HEROSPORTS
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • Big South-OVC
    • Big Sky
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • UAC
  • FBS
    • FBS Home
    • AAC Football
    • CUSA Football
    • MAC Football
    • Mountain West Football
    • Sun Belt Football
  • College Basketball
  • Register at BetMGM
  • BetMGM Promotions
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • Big South-OVC
    • Big Sky
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • UAC
  • FBS
    • FBS Home
    • AAC Football
    • CUSA Football
    • MAC Football
    • Mountain West Football
    • Sun Belt Football
  • College Basketball
  • Register at BetMGM
  • BetMGM Promotions
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
HEROSPORTS
No Result
View All Result

Jonathan Taylor Deserved Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, Not Saquon Barkley

HERO Sports by HERO Sports
December 1, 2017
Jonathan Taylor Deserved Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, Not Saquon Barkley

Saquon Barkley won Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year because of preseason hype and a dozen or so "Did you see that!?" plays. He was Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year because he was a preseason All-American and (correctly) dubbed the most talented running back in college football and candidate for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

[divider]

Compare: CFB Teams | CFB Players

[divider]

The Penn State junior did not win the award because of what he did on the field this season — or at least that's the message the Big Ten coaches and media voters are sending. Barkley is indeed the most talented and dangerous running back in college football. He was not, however the best or most valuable running back in the Big Ten.

That honor belongs to Wisconsin freshman Jonathan Taylor.

For the record, this opinion is no slight to Barkley. He's a freak athlete and one of the best all-around players in Big Ten history who racked up 51 touchdowns and nearly 5,000 total yards in just three seasons, gave defensive coordinators nightmares and single-handedly delivered a few wins — if not more. 

MORE: Teams Didn't Miss Boat on Taylor; He Made the Perfect Decision

Saquon Barkley had an incredible 2017 season. Jonathan Taylor just had a better one and missed out on Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year only because in August he was still a little-known three-star recruit who wasn't expected to be a difference-maker, not a Heisman Trophy front-runner like Barkley.

Barkley had more rushing touchdowns, total touchdowns, receptions and receiving yards. He was also a dynamic kick returner, hurdled a couple defenders and threw a touchdown pass. 

Taylor, meanwhile, had nearly 700 more rushing yards and 130 more total yards and a yards-per-carry average of 7.0, more than a yard better than Barkley (5.7). Barkley had four 100-yard rushing games (seven games of 100 or more total yards); Taylor had nine. Barkley had six games with a yards-per-carry average below five; Taylor had one.

Wisconsin and Penn State played six common opponents (Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska and Northwestern), and while the pair had similar yardage totals in those games (Taylor, 972; Barkley, 961), Taylor had a higher yards-per-carry average (6.5 vs. 6.1) and only one game below 125 rushing yards (Barkley had four such games).

MORE: Conf. Championship Predictions

Wisconsin is also 12-0 and playing in the Big Ten Championship on Saturday. Team success reportedly doesn't — and shouldn't — carry significant weight in individual award voting, though the Badgers' perfect regular season must be worth something.

In the end, this matters very little. After all, Jonathan Taylor is the one playing for a spot in the College Football Playoff on Saturday. 

Previous Post

Miami vs. Clemson: ACC Championship Game Info, Odds, TV and More

Next Post

Tennessee Could Be Paying Millions in Buyouts to John Currie and Butch Jones for Years

Next Post
Tennessee Could Be Paying Millions in Buyouts to John Currie and Butch Jones for Years

Tennessee Could Be Paying Millions in Buyouts to John Currie and Butch Jones for Years

No Result
View All Result

Recent Posts

  • 2025 FCS Jersey Countdown: The Best Returning Player For Each Number
  • Washington State Head Coach Jimmy Rogers’ Salary, Career Record, Age & Resume
  • UNLV Head Coach Dan Mullen’s Salary, Career Record, Age & Resume

HERO Sports is the go-to website for FBS and FCS football news, analysis, and predictions.

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US)
877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY)
1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR)

For new customer offers, Bonus Bets expire in seven days. One New Customer Offer only. Add'l terms. For existing customers, Bonus Bets expire in seven days. Add'l terms.

21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.

Welcome Offer Bet $10, $150 in Bonus Bets

GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER (AVAILABLE IN THE US). 21+ ONLY. CO, MI, NJ, PA, WV ONLY. PLEASE GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY. SEE BETMGM.COM FOR TERMS. THIS PROMOTIONAL OFFER IS FOR NEW PLAYERS ONLY. SUBJECT TO ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. BONUS BETS ARE NON-WITHDRAWABLE. US PROMOTIONAL OFFERS NOT AVAILABLE IN MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW YORK, ONTARIO AND PUERTO RICO.

  • About HERO Sports
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 HERO SPORTS.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • Big South-OVC
    • Big Sky
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • UAC
  • FBS
    • FBS Home
    • AAC Football
    • CUSA Football
    • MAC Football
    • Mountain West Football
    • Sun Belt Football
  • College Basketball
  • Register at BetMGM
  • BetMGM Promotions
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact

© 2022 HERO SPORTS.