Tigers pace ESPN 'midseason' awards |
Clemson started on top of the college football world this weird 2020 season and hasn't wavered. ESPN's "midseason"
awards reflect just that.
Tigers junior QB Trevor Lawrence is the midseason pick for national player of the year (Heisman/Walter Camp/Maxwell) and therefore top QB (Davey O'Brien). "Lawrence has done nothing to tamp down even an ounce of the 'sure-fire No. 1 NFL draft pick' hype this fall," ESPN's Bill Connelly writes. "Meanwhile, all (Alabama's Mac) Jones has done is average nearly 400 passing yards per game with a nearly perfect Total QBR rating. It's not too late for a player like (Ohio State's Justin) Fields or (USC's Kedon) Slovis to get involved in this race, but the bar is absurdly high." Two-time ACC player of the year Travis Etienne takes the top spot for the Doak Walker (best running back) and Paul Hornung awards (most versatile player). "Etienne's versatility has been downright unfair this season," Connelly said, "and (VT's Khalil) Herbert has been an unforeseen catalyst in Blacksburg, but the competition is about to get a lot stiffer. The Big Ten does not lack for backs." While Clemson's defense has performed as a whole, Connelly didn't have an individual player up for an award just yet. "Meanwhile, I'm realizing that I didn't list a single Clemson defender above even though the Tigers probably have by far the second-best D," he said. "That says a little bit about the by-committee approach they've gotten to employ in blowouts this season and a little about their utterly absurd depth. They are terrifying, and I couldn't pick out their top defender if you made me." Taking out preseason expectations and teams that haven't played, ESPN's SP+ has Clemson on top, followed by Cincinnati, Alabama, BYU and Air Force -- North Carolina, coming off a loss at FSU, and Notre Dame slip in the back of the top-10 at No. 9 and 10 respectively.
Upgrade Your Account
Unlock premium boards and exclusive features (e.g. ad-free) by upgrading your account today.
Upgrade Now
