NCAA 2012: Players To Watch

The 2012 College Football season is underway. And there’s plenty to watch for on the way to the BCS National Championship game January 7 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Who will walk away with the Heisman Trophy!? Who will set records, make the highlights reels and win games?  Here are our picks for the NCAA 2012: Players to Watch

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Matt Barkley
@MattBarkley
Quarterback
University of Michigan Wolverines, Senior

Barkley is the much-hyped preseason Heisman Trophy favorite on the No. 1 team in the country. The best thing he does is not make mistakes. His patience and control of the game result in very few interceptions or sacks. Then he puts up huge stats in an offense equipped with top-notch receivers Robert Woods and Marqise Lee.

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Montee Ball
@M_Ball28 (Personal Account)
@MoneyBall28 (The Heisman Trophy Campaign Account)
Running Back
University of Wisconsin Badgers, Senior

Ball needs only 18 touchdowns to become the all-time NCAA leader. Last season, Ball outshone Badgers quarterback – and current Seattle Seahawks starter – Russell Wilson by scoring 39 touchdowns and leading the NCAA in rushing yards and yards from scrimmage. He finished fourth in the Heisman balloting.

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Denard Robinson
@DenardX
Quarterback
University of Michigan Wolverines

Since his freshman year, Robinson has been a highlight reel, sometimes making games look like he’s playing Xbox. The dual-threat passer and runner has to limit his turnovers. If the Wolverines win – or if he puts up outstanding statistical numbers in a close game – when Michigan opens the season against Alabama, Robinson will overtake Barkley as the Heisman frontrunner.

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De’Anthony Thomas
@Blacpolo6
Running Back,
University of Oregon Ducks, Sophomore

Thomas is listed as a running back, but he is a threat to score whenever he touches the ball – running, returning or receiving. As a freshman, he scored 18 touchdowns and tallied 2,235 all-purpose yards. The speedster is unlikely to win the Heisman because he is a sophomore and because senior running back Kenjon Barner will lighten his touches. But Thomas may be the most exciting individual to watch in a college football game this year.

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Jarvis Jones
@SacManJones_29
Linebacker,
University of Georgia Bulldogs, Junior

A quarterback-killer, Jones may be the best defensive player in the country. He plays in the best conference in the country, the South Eastern Conference, where he collected 13.5 sacks last year, was a Butkus Award finalist and named to the first team of seven All-American squads last season.

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Manti Te’o
@MTeo_5
Linebacker,
University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Senior

If the Irish succeed this year against a tough schedule, it will come on the shoulders of the NFL-caliber linebacker from Hawaii.