Final Payton Watch Update

[smallcollegefbfan]

Here is the final update. Buchanan Award outlook is coming soon. I am also starting a poll where everyone can vote and it will end on Thursday to see who AGS would award the award to!

WATCH LISTS UPDATE- NOVEMBER 21, 2010

MY 20 PAYTON WATCH CANDIDATES
QB Matt Barr, Western Illinois, Sr.- 203-329, 3079 yds, 26 TD, 5 INT, 61.7%, 163.4 pass eff., 279.9 yds/gm, 90 carries, 407 yds, 4.5ypc, 5 TD in 11 games.
QB Mike Brown, Liberty, Jr.- 223-351, 2956 yds, 23 TD, 11 INT, 63.5%, 149.6 pass eff., 268.7 yds/gm, 160 carries, 854 yds, 5.3ypc, 9 TD, 77.6 yds/gm, 4 catches, 20 yds in 11 games.
QB Pat Devlin, Delaware, Sr.- 179-266, 2158 yds, 14 TD, 2 INT, 67.3%, 151.3 pass eff., 215.8 yds/gm, 52 carries, 110 yds, 2.1ypc, 1 TD in 10 games.
QB Matthew Johnson, Bethune-Cookman, Sr.- 151-231, 2053 yds, 14 TD, 5 INT, 65.4%, 155.7 pass eff., 186.6 yds/gm, 136 carries, 700 yds, 5.1ypc, 7 TD, 63.6 yds/gm in 11 games.
QB Denarius McGhee, Montana State, Fr.- 208-330, 2940 yds, 22 TD, 5 INT, 63.0%, 156.8 pass eff., 267.3 yds/gm, 72 carries, 176 yds, 2.4ypc, 2 TD in 11 games.
QB Josh McGregor, Jacksonville, Jr.- 205-326, 3049 yds, 32 TD, 7 INT, 62.9%, 169.5 pass eff., 277.2 yds/gm, 51 carries, -15 yds, 2 TD in 11 games.
QB Jeremy Moses, Stephen F. Austin, Sr.- 303-499, 3658 yds, 34 TD, 4 INT, 60.7%, 143.2 pass eff., 332.5 yds/gm, 14 carries, -76 yds in 11 games.
QB DeAndre Presley, Appalachian State, Jr.- 177-280, 2223 yds, 18 TD, 4 INT, 63.2%, 148.3 pass eff., 202.1 yds/gm, 132 carries, 753 yds, 5.7ypc, 11 TD in 11 games.
QB Scott Riddle, Elon, Sr.- 274-405, 3231 yds, 28 TD, 6 INT, 67.7%, 154.5 pass eff., 323.1 yds/gm, 41 carries, -43 yds, 1 TD in 10 games.
QB Casey Therriault, Jackson State, Jr.- 255-437, 3436 yds, 31 TD, 8 INT, 58.4%, 144.1 pass eff., 312.4 yds/gm, 101 carries, 164 yds, 1.6ypc, 10 TD in 11 games.
QB Chris Whitney, Villanova, Sr.- 158-245, 1818 yds, 17 TD, 5 INT, 64.5%, 145.6 pass eff., 165.3 yds/gm, 134 carries, 502 yds, 3.7ypc, 10 TD in 11 games.
RB Eric Breitenstein, Wofford, Jr.- 216 carries, 1359 yds, 20 TD, 6.3ypc, 123.5 yds/gm, 3 catches, 34 yds in 11 games.
RB Nate Eachus, Colgate, Jr.- 317 carries, 1871 yds, 21 TD, 5.9ypc, 170.1 yds/gm, 17 catches, 160 yds, 9.4ypc, 1 TD in 11 games.
RB Henry Harris, Southeast Missouri State, Sr.- 285 carries, 1627 yds, 17 TD, 5.7ypc, 147.9 yds/gm, 18 catches, 182 yds, 10.1ypc, 1 TD in 11 games.
RB Taiwan Jones, Eastern Washington, Jr.- 176 carries, 1344 yds, 11 TD, 7.6ypc, 134.4 yds/gm, 21 catches, 324 yds, 15.4ypc, 3 TD, 3 PR, 28 yds, 9.3avg, 13 KR, 255 yds, 19.6avg in 10 games.
RB Andrew Pierce, Delaware, Fr.- 234 carries, 1149 yds, 12 TD, 4.9ypc, 104.5 yds/gm, 21 catches, 159 yds, 7.6ypc, 3 TD in 11 games.
RB Nick Schwieger, Dartmouth, Jr.- 242 carries, 1133 yds, 14 TD, 4.7avg, 125.9 yds/gm, 1-2, 62 yds, 1 TD, 28 catches, 210 yds, 7.5ypc in 9 games.
RB Frank Warren, Grambling State, Sr.- 211 carries, 1431 yards, 15 TD, 6.8ypc, 143.1 yds/gm, 17 catches, 142 yds, 8.4ypc, 1 TD, 2 KR, 33 yds in 10 games.
WR Tysson Poots, Southern Utah, Sr.- 85 catches, 1230 yards, 11 TD, 14.5ypc, 111.8 yds/gm in 11 games.
OT Ben Ijalana, Villanova, Sr.

Notes: The only addition is Dartmouth RB Nick Schwieger is fifth nationally with 125.9 yards per game.

Even though we only vote for our top five here is a look at how I think the top 10 in voting might look and my personal top ten.

PROJECTED TOP TEN

1. QB Jeremy Moses, Stephen F. Austin, Sr.- 303-499, 3658 yds, 34 TD, 4 INT, 60.7%, 143.2 pass eff., 332.5 yds/gm, 14 carries, -76 yds in 11 games.

Moses probably walks away with the award in a very close vote with no candidate seeming to be the heavy favorite. He broke just about every SLC and SFA passing record out there and proved to be among the most consistent players in FCS during his career.

2. QB Matt Barr, Western Illinois, Sr.- 203-329, 3079 yds, 26 TD, 5 INT, 61.7%, 163.4 pass eff., 279.9 yds/gm, 90 carries, 407 yds, 4.5ypc, 5 TD in 11 games.

3. RB Nate Eachus, Colgate, Jr.- 317 carries, 1871 yds, 21 TD, 5.9ypc, 170.1 yds/gm, 17 catches, 160 yds, 9.4ypc, 1 TD in 11 games.

Eachus led the nation in rushing yards per game and we all know how well a former Colgate running back did in the voting when he had gaudy numbers like this several years back.

4. RB Henry Harris, Southeast Missouri State, Sr.- 285 carries, 1627 yds, 17 TD, 5.7ypc, 147.9 yds/gm, 18 catches, 182 yds, 10.1ypc, 1 TD in 11 games.

Harris was the leader of SEMO’s surprising season and finished with an impressive 5.7 yards per carry. It is too bad he isn’t bigger as he would be a potential top 150 draft pick if he was not so small. Despite his size, his play has been huge as he can burn you with speed and has been a workhorse for his team.

5. RB Taiwan Jones, Eastern Washington, Jr.- 176 carries, 1344 yds, 11 TD, 7.6ypc, 134.4 yds/gm, 21 catches, 324 yds, 15.4ypc, 3 TD, 3 PR, 28 yds, 9.3avg, 13 KR, 255 yds, 19.6avg in 10 games.

Jones should finish in the top five for sure as a returning All-American and because of his dominance since returning from injury. I almost put him at the fourth spot and I believe there is as good of a chance he finishes fourth as he does fifth. It could be close.

6. QB Scott Riddle, Elon, Sr.- 274-405, 3231 yds, 28 TD, 6 INT, 67.7%, 154.5 pass eff., 323.1 yds/gm, 41 carries, -43 yds, 1 TD in 10 games.

Riddle has capped off a great career as the SoCon’s leading passer and would be much higher if he had won the SoCon or led his team to a playoff berth.

7. QB Casey Therriault, Jackson State, Jr.- 255-437, 3436 yds, 31 TD, 8 INT, 58.4%, 144.1 pass eff., 312.4 yds/gm, 101 carries, 164 yds, 1.6ypc, 10 TD in 11 games.

Therriault would win the award had he played in the CAA or SoCon and done what he did this year. He has quickly become one of the best passers in the country and should be a front runner in 2011.

8. QB Pat Devlin, Delaware, Sr.- 179-266, 2158 yds, 14 TD, 2 INT, 67.3%, 151.3 pass eff., 215.8 yds/gm, 52 carries, 110 yds, 2.1ypc, 1 TD in 10 games.

Devlin doesn’t have the numbers to warrant finishing this high but I believe the draft hype, leading Delaware to a top five ranking, and his play late in the season might get him the votes to sneak in here.

9. QB DeAndre Presley, Appalachian State, Jr.- 177-280, 2223 yds, 18 TD, 4 INT, 63.2%, 148.3 pass eff., 202.1 yds/gm, 132 carries, 753 yds, 5.7ypc, 11 TD in 11 games.

Presley looked like a potential winner of the award but he tapered off a lot in the second half of the season as ASU lost two games and he began making mistakes a young quarterback would make. Despite that he should finish in the top 10 leading ASU to the no. 1 seed and a heavy favorite to win the national championship.

10. QB Mike Brown, Liberty, Jr.- 223-351, 2956 yds, 23 TD, 11 INT, 63.5%, 149.6 pass eff., 268.7 yds/gm, 160 carries, 854 yds, 5.3ypc, 9 TD, 77.6 yds/gm, 4 catches, 20 yds in 11 games.

Brown is likely to run away with the Big South Offensive Player of the Year award and I would have him much higher had Liberty won their auto bid and he had less picks on the year.

[smallcollegefbfan]

MY TOP TEN

1. OT Ben Ijalana, Villanova, Sr.

There is no way Ijalana wins this award. With that said voters need to look at who this award should go to. It is given annually to the top player in FCS. Ijalana is the most dominating player in FCS as he never gets beat, drives defenders 10-20 yards down field and has the best feet of any prospect since Michael Roos. This Outland Trophy Candidate and likely consensus All-American should be a top 50 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.

2. QB Jeremy Moses, Stephen F. Austin, Sr.- 303-499, 3658 yds, 34 TD, 4 INT, 60.7%, 143.2 pass eff., 332.5 yds/gm, 14 carries, -76 yds in 11 games.

After a rocky start against Texas Tech Moses has gone on to lead the nation in passing yards per game and passing touchdowns. His record breaking season, leading SFA to the SLC Auto Bid, and a first round bye in the playoffs.

3. RB Taiwan Jones, Eastern Washington, Jr.- 176 carries, 1344 yds, 11 TD, 7.6ypc, 134.4 yds/gm, 21 catches, 324 yds, 15.4ypc, 3 TD, 3 PR, 28 yds, 9.3avg, 13 KR, 255 yds, 19.6avg in 10 games.

Jones is a major reason why EWU is ranked No. 1 and has shown that he is the most explosive player in the country. If you watch the highlights on the selection show today you saw just how fast he is. Remember, he has been hurt much of the year. This kid is the most electrifying player in FCS and my preseason front runner for the Payton in 2011.

4. QB Matt Barr, Western Illinois, Sr.- 203-329, 3079 yds, 26 TD, 5 INT, 61.7%, 163.4 pass eff., 279.9 yds/gm, 90 carries, 407 yds, 4.5ypc, 5 TD in 11 games.

Barr lifted WIU from average to a playoff berth in 2010 and showed that he can take over games at times. He was one of the most improved players in 2010 with better accuracy, decision making, and production by far than he had last year. He has truly earned mention among the best in the country after a 2009 campaign where he was nowhere near the Payton radar.

5. RB Nate Eachus, Colgate, Jr.- 317 carries, 1871 yds, 21 TD, 5.9ypc, 170.1 yds/gm, 17 catches, 160 yds, 9.4ypc, 1 TD in 11 games.

Eachus leads the nation in rushing yards per game and has a whopping 22 total touchdowns. He has been a workhorse for Colgate this year and is one of the most fun backs to watch in the nation.

6. QB DeAndre Presley, Appalachian State, Jr.- 177-280, 2223 yds, 18 TD, 4 INT, 63.2%, 148.3 pass eff., 202.1 yds/gm, 132 carries, 753 yds, 5.7ypc, 11 TD in 11 games.

Everyone on AGS and everywhere else said ASU would not be the same without AE and yet Presley came in and not only led them to a 9-2 mark but started the season with an incredible streak of no interceptions. His dual threat ability makes him dangerous and makes him one of the top candidates entering 2011.

7. QB Scott Riddle, Elon, Sr.- 274-405, 3231 yds, 28 TD, 6 INT, 67.7%, 154.5 pass eff., 323.1 yds/gm, 41 carries, -43 yds, 1 TD in 10 games.

Part of this high ranking is due to his career and the records he has broken. If Elon was a playoff team and had challenged for the SoCon title he would have been much higher.

8. QB Casey Therriault, Jackson State, Jr.- 255-437, 3436 yds, 31 TD, 8 INT, 58.4%, 144.1 pass eff., 312.4 yds/gm, 101 carries, 164 yds, 1.6ypc, 10 TD in 11 games.

Therriault has one of the best comeback stories in all of college football going from prison to leading JSU with 41 total touchdowns as a junior. If not for his completion percentage under 60 and not winning the SWAC he would have been much higher.

9. QB Josh McGregor, Jacksonville, Jr.- 205-326, 3049 yds, 32 TD, 7 INT, 62.9%, 169.5 pass eff., 277.2 yds/gm, 51 carries, -15 yds, 2 TD in 11 games.

McGregor leads the nation in pass efficiency and should win the Pioneer League Offensive Player of the Year award in a landslide, if politics don’t impact the voting. He has put himself in position to make a serious run at the award next year.

10. QB Denarius McGhee, Montana State, Fr.- 208-330, 2940 yds, 22 TD, 5 INT, 63.0%, 156.8 pass eff., 267.3 yds/gm, 72 carries, 176 yds, 2.4ypc, 2 TD in 11 games.

McGhee led MSU to a win over Montana, the Big Sky Auto Bid, and has already cemented himself as one of the best quarterbacks in FCS. Not bad for a freshman.

[cderry]

PROJECTED TOP TEN

1. QB Jeremy Moses, Stephen F. Austin, Sr.- 303-499, 3658 yds, 34 TD, 4 INT, 60.7%, 143.2 pass eff., 332.5 yds/gm, 14 carries, -76 yds in 11 games.

Wow...-76 rushing yards. I mean he's a great passer...it just is frightening about how one-dimensional his stats are. He must just sit in the pocket and sling all day...never looking for openings to run a little.

Barr has better overall numbers and would have more passing yards if he wanted to pad his numbers. Example: In the dominance of Indiana St, WIU won 40-7 and Barr only threw for 19 yards. The game was out of hand quickly and he wasn't worried about his numbers.

[smallcollegefbfan]

Wow...-76 rushing yards. I mean he's a great passer...it just is frightening about how one-dimensional his stats are. He must just sit in the pocket and sling all day...never looking for openings to run a little.

Barr has better overall numbers and would have more passing yards if he wanted to pad his numbers. Example: In the dominance of Indiana St, WIU won 40-7 and Barr only threw for 19 yards. The game was out of hand quickly and he wasn't worried about his numbers.

That is pretty much right. Moses is a not a dink and dunk passer but he throws lots of shorter passes. He doesn't complete a lot of deep balls. He is a pocket passer who mostly sits in the gun all day. Like I said I don't think he is the best player but the preseason hype, his gaudy passing numbers and reputation are why I picked him. You saw my personal top ten. I don't think he should win it but my guess is that he will.

With all of that said there should be a most improved award and Barr would run away with it! :)

[PurpleOut]

Moses is not a dink and dunk passer.

[smallcollegefbfan]

Moses is not a dink and dunk passer.

Lots of quick throws, screens, and outs. All of his receivers average less than 15 yards per catch except for one. Most of them average under 13 per catch. He doesn't go deep an awful lot or at least he doesn't have a target who catches a lot of deep balls, or more than he does shorter throws to just get the first down. Not really dinks and dunks but lots of short throws. He doesn't complete a lot of 20-30 yards passes.

[cderry]

Lots of quick throws, screens, and outs. All of his receivers average less than 15 yards per catch except for one. Most of them average under 13 per catch. He doesn't go deep an awful lot or at least he doesn't have a target who catches a lot of deep balls, or more than he does shorter throws to just get the first down. Not really dinks and dunks but lots of short throws. He doesn't complete a lot of 20-30 yards passes.

I looked at their season stats and compared the two:

Season Stats:
Moses: 12.07 yds per completion...longest passes by game: 30, 39, 23, 39, 36, 40, 58, 22, 73, 40, 74
Barr: 15.17 yds per completion...longest passes by game: 63, 30, 43, 7, 39, 46, 48, 51, 74, 37, 87

Taking the "olympic average" and removing the highest and lowest "longest per game" passes, these are the averages:
Moses: high average: 42 yds
Barr: high average: 48 yds

Games against identical opponents:
WIU 56, SHSU 14. Barr: 12-26, 221 pass yds, 3 pass TD, 0 INT, 7 rushes, 125 rush yds, 1 rush TD
SFA 31, SHSU 28. Moses: 30-53, 418 pass yds, 4 pass TD, 0 INT, 0 rushes

WIU 30, UNI 14. Barr: 16-23, 298 pass yds, 2 pass TD, 1 INT, 10 rushes, 69 yds
SFA 22, UNI 20. Moses: 37-55, 356 pass yds, 1 pass TD, 0 INT, 3 rushes, -10 rush yds

[WIU02]

Barr lifted WIU from average to a playoff berth in 2010 and showed that he can take over games at times. He was one of the most improved players in 2010 with better accuracy, decision making, and production by far than he had last year. He has truly earned mention among the best in the country after a 2009 campaign where he was nowhere near the Payton radar.


Matt only played in three and a half games in '09. Missed the rest of the season due to injury. Just thought I'd point that out.

[smallcollegefbfan]

Matt only played in three and a half games in '09. Missed the rest of the season due to injury. Just thought I'd point that out.

I know. That was unfortunate for him. I saw two of his early games though and his arm looks stronger this year as well as improvements in those other areas. Believe it or not I try to watch these guys throughout the year and don't just judge one game. His improvements in accuracy, arm strength, and consistency were much better. You can tell he worked very hard in the off-season to bounce back from the injury.

[cderry]

I know. That was unfortunate for him. I saw two of his early games though and his arm looks stronger this year as well as improvements in those other areas. Believe it or not I try to watch these guys throughout the year and don't just judge one game. His improvements in accuracy, arm strength, and consistency were much better. You can tell he worked very hard in the off-season to bounce back from the injury.

Agreed, he was MUCH improved.