The Best of the 2022 College Football Season
I purposefully waited to write about my selections for yearly awards for college football after the completion of the season. I know it’s a fun thing to do between the end of a season and bowl games but it always brings up a conversation if the Heisman winner has a poor postseason, or the runner-up smokes his opponent, or if the coach of the year makes a season-ending bad call. Some years nothing really changes after the season is completed, and other years everything would.
It just makes more sense to decide who the best in college football is for a year after that year is completed. We do it with our top 25 rankings. I did it with my All-American team, and now I’m doing it with awards for the best in college football in the 2022 season. I also brought my own style to the process of naming different achievements after players who have stood out to me in my time as someone who loves the game of college football.
LaVell Edwards Coach of the Year: Kirby Smart, Georgia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mecKLzAVHc
Kirby Smart is 29-1 in two seasons. Two seasons that he won back-to-back national championships. He did it going against the norm of where the current game of college football is, in that he did it with defense first. That’s where Kirby Smart’s forte as a coach is and where his star players are which is an exception to the rule that is college football these days.
Just look at the champions before his Georgia teams. 2020 Alabama had DeVonta Smith, 2019 LSU had Joe Burrow, 2018 Clemson had Trevor Lawrence, and 2017 Alabama had Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa. Kirby’s best guys were Javon Walker and Jalen Carter, two All-American defensive linemen.
Mike Leach Innovative Coach of the Year: Josh Heupel, Tennessee, Head Coach.
While Josh Heupel didn’t bring about any new systems like the great Mike Leach did with the Air Raid, or Urban Meyer did with the Spread Option, Heupel (much like Kirby Smart but on the opposite side of the ball) just took what was there and amplified it. Heupel had the Vols a first in the nation in scoring offense with 46.1 points per game, first in total offense with 525.5 yards per game, and first in passing efficiency at 181.39. Heupel, who played under Mike Leach, is earning his own reputation as a guru of offense. Somewhere in Heaven a pirate is looking down and smiling at his old protege.
Joe Burrow Offensive Player of the Year: Caleb Williams, USC, Quarterback, Sophomore.
I was in the minority in thinking Caleb Williams shouldn’t have been the Heisman winner, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think he had a fantastic year and is a great football player! And he very likely could match Archie Griffin and win the Heisman twice! He accounted for 52 touchdowns this season, 42 of them passing touchdowns which led the nation. He also had 4,537 passing yards, which was third-best in the nation.
All of this was while he was sacked over twice as much as other leading quarterbacks. Williams was sacked 30 times, Stetson Bennett was sacked nine times, C.J. Stroud 12 times, and fellow Pac-12 quarterback Michael Penix only five times. With an only improving team, year two of Lincoln Riley and Caleb Williams looks to be just as good and get even more winning done.
Tyler Allgeier Walk on of the Year: Carlton Martial, Troy, Linebacker, Senior.
We have become a Carlton Martial content account.
You're welcome, everybody.#RiseToBuild | #OneTROY ⚔️🏈 pic.twitter.com/4sR3mM86Oa
— Troy Trojans Football 8x⚔️ (@TroyTrojansFB) November 13, 2022
The NCAA’s all-time leading tackler did what he does in his final game, totaling 14 tackles in Troy’s win over UTSA. He was a key part of the Trojans’ 12-2 campaign. I get the feeling his impressive record will stand for a long time. 577 tackles in his college career, 50 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks, and six interceptions. He will be remembered as one of the best linebackers in college football history and next year I think I’ll write an award named after him for a player concluding an epic career.
John Beck Senior of the Year: Stetson Bennett, Georgia, Quarterback, Senior.
Say what you want about Stetson Bennett and bring all the old jokes. They’re funny! But if they ever get too mean Stetson Bennett can just point to two national championships, and 4-0 in the College Football Playoff. In the College Football Playoffs, he was 78 of 115 for 1,239 yards and 15 total touchdowns. That makes all the old jokes funny even to Stetson Bennett, the greatest quarterback in the history of the College Football Playoff.
Dwayne Haskins Quarterback of the Year: C.J. Stroud, Ohio State, Junior.
OHIO STATE STRIKES FIRST 🎯
C.J. Stroud ➡️ Marvin Harrison Jr. for 6❗️ pic.twitter.com/MsWHE3DM1V
— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2023
C.J. Stroud has had a great career. 8,123 passing yards and 85 touchdown passes. Still, aside from his record-setting Bowl, his legacy at Ohio State was a little up in the air until he played just as impressive of a game in the Peach Bowl. He put up a game on Georgia’s defense that they hadn’t seen since Bryce Young did it to secure the Heisman in 2021.
Stroud was 23 of 34 for 348 yards and four touchdowns and was a field goal away from dethroning the defending champions. His 41 touchdown passes for the year were second nationally behind only Caleb Williams’ 42 and Williams played one more game than Stroud. Stroud led the nation with a 125.0 quarterback rating. Stroud can leave Ohio State with his head held high.
Ezekiel Elliott Running Back of the Year: Running Back: Mohammed Ibrahim, Minnesota, Senior.
Ibrahim had 320 carries for 1,665 yards and 20 touchdowns in only 12 games in his senior season. His 1,665 yards were third in the nation in rushing yards and his 20 touchdowns were first, 1,106 of those yards came AFTER contact. He finishes his career as Minnesota’s leading rusher with 867 carries for 4,668 yards, 5.3 yards per carry, and 53 touchdowns. No running back carried their team like Ibrahim did the Gophers this season.
Jim Otis Fullback of the Year: Brad Roberts, Air Force, Senior.
Nation's leading rusher was a fullback! Love it! #MakeFullbacksGreatAgain https://t.co/SxzGTQcTAh
— Phillip Riggs (@phillipriggs85) January 12, 2023
I love fullbacks. They’re a throwback and still have plenty of football left to play. The position is making a much-needed return and it’s thanks to guys like Brad Roberts. Roberts lead the nation in rushing yards this season with 1,728 on 345 carries, averaging 5.0 yards per carry with 17 touchdowns which were good enough for eighth in the nation. Roberts carried Air Force on his back to a Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, an Armed Forces Bowl win, and a 10-3 record. He has 708 carries for 3,545 yards and 33 touchdowns in his career at Air Force.
Devin Smith Wide Receiver of the Year: Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State, Sophomore.
🙌 Touchdown makers
4️⃣1️⃣ @CJ7STROUD 2022 TD throws
8️⃣5️⃣ career TDs
••
1️⃣4️⃣ @MarvHarrisonJr scores in 2022
1️⃣7️⃣ in his last 14 games#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/eAg2P901c4— Ohio State Buckeyes 🌰 (@OhioStAthletics) January 1, 2023
Marvin Harrison Jr. had a fantastic season statistically, but his importance goes beyond his stats. In 2022 starting on January 1, 202 at the Rose Bowl to December 31, 2022, at the Peach Bowl, Harrison had 83 catches for 1,340 yards and 17 touchdowns. When Ohio State went away from him they lost big to Michigan, when they went back to him against the best defense and the best team in the nation and they nearly beat the two-time national champions except for an injury to him.
Dennis Pitta Tight End of the Year: Tight End: Dalton Kincaid, Utah, Senior.
👍 trademark @_DaltonKincaid pic.twitter.com/PhBM8cMnOM
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) November 26, 2021
Dalton Kincaid was the best-receiving threat the Utah Utes had and maybe they win their Rose Bowl against Penn State. Kincaid had 70 catches (the most by any tight end in the country) for 890 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022. His biggest game was the Utes’ first win over USC. In the upset Kincaid had 16 catches for 234 yards and a touchdown in a win that changed the season in all of college football.
Maurice Clarett Freshman of the Year: Drake Maye, North Carolina, Quarterback, Freshman.
Maye to Nesbit #CarolinaFootball 🏈 #UNCommon#HolidayBowl
Courtesy: FOX pic.twitter.com/d6HDxmNTuL
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) December 29, 2022
The phenomenal Drake Maye took the college football world by storm. His 4,321 passing yards were fourth in the nation, and his 38 touchdown passes were fifth. He also had 698 yards and seven touchdowns rushing. Maye will be one of the strongest challengers in Caleb Williams’ Heisman defense in 2023. He was easily the best freshman in college football and one of the best players in the game in 2022.
Orlando Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year: Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State, Junior.
buckeyes. pic.twitter.com/wmnUEohOiF
— Paris Johnson Jr. (@ParisJohnsonJr) January 10, 2023
Paris Johnson was the anchor for one of the best pass-protecting teams in the country. The Buckeyes gave up only 12 sacks which was seventh best, and four of those came against the Georgia Bulldog defense. Even with that the Bucks were giving up less than a sack a game (0.92 per game average). Outside of the Peach Bowl, it was only 0.66 per game. This led the Buckeyes to the second-best scoring offense with 44.2 points per game and ninth in total offense with 490.7 yards per game.
Jacoby Boren Center of the Year: Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan, Senior.
The best way to show Olu Oluwatime’s highlights is to show the rushing game he paved the way for.
The nation's top interior lineman and the first winner of the Outland Trophy from @UMichFootball: Olusegun Oluwatimi. He's the first center to win the award since 2005.https://t.co/jV6tyC04y6 pic.twitter.com/xcyQp34Y6y
— Outland Trophy (@outlandtrophy) December 9, 2022
Talk about an elite offensive lineman that led the way for a great offense and you look no further than Olu Oluwatimi. On the way to winning the Outland and Rimmington awards for best interior lineman and best center, Oluwatimi helped Michigan get the sixth-best scoring offense with 40.4 points per game. He also helped the Wolverines be the fifth-ranked rushing offense with 3,345 yards on the season for 238.9 yards per game, and a second-ranked 41 touchdowns.
Chase Young Defensive Player of the Year: Durrell Johnson, Liberty, Senior.
😱😱😱 FOURTH AND GOAL FUMBLE. Ball is recovered by Durrell Johnson! 😱😱😱 pic.twitter.com/lNEzKLgxYc
— Liberty Football (@LibertyFootball) September 3, 2022
Durrell Johnson was the best college football player you never heard of in 2022. He had 58 tackles, a nation-leading 27.5 of them for a loss, nine sacks, and three fumble recoveries. He led the way for a Liberty Flames team that had 121 tackles for a loss, the most of any team in the country. The Flames backed up opposing offenses 510 yards on the season with their tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
Bosa Brothers Defensive Lineman of the Year: Tuli Tuipulotu, USC, Junior.
So proud of @TuipulotuTuli on being named a Rotary Lombardi Finalist ✌️
That’s why they call him… TULI! 😤 pic.twitter.com/6EvLQOAbrl
— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) December 8, 2022
Tuli Tuipulotu led the nation in sacks making him the easy choice for the best pass rusher in the nation. He had 13.5 sacks on the year and 13 were all by himself. He made 46 total stops and was the best defender on the field for USC.
Matt Wilhelm Linebacker of the Year: Ivan Pace Jr., Cincinnati, Junior.
Pace was eighth in the nation with 137 total tackles, he was second behind Liberty’s Durrell Johnson in tackles for a loss with 21.5, and he had 10 sacks. Pace was named AAC Defensive Player of the Year and also forced three fumbles and defended four passes.
Mike Doss Defensive Back of the Year: Clark Phillips III, Utah, Junior.
Phillips had 24 tackles, two tackles for a loss, one sack, six passes broken up, and six interceptions, the second most in the nation, two of which he returned for touchdowns. Phillips was a unanimous and consensus All-American and is one of the few recruiting misses by my Buckeyes that I remember and wish had turned out differently. A defensive back of his caliber could have changed some losses into wins for Ohio State, as he certainly did that for the Utah Utes.
Mike Nugent Kicker of the Year: Jake Moody, Michigan, Senior.
✅ Career long
✅ School record
✅ Longest FG in #CFBPlayoff historyJake Moody with the 59-yard BOOT 😤 pic.twitter.com/UmOBT2hPnr
— ESPN (@espn) December 31, 2022
Jake Moody was 29 of 35 including three field goals made from beyond 50 yards and was a perfect 60 of 60 on extra points. Moody didn’t win the Groza this year but should have. He made one more field goal than the winner, and while he had a few more misses they were from the extreme of most kickers range.
Drue Chrisman Punter of the Year: Bryce Baringer, Michigan State, Senior.
Introducing Bryce Baringer, your Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year. pic.twitter.com/AJCoF86fib
— Michigan State Athletics (@MSU_Athletics) November 30, 2022
Baringer had 50 punts for 2,450 yards for an average of 49 yards per punt. Baringer would flip fields for the Spartans with ease and was a tremendous help to their defense this season. He was the lone bright spot for the 5-7 Spartans.
Curtis Brown Most Versatile Player of the Year: Tyjae Spears, Tulane, Junior.
.@GreenWaveFB's Tyjae Spears is having A GAME 😤 pic.twitter.com/AmoRyQ33Xi
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 2, 2023
I went away from my All-American pick for this spot because of how huge Spears was for a team that went from 2-10 to 12-2 and beat the Big 12 and Pac-12 Champions in the same season. Spears had the numbers to back him up too. He had 229 carries for 1,581 yards and 19 touchdowns rushing and was a threat in the passing game with 22 catches for 256 yards and two touchdowns. This put him at 251 touches for 1,837 yards and 21 total touchdowns.
Ted Ginn Jr. Returner of the Year: Jaylin Lucas, Indiana, Freshman.
Lucas had 22 kick returns for 591 yards and two touchdowns to go along with his 49 carries for 271 yards and two touchdowns rushing. He averaged 27 yards per return and 5.5 yards per carry and will be a weapon Big Ten defenses will need to plan for every play next year.
Archie Griffin Player of the Year:
This one was the most difficult to choose for. Caleb Williams had video game numbers; 52 touchdowns and 4,650 yards passing and rushing. Stetson Bennett got back-to-back national championships and was dominant in the playoffs averaging over 400 yards and four touchdowns a game. C.J. Stroud had elite numbers with 41 touchdown passes and a passer rating of 125.0. A guy like Blake Corum wins the Heisman hands down and maybe changes the Fiesta Bowl if he doesn’t get injured. Hendon Hooker makes a run at the Heisman if he stays healthy.
Marvin Harrison Jr. changes the outcome of games and championships if he’s better utilized and not injured. He was the biggest difference maker in college football this year, and he was playing just enough to prove it and not have it be theory like Hooker and Corum. Tennessee won the Orange Bowl without Hooker and Michigan The Game and the Big Ten without Corum. Call it homerism, call it a prediction for next year, but the best player in college football in 2022 was Marvin Harrison Jr. And after a 2022 with 83 catches, 1,340 yards, and 17 touchdowns he’s the favorite for the Heisman and being the player of the year in 2023.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FM-hTker1KI