12th annual Herbie Awards

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print

Editor's note: Check out "The Herbie Awards" airing on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday.

It's that time of the year again, a chance to honor the best of the best. Welcome back to the Herbie Awards, where the elite players and coaches of college football are celebrated.

A reminder: This is just my list. These are my choices, and not everyone will agree. That's what makes it so fun.

With that being said, let's get the 12th annual Herbie Awards started.

STARRING ROLE: BEST RUNNING BACKS

Marcus Lattimore is primed for a big season. (Photo by Gerry Melendez/The State/Getty Images) 1. Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina 2. Montee Ball, Wisconsin 3. Knile Davis, Arkansas 4. Kenjon Barner, Oregon 5. Stepfan Taylor, Stanford

CATCHING ON: TOP WIDE RECEIVERS

1. Marqise Lee, USC 2. Tavon Austin, West Virginia 3. Robert Woods, USC 4. Da'Rick Rogers, Tennessee 5. Marquess Wilson, Washington State Marqise Lee and USC have their eyes on the big prize. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon SMI)

QUARTERBACKS: POCKET PASSERS

QB Matt Barkley is a Heisman contender for USC. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon SMI) 1. Matt Barkley, USC 2. Aaron Murray, Georgia 3. Tyler Wilson, Arkansas 4. Geno Smith, West Virginia 5. Keith Price, Washington

QUARTERBACKS: DUAL-THREAT

Logan Thomas rushed for 11 TDs in 2011. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) 1. Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech 2. Collin Klein, Kansas State 3. Denard Robinson, Michigan 4. James Franklin, Missouri 5. Braxton Miller, Ohio State

TIGHT ENDS: BEST IN THE BIZ

ND's Tyler Eifert knows what to do once the ball is in his hands. (Photo by Brad Barr/US Presswire) 1. Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame 2. Jake Stoneburner, Ohio State 3. Zach Ertz, Stanford 4. Philip Lutzenkirchen, Auburn 5. Chris Gragg, Arkansas

END GAME: DEFENSIVE ENDS -- THE DIRTY DOZEN (I'm allowing myself to exceed the limit of five per category!)

Sam Montgomery can cause havoc for opponents. (Photo by Derick E. Hingle/US Presswire) 1. Sam Montgomery, LSU 2. Brandon Jenkins, Florida State 3. William Gholston, Michigan State 4. Barkevious Mingo, LSU 5. Bjoern Werner, Florida State 6. Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina 7. Corey Lemonier, Auburn 8. Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas 9. Dion Jordan, Oregon 10. Alex Okafor, Texas 11. John Simon, Ohio State 12. Malliciah Goodman, Clemson

INSIDE JOB: DEFENSIVE TACKLES

You can't miss where Utah's Star Lotulelei is on the field. (Photo by Russ Isabella/US Presswire) 1. Star Lotulelei, Utah 2. Johnathan Hankins, Ohio State 3. Jesse Williams, Alabama 4. Kawann Short, Purdue 5. Bennie Logan, LSU

GOT YOUR BACK: OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS

1. Jarvis Jones, Georgia 2. Chase Thomas, Stanford 3. Jonathan Brown, Illinois 4. Jamie Collins, Southern Miss 5. Jelani Jenkins, Florida Jarvis Jones plays a big role in Georgia's defense. (Photo by Kim Klement/US Presswire)

INSIDE LINEBACKERS

Kevin Reddick is ready to dominate for UNC. (Photo by Bob Donnan/US Presswire) 1. Kevin Reddick, North Carolina 2. Shayne Skov, Stanford 3. Manti Te'o, Notre Dame 4. Nico Johnson, Alabama 5. Chris Borland, Wisconsin

TAKE COVER: DEFENSIVE BACKS

1. David Amerson, NC State 2. Xavier Rhodes, Florida State 3. Johnthan Banks, Mississippi State 4. Nickell Robey, USC 5. Johnny Adams, Michigan State David Amerson is a playmaker in NC State's secondary. (Photo by Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer/Getty Images)

SAFETY FIRST: TOP SAFETIES

Opponents are very familiar with Oklahoma's Tony Jefferson. (Photo by Mark D. Smith/US Presswire) 1. Eric Reid, LSU 2. Tony Jefferson, Oklahoma 3. Robert Lester, Alabama 4. Bacarri Rambo, Georgia 5. Kenny Vaccaro, Texas

RIGHT TO EXCITE: MOST EXCITING PLAYERS

WVU's Tavon Austin is fun to watch with the ball in his hands. (Photo by Douglas Jones/US Presswire) 1. Tavon Austin, West Virginia 2. De'Anthony Thomas, Oregon 3. Denard Robinson, Michigan 4. Sammy Watkins, Clemson 5. Onterio McCalebb, Auburn

RODNEY DANGERFIELDS: PLAYERS WHO DON'T GET ENOUGH RESPECT

1. David Amerson, NC State 2. Geno Smith, West Virginia 3. Johnathan Franklin, UCLA 4. Chase Thomas, Stanford 5. Bjoern Werner, Florida State Geno Smith deserves respect. Is he getting it? (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

SHHHHH, DON'T TELL: BEST-KEPT SECRETS

Fans will soon know more about Le'Veon Bell. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon SMI) 1. Le'Veon Bell, Michigan State 2. Giovani Bernard, North Carolina 3. Cameron Marshall, Arizona State 4. Michael Clay, Oregon 5. Marquess Wilson, Washington State

DON'T TURN YOUR BACK: BACKYARD FOOTBALL

Arizona State's Jamal Miles can play on Herbie's team any day. (Photo by Gary A. Vasquez/US Presswire) 1. Kyle Fuller, Virginia Tech 2. Jared Abbrederis, Wisconsin 3. Jamal Miles, Arizona State 4. Tony Jefferson, Oklahoma 5. Eric Reid, LSU

DRESS FOR SUCCESS: LOOKS THE PART

William Gholston is a man on a mission. (Photo by AP Photo/Al Goldis) 1. William Gholston, Michigan State 2. Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina 3. Shayne Skov, Stanford 4. Da'Rick Rogers, Tennessee 5. Marqise Lee, USC

OFF AND RUNNING: READY TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Look for Braxton Miller to keep getting better for Ohio State. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) 1. Marqise Lee, USC 2. Keith Price, Washington 3. Braxton Miller, Ohio State 4. Nico Johnson, Alabama 5. Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas

OLD SCHOOL: THROWBACK PLAYERS

1. Collin Klein, Kansas State 2. Rex Burkhead, Nebraska 3. Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina 4. Max Bullough, Michigan State 5. Philip Lutzenkirchen, Auburn Collin Klein could play in any era. (Photo by Tim Heitman/US Presswire)

AHEAD OF THE CURVE

Marcus Mariota will provide a big spark for Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) 1. Marcus Mariota, Oregon 2. Andrew Maxwell, Michigan State 3. Michael Holmes, Virginia Tech 4. Trey Metoyer, Oklahoma 5. Matt Miller, Boise State

OUCH! THE ANKLE BREAKERS

1. Denard Robinson, Michigan 2. Kenjon Barner, Oregon 3. Robert Woods, USC 4. Jamal Miles, Arizona State 5. Dustin Harris, Texas A&M Catching Michigan QB Denard Robinson isn't easy. (Photo by Derick E. Hingle/US Presswire)

BASIC INSTINCT: IT'S EVERYTHING

Arthur Brown always has his eyes on the ball. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images) 1. Chris Borland, Wisconsin 2. Arthur Brown, Kansas State 3. Dion Bailey, USC 4. Manti Te'o, Notre Dame 5. Cameron Lawrence, Mississippi State

SURPRISE PARTY: TEAMS

1. Mississippi State 2. Purdue 3. Boise State (Chris Petersen!) 4. Tennessee 5. UCLA Chris Petersen will keep Boise State relevant. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Image of Sport/US Presswire)

SUDDEN IMPACT: BEST COORDINATOR HIRES

1. Mike Stoops, Oklahoma 2. Doug Nussmeier, Alabama 3. Sal Sunseri, Tennessee 4. Brian VanGorder, Auburn 5. Justin Wilcox, Washington Doug Nussmeier takes over Alabama's offense. (Photo by AP Photo/Butch Dill)

MOVIN' ON UP: HEAD COACHES WHO WILL GET HIGHER-PROFILE OPPORTUNITIES

Charlie Strong may find his way into a bigger spotlight. (Photo by AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) 1. Charlie Strong, Louisville 2. James Franklin, Vanderbilt 3. Skip Holtz, South Florida 4. Dave Doeren, Northern Illinois 5. Mario Cristobal, FIU

THE ULTIMATE HERBIE

1. Matt Barkley, USC 2. Collin Klein, Kansas State 3. Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina 4. Barrett Jones, Alabama 5. Montee Ball, Wisconsin Montee Ball represents the best in college football. (Photo by Michael Hickey/US Presswire)

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print
• Subscribe

Kirk Herbstreit

College Football analyst

• Archive

Kirk Herbstreit has been an ESPN college football studio analyst since August 1996. Herbstreit, who joined ESPN in September 1995 as a college football sideline analyst for ESPN2, is also a game analyst for ESPN's Thursday night college football telecasts.