Big Ten football mid-season awards
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – With the 3-3 Iowa football team halfway through the regular season, and currently in a bye week, this seems an appropriate time to hand out Big Ten mid-season awards.
So, here we go:
Top offensive performer: C.J. Stroud, Soph., quarterback, Ohio State: The California native was considered one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy heading into the season, and so far, he has certainly lived up to the hype.
Stroud already has passed for 1,734 yards and 24 touchdowns in six games, and he leads the nation in passing efficiency. He is completing 70.6 percent of his passes and has thrown just three interceptions.
In last Saturday’s 49-20 beat-down at Michigan State, Stroud passed for 361 yards and threw more touchdown passes (6) than incompletions (5).
There were several other worthy candidates, including Purdue receiver Charlie Jones, and Illinois running back Chase Brown.
But Stroud’s combination of individual and team success gives him the clear edge at this point.
Top defensive performer: Jack Campbell, Sr., linebacker, Iowa: Could be showing my bias because a strong case also could be made for Penn State defensive back Joey Porter Jr., but Campbell has been a consistent force throughout the season.
The Cedar Falls native leads Iowa with 63 tackles, and has three tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery, which came on a muffed punt against Illinois. Campbell also had 13 tackles against Illinois.
Top special teams performer: Tory Taylor, junior, punter, Iowa: The 25-year old Melbourne, Australia native is averaging 46.1 yards on a whopping 40 punts already this season.
It isn’t just the distance on Taylor’s punts that defines his greatness, but also his incredible touch and accuracy as 20 of his punts have been downed inside the 20-yard line.
Taylor’s ability to flip field position would be huge under any circumstance.
But with Iowa having one of the worst offenses in the nation, it’s even more important.
Top head coaching performance: Bret Bielema, Illinois: His Fighting Illini are so close to being undefeated after six games, its only blemish being a 23-20 loss to Indiana in the Big Ten opener on Sept. 3 in Bloomington, Indiana.
Biggest team surprise: Illinois: Thought to maybe be on the rise in Bielema’ second season as head coach, Illinois already has matched its win total from last season when it finished 5-7, and it features one of the conference’s top running backs in junior Chase Brown and a rock-solid defense.
Biggest team disappointment: Michigan State: One would have to wonder if Michigan State’s athletic administration has buyer’s remorse with the Spartans having lost their last four games by double digits.
Mel Tucker signed a monster 10-year contract worth $95 million last November even though it was just his third season as a head coach, and just his second season at Michigan State.
There was a concern that Tucker might bolt and take the LSU job, which ultimately went to Brian Kelly.
Tucker used an 11-win season, and concern about leaving for LSU as leverage and then cashed in by signing one of the most lucrative contracts in the history of college sports.
Michigan State finished 11-2 last season, but now the question is whether that was a fluke.
Northwestern has also been a disappointment, but not as much was expected from the Wildcats compared to Michigan State, which was thought to be a program on the rise heading into the season.
Top transfer: Tommy DeVito, quarterback, Illinois: The Syracuse transfer is just who the Illinois offense needed to climb to another level. He can beat defenses with his arm, and with his legs, and he’s a leader.
DeVito was injured late in the first quarter of last Saturday’s 9-6 win over Iowa, and the passing game struggled without him.
He had passed for 42 yards and rushed for 21 yards when he was injured.