The 2008 BP Awards

[BB73]

The Woody

Prior to the 2007 season, Alabama opened up their checkbook to get a coach that was a proven winner in the SEC. While 2007 included a 7-6 record and losses to La-Monroe and Auburn (a 6th straight Iron Bowl defeat), 2008 found the Tide ranked #1 heading into the SEC Championship Game. Although they lost that classic contest, Nick Saban is very deserving of Coach of the Year honors, and he is the winner of our fourth annual Woody Award.

Nick Saban (Alabama) - 55 (14)
Paul Johnson (Ga Tech) 26 (6)
Mike Leach (Texas Tech) - 22 (1)
Brian Kelly (Cincinnati) - 19 (6)
Joe Paterno (Penn St) - 15 (3)
Kyle Whittingham (Utah) - 11 (2)
Brady Hoke (Ball St) - 9 (1)
Bob Stoops (Oklahoma) - 8 (2)
Turner Gill (Buffalo) - 8 (1)
Mack Brown (Texas) - 6
Jim Tressel (Ohio St) - 6
Urban Meyer (Florida) - 6
Chris Petersen (Boise St) - 5
Mike Riley (Oregon St) - 4
Houston Nutt (Ole Miss) - 2
Butch Davis (N. Carolina) - 2
Larry Kehres (Mt Union) - 1
Mark Dantonio (Michigan St) - 1
Mike Gundy (Oklahoma St) - 1
​

Points were awarded as follows: 3 points for a first-place vote; 2 points for a second-place vote; 1 point for a third-place vote. Vote totals follow each coach's name, with the total number of first-place votes appearing in parentheses.

 

[BB73]

The Pace-Parker Pancake

Most followers of college football believed that the nation's best offensive line was found in either Tuscaloosa or Norman this year. Both teams had two candidates for this award, and Alabama's Andre Smith, who took home this year's Outland Trophy, is the winner of our fourth annual Pace-Parker Pancake Award for the nation's best collegiate offensive lineman.

Andre Smith (Alabama) - 73 (20)
Michael Oher (Ole Miss) - 43 (5)
Duke Robinson (Oklahoma) - 18 (2)
Antoine Caldwell (Alabama) - 10 (2)
A.Q. Shipley (Penn St) - 7 (2)
Phil Loadholt (Oklahoma) - 7 (1)
Eugene Monroe (Virginia) - 5
Louis Vasquez (Texas Tech) - 3
Brandon Carter (Texas Tech) - 2
Jonathan Luigs (Arkansas) - 2
Andrew Gardner (Ga Tech) - 2
Alex Boone (Ohio St) - 2
Eric Wood (Louisville) - 1
Herman Johnson (LSU) - 1
Eben Britton (Arizona) - 1
​

Points were awarded as follows: 3 points for a first-place vote; 2 points for a second-place vote; 1 point for a third-place vote. Vote totals follow each player's name, with the total number of first-place votes appearing in parentheses.

 

[BB73]

The Boston-Carter

He may have been on the receiving end of the most memorable play of the regular season, but Michael Crabtree was a consistent threat throughout the season. The redshirt sophomore recently was named as the repeat winner of the Biletnikoff Award, and he is also the repeat winner of BP's Boston-Carter Award for the nation's best receiver.

Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech) - 94 (29)
Dez Bryant (Oklahoma St) - 50 (6)
Jeremy Maclin (Missouri) - 17
Percy Harvin (Florida) - 13
Austin Collie (BYU) - 9
Jarett Dillard (Rice) - 5
Kenny Britt (Rutgers) - 4
Julio Jones (Alabama) - 4
Juaquin Iglesias (Oklahoma) - 3
A.J. Green (Georgia) - 3 (1)
Jordan Shipley (Texas) - 1
Eric Decker (Minnesota) - 1
​

Points were awarded as follows: 3 points for a first-place vote; 2 points for a second-place vote; 1 point for a third-place vote. Vote totals follow each player's name, with the total number of first-place votes appearing in parentheses.

 

[BB73]

The George

The top 3 performers in this category are all from the Big Ten. As the recent winner of the Doak Walker Award, and as the only player in the country to gain 100 yards rushing in every game this season, Iowa's Shonn Greene is the very deserving winner of BP's fourth annual George Award for the nation's best collegiate running back.

Shonn Greene (Iowa) - 77 (19)
Beanie Wells (Ohio St) - 47 (12)
Javon Ringer (Michigan St) - 29 (4)
Knowshon Moreno (Georgia) - 16 (2)
LeSean McCoy (Pitt) - 10
Donald Brown (UConn) - 7
Kendall Hunter (Oklahoma St) - 5
Joe McKnight (USC) - 2
DeMarco Murray (Oklahoma) - 2
Jacquizz Rodgers (Oregon St) - 1
MiQuale Lewis (Ball St) - 1
Jonathan Dwyer (Georgia Tech) - 1
Glen Coffee (Alabama) - 1
​

Points were awarded as follows: 3 points for a first-place vote; 2 points for a second-place vote; 1 point for a third-place vote. Vote totals follow each player's name, with the total number of first-place votes appearing in parentheses.

 

[BB73]

The Troy

Not playing in a Conference Championship Game did not deter the BP voters from naming Colt McCoy of Texas as the nation's best quarterback. The growth he has shown from the time he played the Buckeyes in Austin during his redshirt freshman year of 2006 has been impressive. He will now lead the Longhorns in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State, and he has declared that he will return to Texas for one final season. Congrats to Colt McCoy for winning our fourth award for the nation's best collegiate quarterback.

Colt McCoy (Texas) - 82 (18)
Sam Bradford (Oklahoma) - 68 (15)
Tim Tebow (Florida) - 34 (2)
Graham Harrell (Texas Tech) 20 (2)
Nate Davis (Ball St) - 2
John Parker Wilson (Alabama) - 2
Matthew Stafford (Georgia) - 1
Terrelle Pryor (Ohio State) - 1
​

Points were awarded as follows: 3 points for a first-place vote; 2 points for a second-place vote; 1 point for a third-place vote. Vote totals follow each player's name, with the total number of first-place votes appearing in parentheses.

 

[BB73]

The Big Daddy

For the second straight year, BP has named a player the Buckeyes will face in their bowl game as the best DL in the land. Congrats to Brian Orakpo of Texas on being named the the winner of BP's fourth annual Big Daddy Award (named after former Buckeye great "Big Daddy" Dan Wilkinson) as the nation's best collegiate defensive lineman. He has been hauling awat plenty of hardware this season, having won the Rotary Lombardi and Nagurski Awards for 2008.

Brian Orakpo (Texas) - 50 (8)
Aaron Maybin (Penn St) - 43 (9)
Terrence Cody (Alabama) - 33 (8)
George Selvie (USF) - 7 (1)
Jerry Hughes (TCU) - 7
Sen'Derrick Marks (Auburn) - 6 (2)
Brandon Graham (Michigan) - 5 (1)
Michael Johnson (Ga Tech) - 4
Mitch King (Iowa) - 3 (1)
Nick Reed (Oregon) - 3
Everette Brown (Florida St) - 3
Greg Hardy (Ole Miss) - 2
DeMarcus Granger (Oklahoma) - 1
Connor Barwin (Cincinnati) - 1
​

Points were awarded as follows: 3 points for a first-place vote; 2 points for a second-place vote; 1 point for a third-place vote. Vote totals follow each player's name, with the total number of first-place votes appearing in parentheses.

 

[BB73]

The Spielman


In each of the four years of the BP Awards, an Ohio State player has won at least one category. This year marks the third straight year in which James Laurinaitis has been named as the recipient of the Spielman Award. This year, James became just the eighth Buckeye ever to be named a 3-time first-team All-American in football. He is also just the fifth player in college football history to be named on three Walter Camp All-American teams in the 100-plus year history of those honors. Congrats also to James on being BP's first three-time winner, as the '"threepeat" winner of BP's Spielman Award for the best collegiate linbebacker.

Edit - James was also awarded the Lott Trophy for 2008, which recognizes of-field achievements and character for a defensive player.

James Laurinaitis (Ohio State) - 93 (23)
Rey Maualuga (USC) - 63 (7)
Brandon Spikes (Florida) - 22 (4)
Rolando McClain (Alabama) - 9 (2)
Scott McKillop (Pitt) - 6
Aaron Curry (Wake Forest) - 4 (1)
Brit Miller (Illinois) - 3
Brian Cushing (USC) - 1
Navorro Bowman (Penn St) - 1
Greg Jones (Mich St) - 1
Sean Weatherspoon (Missouri) - 1
Travis Lewis (Oklahoma) - 1
​

Points were awarded as follows: 3 points for a first-place vote; 2 points for a second-place vote; 1 point for a third-place vote. Vote totals follow each player's name, with the total number of first-place votes appearing in parentheses.

 

[BB73]

The Assassin

For the fourth straight year, BP has named a Buckeye player that won a national award as a recipient of a BP Award (Hawk, Smith, Laurinaitis). The largest vote-getter in this year's BP voting, Malcolm Jenkins was recently named as the winner of the Thorpe Award as the nation's best DB, and he has won his second straight Assassin Award as the nation's best collegiate defensive back.

Malcolm Jenkins (Ohio State) - 105 (33)
Eric Berry (Tennessee) - 56 (4)
Taylor Mays (USC) - 20
Vontae Davis (Illinois) - 14
Alphonso Smith (Wake Forest) - 3
Victor Harris (Va Tech) - 2
Rashad Johnson (Alabama) - 2
Myron Rolle (Florida St) - 2
Lydell Sargeant (Penn St) - 2
Mike Mickens (Cincinnati) - 2
Kurt Coleman (Ohio St) - 1
Trimane Goddard (N. Carolina) - 1
​

Points were awarded as follows: 3 points for a first-place vote; 2 points for a second-place vote; 1 point for a third-place vote. Vote totals follow each player's name, with the total number of first-place votes appearing in parentheses.

 

[BB73]

The Nuuuuuuge

For the second straight year, BP has named someone that handled both placekicking and punting duties as the best placekicker in the country (Thomas Weber of Arizona State last year). Louie Sakoda made 21 of 23 FG attempts for Utah this season, including a 37-yarder as time expired to beat Oregon State. Congrats to Louie for winning the fourth Nuuuuuuge Award as the nation's best collegiate placekicker.

Louie Sakoda (Utah) - 55 (9)
Graham Gano (Florida St) - 52 (15)
Josh Arauco (Arkansas St) - 11
Kevin Kelly (Penn St) - 8 (1)
Ryan Harrison (Air Force) - 6
Jose Martinez (UTEP) - 3 (1)
Sam Swank (Wake Forest) - 3 (1)
Matt Bosher (Miami, FL) - 3 (1)
Nathan Parseghian (Miami, OH) - 3 (1)
Leigh Tiffin (Alabama) - 2
Alex Henery (Nebraska) - 2
Jeff Wolfert (Missouri) - 2
Conor Lee (Pitt) - 1
Kai Forbath (UCLA) - 1
Trent Mossbrucker (Iowa) - 1
Matt Williams (Texas Tech) - 1
​

Points were awarded as follows: 3 points for a first-place vote; 2 points for a second-place vote; 1 point for a third-place vote. Vote totals follow each player's name, with the total number of first-place votes appearing in parentheses.

 

[BB73]

The Skladany

After finishing second for this award last year, Kevin Huber of Cincinnati has won this season's Skladany Award. The Bearcats led the nation by almost a full yard in net punting, which is normally a more telling statistic than punting average. Congrats to Kevin Huber on being named the winner of BP's fourth annual Skladany Award as the nation's best collegiate punter.

Kevin Huber (Cincinnati) - 29 (7)
Pat McAfee (West Va) - 21 (4)
T.J. Conley (Idaho) - 19 (5)
Zoltan Mesko (Michigan) - 15 (3)
Louie Sakoda (Utah) - 12 (2)
A.J. Trapasso (Ohio St) - 10 (2)
Aaron Perez (UCLA) - 10 (1)
Matt Fodge (Oklahoma St) - 10 (1)
Jacob Richardson (Miami, OH) - 7 (2)
Justin Brantly (Texas A&M) - 5
Chris Miller (Ball St) - 2
Ross Thevenot (Tulane) - 2
Trevor Garland (Texas) - 1
Tim Masthay (Kentucky) - 1
​

Points were awarded as follows: 3 points for a first-place vote; 2 points for a second-place vote; 1 point for a third-place vote. Vote totals follow each player's name, with the total number of first-place votes appearing in parentheses.

 

[BB73]

The Griffin Player of the Year

Voters selected Colt McCoy as the winner of BP's Archie Griffin Player of the Year. The national player of the year awards were divided this year, as Sam Bradford won the Heisman, Tim Tebow won the Maxwell, and McCoy won the Walter Camp. Congrats to Colt McCoy of Texas on being named the the winner of BP's fourth annual Griffin Award (named after the only man to win two Heisman Trophies), as the best overall player in collegiate football.

So Colt, there's no reason for you to take out any disappointment on not winning the Heisman on Buckeye fans, we voted for you!

Colt McCoy (Texas) - 68 (13)
Sam Bradford (Oklahoma) - 46 (12)
Tim Tebow (Florida) - 41 (7)
Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech) - 14 (2)
Shonn Greene (Iowa) - 9
Percy Harvin (Florida) - 7 (1)
Graham Harrell (Texas Tech) - 6 (1)
Nate Davis ( Ball St) - 3 (1)
Beanie Wells (Ohio State) - 3
Michael Jenkins (Ohio State) - 3
Andre Smith (Alabama) - 2
Terrence Cody (Alabama) - 1
Joe McKnight (USC) - 1
James Laurinaitis (Ohio State) - 1
Jeremy Maclin (Missouri) - 1
Daryll Clark (Penn St) - 1
​

Points were awarded as follows: 3 points for a first-place vote; 2 points for a second-place vote; 1 point for a third-place vote. Vote totals follow each player's name, with the total number of first-place votes appearing in parentheses.

 

[BB73]

The 2008 BP All-American Team

QB: Colt McCoy (Texas)
RB: Shonn Greene (Iowa)
RB: Chris Wells (Ohio State) *
WR: Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech) *
WR: Dez Bryant (Oklahoma State)
WR: Jeremy Maclin (Missouri)
OL: Andre Smith (Alabama)
OL: Michael Oher (Ole Miss)
OL: Antoine Caldwell (Alabama)
OL: Duke Robinson (Oklahoma) *
OL: A.Q. Shipley (Penn St)
OL: Phil Loadholt (Oklahoma)
PK: Louie Sakoda (Utah)

DL: Brian Orakpo (Texas)
DL: Aaron Maybin (Penn State)
DL: Terrence Cody (Alabama)
DL: Jerry Hughes (TCU)
DL: George Selvie (South Florida) *
LB: James Laurinaitis (Ohio State) **
LB: Rey Maualuga (USC)
LB: Brandon Spikes (Florida)
DB: Malcolm Jenkins (Ohio State) **
DB: Eric Berry (Tennessee)
DB: Taylor Mays (USC)
DB: Vontae Davis (Illinois)
P: Kevin Huber (Cincinnati)

HC: Nick Saban (Alabama)
AC: Paul Johnson (Georgia Tech)
AC: Mike Leach (Texas Tech)
AC: Brian Kelly (Cincinnati)

* - indicates a repeat selection
** - indicates the third time selected

 

[JXC]

This is the first year in which the Griffin and the Heisman were not awarded to the same person.

 

[LitlBuck]

Thanks for doing this. I know that must have been a lot of work.

The only category which I have a problem with it is at with McCoy. I am a huge Bradford fan and his TD/interception ratio was extremely good. If I wanted a college QB for my team, Sam would be my man.