Jake Ryan not among Butkus Award Semifinalists
Title says it all.
Link: http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/colleges/post/_/id/7358/four-from-b1g-a… Semifinalists are listed below:
Steve Beauharnais, Rutgers
Arthur Brown, Kansas State
Jonathan Brown, Illinois
Max Bullough, Michigan State
Gerald Hodges, Penn State
Jarvis Jones, Georgia
Dion Jordan, Oregon
Michael Mauti, Penn State
Kevin Minter, LSU
CJ Mosley, Alabama
Trent Murphy, Stanford
Manti Teo, ND
I don't watch enough games outside the B1G to comment on those non-B1G players, and I'm completely ok with Manti, Bullough (I know), and Mauti on here, but I feel our boy JR has had as much of an impact at LB as anyone in the B1G this year.
October 23rd, 2012 at 11:47 AM ^
I think Teo wins it...and in regard to Ryan, I don't believe he has played at a truly high level for every game this year...The last 3-4 games, he has been dominant, but not sure if he stood out like he does now for the first 3 games of the season.
October 23rd, 2012 at 11:57 AM ^
October 23rd, 2012 at 11:47 AM ^
Jonathan Brown over Jake Ryan? Jake has more tackles on a better defense. He has more sacks than Brown. Plus, I'd say he has a much bigger impact. I'm not really sure I see the point in Jonathan over Jake. Anyone want to help me figure that one out?
October 23rd, 2012 at 1:04 PM ^
Sure. Illinois is 2-5, all losses were total blowouts, allowing scores of 31, 35, 45, 45, and 52(to a WAC school) He stands out on the worst defense in the B1G, yet has less production than any of our starting linebackers who share the load on one of the best, if not the best defense in the B1G. Plus our defenses just went head to head, and we demolished them 45-0. Makes total sense.
October 23rd, 2012 at 6:40 PM ^
October 23rd, 2012 at 11:47 AM ^
Maybe Ryan needs to learn how to kiss more butt...?
October 23rd, 2012 at 12:51 PM ^
October 23rd, 2012 at 11:48 AM ^
4 B1G
3 SEC
2 PAC
1 B12
1 BEAST
1 Independent
October 23rd, 2012 at 11:50 AM ^
ESPN_BigTen Fact he wasn't on preseason radar hurt him. Not saying it's right, but it's why RT @AHLabovitz: I'd take Jake Ryan over any of those guys... 10/22/12 12:44 PM |
October 23rd, 2012 at 1:47 PM ^
If I recall accurately, two years ago Obi Ezeh made this list -- the very same week Demens finally took over his starting role.
October 23rd, 2012 at 2:15 PM ^
Demens was on the watch list a year earlier. Chris Galippo at USC was on the 2011 preseason Watch List going into his senior season and was benched in favor of true freshman Lamar Dawson halfway through the year.
October 23rd, 2012 at 8:37 PM ^
Well, maybe that means that recognition is a necessary prerequisite but not sufficient.
October 23rd, 2012 at 4:52 PM ^
October 23rd, 2012 at 7:00 PM ^
certainly deserves some love.
October 23rd, 2012 at 2:57 PM ^
I love JR as much as anyone, but IMHE Manti is the best LB in college football this year. I would also likely take Mosley over JR if I'm being honest.
October 23rd, 2012 at 4:48 PM ^
I dont think the question is whether Ryan is the best LB, but whether he deserves to be in the conversation (or, more specifically, on this list). He's arguably better than at least 2-3 names listed, maybe more. Maybe not as solid or accomplished as Teo or Mosley or Jarvis Jones, but still in the conversation, imo.
October 23rd, 2012 at 11:56 AM ^
While I think he should be on the list, he wouldn't win it anyway. He has two more years to win pointless individual awards anyway; his time will come.
October 23rd, 2012 at 11:58 AM ^
Alabama has been a free pass to the media to ignore Michigan this year. When Denard passes Pat White he will also not get his due.
October 23rd, 2012 at 11:58 AM ^
If you compare stats... it's easy to see why. I think he plays a huge role in the scheme, but he's not making 70 tackles like Te'O http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/manti-teo-1.html He's at more like 20 http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ryan_jake00.html
October 23rd, 2012 at 12:15 PM ^
34 Solo, 18 assisted, 8.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 3 PBUs, 2 hurries and 2 FFs. MGoBlue's stats are based on 3 games played. Check out ESPN or Cfbstats.
October 23rd, 2012 at 11:58 AM ^
Its rare for players who have break out years to win these awards. There are so many players in NCAA that pre season goes into this a lot. Next year his name will be all over things like this.
October 23rd, 2012 at 12:02 PM ^
He didn't really have a national rep before the season started and these three latest games in which he has been a beast haven't exactly been national attention getters. Next year's his year if he keeps it up, but for now it's hard to see the insult here.
October 23rd, 2012 at 1:22 PM ^
First point is right, but most of the guys on that list haven't played in any games with national attention. A couple haven't even been a beast in one game. They're just looking at the guys they had marked in the pre-season, which is lazy but expected.
October 23rd, 2012 at 12:05 PM ^
He may enter next year as a favorite.
October 23rd, 2012 at 12:14 PM ^
October 23rd, 2012 at 12:30 PM ^
October 23rd, 2012 at 1:47 PM ^
simply because we've got at least 2 stud playmakers on D. The execution of our DL and LBs takes the pressure off of our other proven playmaker, Jordan Kovacs.
October 23rd, 2012 at 12:43 PM ^
that's fine, he sure will be next year.
October 23rd, 2012 at 12:44 PM ^
but If I were Hoke I'd put the list up on Jake's locker.
October 23rd, 2012 at 1:43 PM ^
Hoke's not the kind of coach to stress individual awards. It's too much about The Team for him to do something like.
October 23rd, 2012 at 8:30 PM ^
I totally agree. I was just thinking of it as a goad to JR, to keep the fire lit and make sure he doesn't start reading his local press clippings. I'm sure Hoke won't do it anyhow; he doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who'd play games like that.
October 23rd, 2012 at 12:48 PM ^
I don't get it. Jake Ryan could be the best linebacker in the B1G this year, but they nominate 4 others and exclude him. Michael Mauti, Kevin Minter, CJ Moseley, and Manti Te'o are having better years than Jake Ryan, granted, but 6 of the other guys are a legit downgrade over him. Jonathan Brown is basically getting nominated for last years performance, because this year he's fallen way off. Penn State gets 2 guys on the list? Even Max Bullough is a slight downgrade over Ryan this year. Dion Jordan would be the 3rd or 4th best linebacker on our defense right now, and Jarvis Jones is more of a Defensive End, and has only played in 5 games.
October 23rd, 2012 at 12:51 PM ^
He wasn't going to get it this year, but he's definitely better than:
- Beauharnais
- Brown
- Brown
- Hodges
Disappointing that he's not listed ahead of these guys in particular, but Teo, Minter, Mauti, and Mosley are probably all ahead of Jake this year.
Next year? He'll be on the list.
October 23rd, 2012 at 1:10 PM ^
Unfortunately, like preseason rankings, these awards pay more attention to the preseason hype of a player rather than performance, at least until you get to the finalists. Ryan assuredly deserves to be on this list. Next year he will have a legit shot to win if he keeps playing at the level he has the last several games.
October 23rd, 2012 at 1:21 PM ^
Next year. Not All-Conference. All-American.
October 23rd, 2012 at 1:24 PM ^
with any of the names on this list.
I'd rather have Jake on lists like this in his senior year, dont want to see him leave before that.
October 23rd, 2012 at 1:51 PM ^
I'm fine with everyone on the list from the B1G except Brown at Illinois - must be preseason hype sticking around. Te'o has been great, as has Bullough. I haven't seen enough of the other conferences to have an educated opinion on them except to say that nobody from the Big 12 should be mentioned as a "best" defender in any context until they stop giving up 50 points to each other.
October 23rd, 2012 at 1:58 PM ^
Wasn't going to win it with Teo on the list, but he definitely earned the right to be a finalist.
October 23rd, 2012 at 3:02 PM ^
Just real quick, has anyone here watched Beauharnais play? Probably not. I promise you that he belongs on this list. The crazy thing is that teammate Khaseem Greene got left off. Reigning Big East Player of the Year, having an even better year. Makes me wonder what the criteria is on this list, and what they're actually watching. Greene would no doubt be a finalist based on his play. And argue all you want about it, but take the time to watch him and Rutgers D before you do.
For what its worth, yeah Jake Ryan got screwed. These lists are BS, kind of a microcosm of the Top 25 polls. Wait til the games have been played out. Ryan has his best football ahead of him. Te'o wins no matter what, and I really think that if ND continues this trend, he should be in New York in December for the Heisman. Been a real pleasure to watch if you're a fan of the game.
October 23rd, 2012 at 6:09 PM ^
It's a sham that Ryan isn't on the list...with that said, they may as well hand the award to Teo now. Invite him to NYC for the Heisman as well.
October 23rd, 2012 at 6:20 PM ^
October 23rd, 2012 at 9:04 PM ^
Mr. Ryan has plenty of time to garner his haul of awards. Kid is going to be great.