Reggie Bush gave his 2005 Heisman trophy back in 2012 following several years of NCAA investigations into the allegations that sports agent Lloyd Lake and business partner Michael Michaels gave Bush gifts that included hotel stays, a rent-free home for his family, and a limousine ride and suit for the 2005 Heisman Trophy ceremony.
Lake had expectations that Bush would return the favor by being his meal ticket, and when that didn’t happen, Lake sued Bush for $300,000 and cooperated with the NCAA investigation.
Now that the NCAA has relented on the idea, though they were forced to do so, that players are able to capitalize on their Name, Image and Likeness while in school, and make money off their notoriety, Reggie Bush wants his Heisman Trophy back.
Reggie Bush doesn’t need to be in physical possession of the Heisman Trophy for us to acknowledge who it belongs to. His 2,218 yards from scrimmage, and 9.4 yards per touch that season electrified college football fans everywhere, and fueled an undefeated Pac-10 season that capped off 23-consecutive conference wins.
The trophy is not only his, but because of the NCAA contending that it isn’t his, much like with the Baseball Hall of Fame keeping Pete Rose on the outside looking in, the first name we’re going to think of every time we hear the word Heisman is Reginald Alfred Bush Jr.
Here are his highlights to remind you of exactly what the NCAA is trying to make you forget:
Here are some of the better takes out in the Twittersphere:
National Treasure 3:
Nicholas Cage helps Reggie Bush steal back his Heisman.
The Pac-12 is hoping to have multiple first-round draft picks in the 2020 NFL Draft. The conference has many offensive and defensive prospects that teams will be looking to draft between April 23-25. Today, we will look at prospects who are possible Day Two draft picks.
This article is Part One of a 2-part Pac-12 NFL Draft Preview.
Trey Adams of Washington May Have Rocky 2020 NFL Draft Road
Adams’ college career was derailed because of injuries. Still, his talent presents teams with an intriguing option for teams. Adams ran a 5.6 second 40-yard dash at the combine, along with a 24.5 inch vertical jump and a 92 inch broad jump. These numbers were not great, and Adams did not make the best impression on NFL scouts. A Sports Illustrated article featured a Pro Football Weekly analyst who criticized Adams’ time at the combine. The same article reported that Adams may have not been smart with certain answers he gave in interviews. Adams is ranked number 90 in ESPN’s Best Available list, but it will be interesting to see if he can salvage being picked within the first two days of the draft.
Devin Asiasi Looks to be Day Two Pick at 2020 NFL Draft
Asiasi broke onto the scene in 2019, as he caught 44 passes for 641 yards and 4 touchdowns. He started his career at Michigan, but wanted to be closer to home. He was able to find a place in Chip Kelly’s fast-paced offense at UCLA. His play in 2019 helped him attain the ranking of the third-best tight end available according to ESPN’s Best Available list. A team with a need at tight end may look at drafting Asiasi. He fits the bill of being a more physical tight end that still possesses breakaway ability. Due to the class at tight end being not as deep this year, Asiasi should be a Day Two draft pick.
Bradlee Anae Made Great Impression At Senior Bowl
Utah DE Bradlee Anae is having a STRONG day at the Senior Bowl.
Matt Patricia and his staff are getting a real good look at a prospect who could be a realistic option for the Lions if he’s available after the first round.
Anae received First-Team All Pac-12 honors in 2018 and 2019. He also wreaked havoc at the Senior Bowl in January, as he tallied three sacks in that game. At the combine, Anae ran a 4.93 40-yard dash. Anae could become a hybrid player in the NFL, playing outside linebacker in a 3-4 defensive scheme. He had 13 sacks his senior year at Utah. It is shocking that Anae is not higher on draft boards. He is ranked as the 83rd best prospect on draft boards. The 2020 NFL Draft is deep at the defensive end position, but Anae should be a Day Two pick.
Ashtyn Davis’ 2020 NFL Draft Stock Affected By Pro Day Cancellation
Originally a scholarship track athlete at Cal, Davis became a second-team all-conference football player. Davis could be a Day Two draft pick, but some teams are having trouble evaluating him after his Pro Day was canceled. He sustained a groin injury in Cal’s game against UCLA on November 30th and was unable to run at the combine. Thus, Davis does not have a recorded 40 time. However, being a safety who can act quickly off the ball makes Davis an intriguing prospect for NFL teams.
Troy Dye Could Go Up Draft Boards Due to Football IQ
Troy Dye is a great option for teams as a Day Two draft pick because of his high football IQ. Dye did not participate in drills at the NFL Combine. Still, he had a productive season in 2019 with 52 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles. Dye played the entire game against Washington this past season despite breaking his thumb early in the game. Teams like qualities like toughness and football IQ, and Dye possesses both. It would be a shock if Dye was not a Day Two draft pick.
Laviska Shenault Jr. Could Be First Round Pick, But Injuries a Concern
Laviska Shenault Jr. is another example of a player whose college career was impacted by injuries. When Shenault is 100 percent, he is a freak of nature on the football field. However, he had to have core muscle surgery in early March. Shenault was dealing with a core muscle injury for the majority of the 2019 season but still garnered team MVP honors at CU. He had 56 receptions for 764 yards and four touchdowns in 2019. When he was healthy, Shenault was the favorite target of quarterback Steven Montez. Shenault may be a late-first round draft pick, but may slide to an early second-round pick because of this injury.
All
of the prospects talked about in this article are being projected as Day Two
draft picks. Next week, we will preview prospects that may have greater
first-round potential, such as Justin Herbert and Brandon Aiyuk.
This wee, only one Pac-12 NFL player repeated from Week 10’s Best Pac-12 NFL list. Finally, we get some fresh faces and new players on here. Let’s see who joined the ranks of the best!
It’s not often that a place-kicker joins the best of Pac-12 NFL players. Yet here we are. With the New England offense moving slowly, their defense and special teams are picking up the slack.
In a tight, 17-10 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, Nick Folk scored the majority of the Patriots’ points. He went three-for-three with field goals of 35, 22 and 39 yards.
Arizona State
Lawrence Guy – New England Patriots
Lawrence Guy's turn. #Eagles running zone weak away from the tight ends. Guy, with great pad level, knifes between the two blockers on the combo block on the right side to get into the backfield. #Patriotspic.twitter.com/oIHquCqBxU
On Sunday, he managed to hit quarterback Jameis Winston four times, get 1.5 sacks and add a tackle for a loss. It was another All-Pro game for Cameron Jordan. His stats and 82.0 PFF grade are why he is still among the best Pac-12 NFL players in the league.
Although the Cincinnati Bengals lost to the Oakland Raiders, Josh Tupou played very well. It was by-far his best game of the season. Tupou compiled seven tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, one stuff and one forced fumble.
Honestly, is there anything better to watch than a special teams touchdown? They are rare, special and should be treated as such.
In the first quarter, up 3-0, Kenjon Barner fielded the punt from Younghoe Koo at the Atlanta 22. He then took it 78 yards to the house. The seventh-year journeyman just earned his first, NFL punt/kick return touchdown. Of course, his highlight-touchdown is worthy of praise.
Yes, their game was against the hapless Miami Dolphins. Nonetheless, the Buffalo Bills won by 17 and Miami finally couldn’t cover the spread.
In this game, Jordan Poyer did his usual damage as a reliable tackler. He totaled six tackles (four solo) and also added a fumble recovery. On the season, Poyer now has 72 tackles, one sack, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and an interception.
Stanford
Christian McCaffrey – Carolina Panthers
.@run__cmc is the FIRST player in NFL HISTORY to rush for at least 1000 yards AND have at least 500 receiving yards in the first 10 games of a season. 💪 pic.twitter.com/C2anxZnrje
Somehow, even though he compiled nearly 200 yards from scrimmage, the Carolina Panthers only scored three points. How on Earth is that possible? What else does Christian McCaffrey have to do?
In their Week 11 matchup, our Pac-12 NFL superstar turned 14 carries into 70 rushing yards and also caught 11 balls for 121 yards. 191 yards from scrimmage. Yet, only three points for the Panthers. This team needs to get a viable quarterback or send the Stanford star to another team. His play deserves the playoffs.
UCLA
Eric Kendricks – Minnesota Vikings
Eric Kendricks restructured his contract in May to provide cap relief for the #Vikings.
Eric Kendricks is elite. Right now, he’s playing the best football of his career. He currently owns a 90.5 PFF grade. Last week, he earned a spot on the top Pac-12 NFL list with his fourth-down heroics.
Because of his stellar form, the Vikings have utilized Kendricks in pass coverage this season. He’s stepped up to the challenge with 12 pass break-ups. Eric Kendricks, with 85 tackles and 12 pass breaks-ups, is playing like a top-three linebacker.
Though his 43.7 (No. 25) QBR on the season is uninspiring, Sam Darnold played his best game this week. He displayed an excellent passing ceiling with 293 yards and 4 touchdowns. Yes, he still took two sacks and threw an interception against Washington. But, this was one of the better games for Darnold and his 6-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio since returning from illness is promising.
Also, keep in mind these two things before putting down Darnold:
Heading into Week 11, Marcus Williams already was PFF’s top safety. That’s already praise enough for a Pac-12 NFL player. But then, he went and showed out in Week 11. Games like this show why he is the best of the best. Not only did he record three tackles and two pass break-ups. But, he also took an interception to the house.
There’s nothing like a pick-six for football fans. Especially defense enthusiasts. Marcus Williams is having a career year.
Down ten to six with just over two minutes left in the first half, Danny Shelton came up big. His strip-sack of Carson Wentz put the Patriots in excellent field position. Unfortunately, as is the case this year with the Patriots’ offense, they came away with three points. Though they started at the Eagles 22, they couldn’t score a touchdown. It’s a shame.
But, what isn’t a travesty is the New England Patriots’ defense. They look like one of the greatest defenses of all time. If players like Danny Shelton can keep bailing out the offense, they might win yet another Super Bowl.
As most know, the Arizona Cardinals need help in their secondary. Their pass-defending is among the worst in the league. However, Jalen Thompson got his first interception this week.
Additionally, he also had his first pass break-up. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come for the rookie out of Washington State.
His 156.1 Passing Efficiency Rating and 20-9 touchdown-interception ratio are both good. In the seven games he’s started and finished, Slovis has four wins, three losses. His wins came against Stanford, Arizona, Colorado and Arizona State. When he started, USC lost to BYU, Notre Dame and Oregon. All in all, he’s played well for a rookie.
Star Wide Receivers
#USC WR Michael Pittman Jr. recently accepted his Senior Bowl invitation.
His game against Utah (10 catches, 232 yards, and 1 TD) is a microcosm of what he is as a prospect. pic.twitter.com/ZJ3Szk173s
With all the praise given to Slovis, it’s important to remember that USC’s wide receivers are the stars of the show. In the Pac-12 conference, USC’s top-three wide outs are each top-ten in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
Michael Pittman Jr.
71 (No. 1) receptions
938 (No. 1) receiving yards
8 (No. 3) receiving touchdowns
Tyler Vaughns
62 (No. 3) receptions
752 (No. 4) receiving yards
5 (No. 8) receiving touchdowns
Amon-Ra St. Brown
55 (No. 5) receptions
666 (No. 7) receiving yards
5 (No. 8) receiving touchdowns
USC’s Defense
On defense, they’re holding teams to 28.1 points-per-game and 418 yards-per-game. That’s not ideal, considering they’re only averaging 30.5 points-per-game. But, it highlights why they are 6-and-4 and not 8-2.
Why Cal Football will win
Injuries to USC
Unfortunately, USC’s recent health hasn’t been good. Running backs Stephen Carr, Merkese Stepp and Vavae Malepeai were all out. Hopefully Carr and Malepeai can play against Cal. But if not, USC plays without three, key running backs.
More importantly, USC’s Brett Neilon left last week’s game with a calf strain. That calf strain sidelines him for multiple weeks, while Justin Dedich takes over. Adding to that is the health of Kedon Slovis. Again, during the same game against WSU, Slovis dealt with cramps that briefly sidelined him. While he sat out two series, they had to use an IV pump.
After starting out the game 15 of 17 for 297 yards and 4 touchdowns (on the first four drives), USC slumped. They only scored three points the rest of the game. Following the four touchdowns, their drives ended:
5 punts
One fumble
One interception
One turnover on downs
One field goal
If USC isn’t in better health, Cal football takes the W.
While not elite anymore, the Cal football defense is still good. They rank 30th in DFEI, according to footballoutsiders. Their .38 DFEI best USC’s .25 DFEI. Additionally, the strength of Cal’s defense directly challenges the strength of USC’s offense. Cal’s secondary is their best feature, while USC’s talent is in their receiving corps. They’ll have their work cut out for them guarding Michael Pittman Jr., but if anyone can do it, Cal can.
Back when the Cal football program was winning and ranked, Garbers was their guy. Before his Week 5 injury, Garbers led Cal to four straight wins. In five games (one partial), Garbers showcased a 148.1 Passing Efficiency Rating, alongside an 8-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio. After years of poor play, Cal actually had an offense. Following his injury, they lost four straight games.
But now, finally throwing without limitations, Chase Garbers is good to go. Even if Justin Wilcox won’t name him as the starter yet, he should be. Garbers played well enough at the start of the season to earn the job. Moreover, Garbers brings a running dimension. Oh, and let’s not forget that Garbers led Cal football to a victory last season against USC.
This weekend, Pac-12 football fans got it all. Oregon and Washington State certainly lit up the field offensively. The Ducks are currently ranked 6th in Unafraidshow’s College Football Rankings. Likewise, many Pac-12 NFL players gave us memorable performances in week 8. Here they are!
Best Quarterback Performance
Gardner Minshew II – Washington State – Jacksonville Jaguars
Minshew magic is back! Let’s go!
Unlike the rest of football fans, Pac-12 NFL fans knew that Minshew was for real. We knew a long time ago. It’s just great to see everyone else accept it.
Against a competent New York Jets defense, Minshew didn’t flinch. He compiled 279 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. He also let the Jets sack him twice. But, for those who watched the game, his pocket-presence is next level. Minshew’s movement in the pocket and ability to extend plays is incredible.
Last, and definitely important, Minshew threw zero interceptions. Again. Overall, he has just 2 interceptions and 13 touchdowns this season. The sixth-round rookie is playing far above any expectation.
Gardner Minshew for Rookie of the Year!
Best Running Back Performance
Christian McCaffrey – Stanford – Carolina Panthers
Against the league’s second-best defense (New England Patriots are clear first), the Carolina Panthers flopped. They only scored 13 points, while the 49ers rolled through 51 points. However, that didn’t stop all-star, Pac-12 NFL running back Christian McCaffrey from creating highlights.
To say that this season has been rough for the Pittsburgh Steelers is to say the least. After a promising 2017 season and a breakout 2018 season, everyone was ready for Juju Smith-Schuster to keep the hype train going. With the departure of Antonio Brown (to mental illness?), Smith-Schuster was primed for an elite 2019 campaign.
But, all hope went down with Ben Roethlisberger. However, Smith-Schuster still has the ability to pop on the field. In week 8, he cleared the 100-yard mark for the first time this season. Granted, this week he played the Miami Dolphins (#tankfortua), but he’s a good wide receiver.
His plus-16.5 (No. 20) Production Premium and plus-39.2-percent Target Premium (No. 10) show that he still has talent, but he’s just trapped on an anemic offense.
Best Tight End Performance
Austin Hooper – Stanford – Atlanta Falcons
Even with Matt Schaub under center, Austin Hooper was a baller. He reeled in 6 of 7 targets for 65 yards and a touchdown. He was one reason why the Pac-12 NFL fans didn’t switch channels. Hooper’s late score helped the Falcons attempt a last-minute comeback (or at least cover the a plus-7.5 spread).
Austin Hooper has set a new career high with five receiving touchdowns this season, which leads all tight ends this season.
