Mid-Season College Football Awards

By Camden Joiner on October 15, 2014

The 2014 college football season unfortunately is already half-way over, but that brings us a compelling opportunity to reflect on the wild and unexpected roller coaster that was the first half of this season.

Starting the year unranked, Mississippi State now sits atop the AP Poll at No. 1 and their newly famous quarterback might just win the Heisman Trophy.

Pre-season favorites Alabama, Oregon and Oklahoma each already have a loss and Jameis Winston has surprisingly only missed one game due to suspension. It certainly hasn’t been a kind year to our gambler-addicts.

But without further ado, welcome to the College Football (Mid-Season) Awards!

Image via latimes.com

Heisman TrophyDak Prescott, QB Mississippi State

Several factors have gone into Dak Prescott winning this prestigious half-season award. First, the suspension of Georgia running back Todd Gurley (previously No. 1 on Uloop’s Heisman Watch) potentially has Gurley’s season in doubt.

The other front-runner, Marcus Mariota, has already suffered a big time loss against Arizona and he has still yet to play his biggest nemesis Stanford. What’s left is Dak Prescott who currently is the leader of the undefeated, No.1 ranked team in the nation and certainly one hell of a ball player.

Prescott clearly has a big arm, he’s got nearly 1,500 passing yards and 14 touchdowns already this season. Just when you think you’ve stopped his air assault, he guts you with a QB sneak right up the middle between the tackles.

The 6-foot-2, well over 220 pounds quarterback is incredibly difficult to bring down, as defenses are currently finding out, which might be the reason he also has 576 yards on the ground and eight rushing touchdowns.

Image via footballscoop.com

Coach of the YearDan Mullen, Mississippi State

For much of the same reason Dak Prescott wins the most outstading player award of the mid-season, Dan Mullen wins the award for best coach. The Mississippi State Bulldogs finished 7-6 last season, tied for 5th in the SEC West.

This year they started unranked in the AP pre-season poll, but now at the midway point they somehow find themselves at No. 1. Possibly because the Bulldogs defeated THREE top-10 ranked SEC teams in a row: LSU, Texas A&M and Auburn.

Some of MSU’s success can certainly be contributed to the outstanding play of Prescott, but I think Mullen deserves even more recognition. Mississippi State’s football program has done a complete 360 this fall.

Dan Mullen instilled confidence and a will to win in this year’s team and it obviously shows. The Bulldogs were not intimated by their brutal schedule and still remarkably remain unscathed.

Image via bleacherreport.com

Davey O’Brien AwardMarcus Mariota, QB Oregon

While Dak Prescott has been the most outstanding player, Marcus Mariota has proven to be the best pure quarterback. Mariota has a completion percentage of 70 percent, his quarterback rating is 90, and most importantly he has still yet to throw an interception this season.

His intelligent decision-making and veteran leadership have put Oregon in a position to control their own destiny in regards to the College Football Playoff.

Marcus Mariota is one of the most electrifying football players in the NCAA and a master of the quarterback position. Undoubtedly, he will be the first QB off the board in this year’s NFL draft.

Image via dawnofthedawg.com

Doak Walker AwardTodd Gurley, RB Georgia

Even considering Gurley missing last week’s game vs Missouri, he’s still been the best tailback in the nation so far this season. Todd Gurley has 773 rushing yards and 8 TDs already this year.

Outside of his workload in the backfield, TG3 has a kick return touchdown as well as a 50 yard pass. Gurley’s strength makes him near impossible to be tackled by one defender alone and his speed on the edge can burn even the quickest safety.

However with his recent indefinite suspension, Gurley winning this award at the end of the season is in serious peril. The Dawgs shutout the Tigers 34-0 without Todd, but their eventual game against Auburn won’t be so easy.

Gurley is one of the premiere must-see players in football and hopefully he returns to the field soon enough.

Image via touchdownalabama.net

Biletnikoff Award: Amari Cooper, WR Alabama

The award for the nation’s top wide receiver should go to none other than Alabama’s Amari Cooper. Cooper holds claim to 768 receiving yards and five touchdowns so far this season.

Defenses are often forced to double team the star which opens up several options for the Crimson Tide offense. Many NFL scouts have already deemed Cooper the next AJ Green/Julio Jones and it’s quite easy to see why.

No. 9 is already thrashing many career records at Alabama and the SEC alike and I wouldn’t be surprised if he took over a few more before the season ends.

Image via football.com

Bednarik AwardIfo Ekpre-Olomu, CB Oregon

Ifo Ekpre-Olomu edges Leonard Williams for the nation’s best defensive player award of the mid season. Ekpre-Olomu has been nothing short of a lock down corner.

Smart quarterbacks have decided to limit their throws his way to a bare minimum. Ifo’s speed and quick decision making allows him to constantly make plays on the live ball and stick to the opponent’s receiver like glue.

Shut down corners are one of the most exciting things to watch for football aficionados and Ekpre-Olomu never disappoints.

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