fact, Maclin set an NCAA freshman record for all-purpose yardage with 2,776 yards. Six of his nine touchdown receptions covered at least 24 yards. He returned two punts for touchdowns and also had a 99-yard kickoff return. He averaged almost 14 yards every time he touched the ball.
1. West Virginia QB Pat White/West Virginia TB Noel Devine: One of just three players to rush and pass for 1,000 yards last season, White scored seven touchdowns on rushes of at least 20 yards. That included a game-winning 50-yard burst against Louisville. A better passer than most think, White also threw 14 touchdown passes, including four that covered at least 30 yards. Meanwhile, Devine averaged a whopping 8.6 yards per carry as Steve Slaton’s true freshman understudy last season. Devine had five touchdown runs of at least 10 yards, including a clinching 65-yarder against Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. His season-long run covered 76 yards, and he did this all on just 73 carries. Slaton won’t be around next season, so Devine should be even scarier.
