MikeBigg said:
I noticed a lot of "home" picks...but that's somewhat understandable because of familiarity. IMy "frontrunners"
Offensive (alphabetical)
Bruce Eugene (GSU) ---put up big numbers two previous seasons
Tavarius Jackson (Bama State) -- qb for defending SWAC champs
Vernon James (SU) --Good open field ability and shiftiness...lots of experience
Charles Spillers (Alcorn)--catches the ball well and plays with poise.
Kedrick Williams (Bama State)--good runner with inside toughness and escapability.
Defensive (alphabetical)
Jamaal George (SU)--ball hawking safety who make plays on ball like wide receiver.
Cletis Gordon (JSU)...NFL receiver playing db in college...will be d1AA All-American
Leonard Patten (GSU)..most dominant defensive player in SWAC and possibly all of 1AA. A beast on the line of scrimmage!
MB,
I think you and I agree pretty much on this post.
The Bama St duo of Jackson and Williams are the front runners. They may take votes away from each other depending if they both have lights out season. I think Williams will be a slight better than Jackson next year. He has NFL potential. So he may step it more.
Bruce Eugene of GSU will make some noise if he is fully recovered and makes the MENTAL comeback as well. I know Michael Hayes was never the same after his knee injury. Some of it had to do with our Qb play though.
SU'sJC Lewis has the potential to be a POTY. But I think that will be his in 06 if he plays well in 05 setting himself up for that O6 campaign. Our system will allow him to put up numbers.
SU's Vernon has too many other WRs to share the ball with.
Alcorn's Spiller needs to have a QB step up for him to shine again.
Aries Nelson of Valley is the darkhorse. It will depend on how many wins Valley gets this year. If his stats get inflated because he is on the comeback trail every game and they still lose then he want garner enough votes. Now if he pulls a McNair on the SWAC and Valley contends then he may have a chance.
Defense
This is JSU's Cletis Gordon's to lose. Unless Patten of GSU has a bunch of sacks or SU's Jarmaul George has more int's than Gordon then I suspect it will be his to keep.
My darkhorse will be whomever steps up to be AAMUs best defensive player. They seem to have someone rise up every year.
We all know alot of this will come down to what players on the best teams have the best year. It aint always fair to pick like that, but hey we know that's how it has happened. That may be the only thing that stops Cletis Gordon from winning the DPOY award. Heck if JSU plays him at WR he could be SWAC MVP. LOL. He may be the best overall player in the SWAC. Too bad Bell is there.
