Author: Phillip Riggs

For those of you who are first-time readers, welcome! Here is a link explaining my process of how I recap Buckeye games while paying respect to the rich historical tradition of the team I love, The Ohio State Buckeyes. -Favorite Stat of the Game: This is a bit of a hidden gem that my father pointed out to me. Ohio State held Arkansas State to 5 of 20 on 3rd down. Last week they held Notre Dame to 3 of 13 on 3rd down, making them 8 of 33 on the season. Getting off the field on 3rd down was…

QB: Justin Fields, Chicago Bears (2019-2020) Justin Fields is an all-American, two-time Big Ten Player of the Year, and two-time Big Ten Quarterback of the Year, two-time Big Ten Champion, Sugar Bowl Champion, and the 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Fields is a franchise quarterback in the making. RB. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys (2013-2015) Zeke carried the Buckeyes to the 2014 National Title, and was all-Big Ten and All-American at Ohio State. As a Dallas Cowboy, he’s been the NFL Rushing leader twice, a three-time pro-bowler, and a two-time All-Pro running back. One of the best to…

Heisman Watch The Leaders: Bryce Young, Alabama, Quarterback, Junior. He did everything he should have against a Utah State team that will make noise in the Mountain West race. Young’s chances of being only the second ever to win the Heisman twice are very strong after the first week of football in 2022. Young was 18 of 28 for 195 yards and five (yes, five) touchdowns. He ran the ball five times for 100 yards and another touchdown. Stetson Bennett, Georgia, Quarterback, Senior.Bennett has played lights out since his playoff debut last year and he continued it against Oregon. He…

My writing about Ohio State football prompted me to do the same for BYU. While Ohio is home and my home state, my faith and family make BYU a special place to me as well. It’s also a unique perspective being a BYU fan without ever having lived anywhere near Utah. Here are the points I make in my recaps about the Cougars from the Midwest. (Note: Sometimes if an award is not applicable it will be left out altogether.) -Luke Staley Rusher of the Game – -Austin Collie Receiver of the Game – -Steve Young-Curtis Brown Dual Threat of…

Author’s Note: These are not the official Big Ten Players of the Week, but my Big Ten Players of the Week as a writer for Gridiron Heroics. Offensive Player of the Week: Sean Clifford, Penn State, Quarterback, Senior. Sean Clifford went 20 of 37 for 282 yards and four touchdowns in Penn State’s big Thursday night win over Purdue in West Lafayette, Indiana. This was a gutsy, hard fought game that in 2021 or 2022 Penn State likely would have lost, but thanks to the heroics of Sean Clifford they came away with a big road win. The importance of…

Heisman Watch The Leaders: There isn’t any change here after Week 0 as all of these guys have yet to play, but with so many stars this year, expect different people to make their names heard starting in Week 1. Bryce Young, Alabama, Quarterback, Junior. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State, Quarterback, Junior. Will Anderson, Alabama, Linebacker, Junior. Bijan Robinson, Texas, Running Back, Junior. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State, Wide Receiver, Junior. In the Race: TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State, Running Back, Sophomore Caleb Williams, USC, Quarterback, Sophomore Stetson Bennett, Georgia, Quarterback, Senior Hendon Hooker, Tennessee, Quarterback, Senior Jaren Hall, BYU, Quarterback, Junior Making…

With only Nebraska, Northwestern, and Illinois playing in Week 0 our options might have been limited to find standout players in the Big Ten. There were plenty of standouts to recognized from these three teams in Week 0 of the 2022 college football season. Football is back and the Big Ten is off to a great start!!! Offensive Player of the Week: Ryan Hilinski, Northwestern, Quarterback, Junior. Ryan Hilinski was 27 of 38 for 314 yards and two touchdowns and no turnovers in the Wildcats big win over Nebraska in Dublin, Ireland as the headline game for Week 0 in…

The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award is presented to the senior or upperclassman quarterback with the most outstanding season. There is no shortage of talent on this list in this the year of the quarterback in college football. 2022 Golden Arm Award Watch List Presented by A. O. Smith Holton Ahlers, East Carolina Brennan Armstrong, Virginia Hank Bachmeier, Boise State Connor Bazelak, Indiana Stetson Bennett, Georgia Gerry Bohanon, South Florida Logan Bonner, Utah State Charlie Brewer, Liberty Chase Brice, Appalachian State Davis Brin, Tulsa Braxton Burmeister, San Diego State Zach Calzada, Auburn Hudson Card, Texas Sean Clifford, Penn State Chase…

One of the unique things about the Manning Award that I absolutely love is that it includes the postseason performance of all its candidates when it makes its evaluation and final selection after the completion of the entire college football season. That said I still have my disagreements with their choices, but that’s the fun of college football. Here are their candidates for 2022. 2022 Manning Award Preseason Watch List (2021 stats) Name, Class, School QBR Pct. Yards TD INT Rushing Brennan Armstrong, Sr., Virginia 75.4 65.2 4,449 31 10 251 yds, 9 TDs Stetson Bennett, Sr., Georgia 86.7 64.5…

The Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award is given annually to the best senior football player both off and on the field of play. CLASS is an acronym for “Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School.” While no official preseason watchlist has been released, I have released my own top ten seniors who will make a run at this prestigious award. I focused on players who are in their fifth, or sixth (super seniors via the 2020 season and Covid-19 Pandemic) years in school. While many players are considered seniors, I wanted to try to avoid anyone who may return for…