Published September 28, 2012 - 9:30am
NEW: Discuss this topic in the Google+ community for SEC fans.
New to SDS this season is the Bo Jackson Award. Throughout the season we will track the performance of the top players in the SEC, free of bias against age or position. Simply put, we’re looking for the best player in the best conference in college football.
A reminder, this award is in no way affiliated with Bo Jackson himself, the name is a tribute to one of the greatest athletes in American history.
Aaron Murray – QB, Georgia
It’s all looked very easy so far for Aaron Murray, and that’s because it’s all been very easy so far for Aaron Murray. Georgia’s opponents are a combined 4-8 on the season. Still, Murray has looked absolutely filthy (10 touchdowns throwing, three running), but I look filthy when I go over to the elementary school and dunk on the 8 foot rims. Now, if he put up these same kinds of numbers over the next four games (Tennessee, South Carolina Kentucky, Florida) we’re talking about the Heisman winner and more importantly, the Bo Jackson Award Winner.
Jadeveon Clowney – DE, South Carolina
Only a sophomore, former mega-recruit Clowney is already one of the most dangerous players in the SEC. We saw some flashes of brutality last season and you can tell the game is slowing down for him this season. His pressure on this list might be a week early, but South Carolina plays Kentucky this weekend, and Kentucky might be the worst football team in the history of the SEC. He’s going to wreck them. It’s going to look like the end of Step Brothers.
Jarvis Jones – LB, Georgia
While the rest of his teammates were playing Florida Atlantic, Jarvis Jones was sitting on the sideline smoking a celebratory cigarette, reminiscing about what he did to Missouri the week before. He recovered in time for Vanderbilt where he recorded 7 tackles, including three for a loss and a sack. Just another day in the life of the best defensive player in the SEC. On the season he has 4.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for a loss and a game changing interception against Missouri. If he continues to light it up over the next four games, you might get sick of hearing about Jarvis Jones.
Johnny Manziel – QB, Texas A&M
Johnny Manziel needed a nickname and he’s got one: Johnny Football. I love it. Johnny Football threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more last week against South Carolina State. Sure, South Carolina State is a clown college, but he’s been doing this all season. On the year Johnny Football has seven passing touchdowns and five rushing touchdowns. This week he’s going against the Lindsey Lohan of College Football, Arkansas. Johnny Football is going to pour gasoline all over that dumpster fire.
In the Discussion
Eddie Lacy – RB, Alabama, AJ McCarron – QB, Alabama, Tyler Russell – QB, Mississippi State, Todd Gurley – RB, Georgia, Jeff Driskel – QB, Florida, USC, Brad Wing – P, LSU, Johnthan Banks – CB, Mississippi State, Marcus Lattimore – RB, South Carolina
Johnny Football is an incredible name, but the Lindsey Lohan of college football is even better.