RB Jacquizz Rodgers, Jr. Oregon State
Go ahead and include the 5-7, 191-pound Rodgers on the short list for just about any individual award this season; he is that special. Healthy for an entire season, he displayed his full arsenal of skills rushing 273 times for 1,440 yards and 21 touchdowns , and catching 78 passes for 522 yards and another score. He also threw a touchdown pass on his only attempt. A confluence of shiftiness and unexpected power in that compact frame, he won’t dance around and is always moving forward for more yards. Destined to be one of the best to ever play in Corvallis, injuries about the only thing capable of slowing him down this season.
DE Adrian Clayborn, Sr. Iowa
For some reason, Clayborn is still playing college football. The 6-4, 285-pounder would’ve likely been a first round draft pick this year and is being listed among the top three seniors for the 2011 NFL Draft. With a tremendous combination of size, quickness, and pass rushing ability, he came up with 70 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and 20 tackles for loss highlighted on a national scale by a dominant performance against Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl with nine solo stops and two sacks. The first-team All-Big Ten star had some issues this offseason with an issue involving a cab driver, but everything has been cleared up and he should be one of the league’s dominant figures. He’s a 4-3 end in college but can be a 3-4 at the next level.
