The Nation's Best: Fifth Annual Herbies

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The Herbies celebrate their fifth season with an all-star cast of players and a few extra catagories from the sights and sounds from around college football.

But before we announce the winners, let's get one thing straight -- The Herbies celebrate college football players. This list has everything to do with the playmakers, the hogmollies, the difference makers and, in short, just great college football players. It has nothing -- nothing -- to do with their pro potential.

Now, what's a Herbie? It's given to the best college football players, coaches, teams and fans from across the nation.

Also, this is just my list. These are my choices and not everyone will agree. That's the beauty of it. Let the second-guessing begin.

So, here they are -- the fifth annual Herbie Awards.

Best Running Backs
Reggie Bush, USC	Reggie Bush gets the Herbie for best running back.
Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma
Gerald Riggs Jr., Tennessee
DeAngelo Williams, Memphis
Marshawn Lynch, Cal

Best Wide Receivers
Calvin Johnson has the speed and hops to make the big play.	Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech
	Ted Ginn Jr., Ohio State
	Robert Meachem, Tennessee
	Derek Hagan, Arizona State
	Dwayne Jarrett, USC

Top Offensive Linemen
Greg Eslinger, C, Minnesota	Greg Eslinger is simply dominating at center..
Max Jean-Gilles, G, Georgia
Davin Joseph, G, Oklahoma
Eric Winston, T, Miami
D'Brickashaw Ferguson, T, Virginia

Top Tight Ends
Marcedes Lewis is a matchup nightmare.	Marcedes Lewis, UCLA
	Zach Miller, Arizona State
	Dominique Byrd, USC
	Greg Olsen, Miami
	Jeff King, Virginia Tech
	(Honorable Mention: Anthony Fasano, Notre Dame; Joe Klopfenstein, Colorado; David Thomas, Texas; Tim Massaquoi, Michigan)

Movin' On Up: Teams ready to step up to the 10-win plateau

Purdue -- With 19 starters returning and a favorable schedule, look for the Boilers to be in thick of Big Ten championship chase.

Texas A&M -- The Aggies have a third year in coach Dennis Franchione's system, a four-year starting QB in Reggie McNeal and they get Texas at home.

Alabama -- It all comes down to health. If Bama stays healthy (especially at QB), the Tide will be a surprise team in the SEC.

Oregon -- Expect Mike Bellotti and the experienced Ducks to make some noise in the Pac-10 after a few mediocre seasons. A veteran QB and replenished skill positions (read: loaded with tremendous athletes) will make sure of it.

Pitt -- Being in the newly redesigned Big East will allow first-year coach Dave Wannstedt -- who inherits a talented Pitt team led by QB Tyler Palko -- to make a great run this year.

Top True Freshman
Derrick Williams, WR, Penn State	Derrick Williams will spark the Penn State offense.
Patrick Turner, WR, USC
DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon
Marlon Lucky, RB, Nebraska
Kevin Grady, RB, Michigan
Jamario O'Neal, DB, Ohio State
Kenny Phillips, DB, Miami
Justin King, WR/CB, Penn State
Fred Rouse, WR, Florida State

What's My Name: Players who will be household names by October
Brian Brohm is a name you'll know.
	Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville
	Marshawn Lynch, RB, Cal
	Michael Robinson, QB, Penn State
	Willie Williams, LB, Miami
	DeShawn Wynn, RB, Florida
	Keith Rivers, LB, USC
	Brandon Kirsch, QB, Purdue
	JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
	Courtney Lewis, Texas A&M
	Greg Olsen, Miami

Best Student Section
Florida	The Gators always give their fans a reason to cheer.
Texas A&M
Michigan
Notre Dame
Utah
(Wisconsin has always been one of my favorite places, but it lost serious points lately. Lighten up on the beer bongs. Have a little more respect for your opponents; and remember, there are kids around, too, so maybe yelling profanities in every other chant isn't such a good idea.)

Top 5 GameDay Locations

Ohio State -- Rabid fans and, selfishly, my wife and kids get a chance to be there. But the Buckeyes' fans support our show as well as -- if not a little bit better than -- any other site.

Any SEC site -- It's too hard to separate Knoxville from Gainesville from Athens, but anytime we go to an SEC game I'm excited because I know we'll see a great game and the fans will make it an experience to remember.

USC -- I never thought I'd put a Pac-10 school on this list, but the Trojans' fans blew me away last year with their support. They showed up at 7:30 a.m. local time, and the thousands of Trojans fans let the nation know USC and the Pac-10 are to be taken seriously.

Virginia Tech -- Same old, same old. The Hokies' faithful always make this list because of their loyalty, knowledge of the game and respect for the game. Virginia Tech fans are as good as it gets.

Texas A&M -- It starts with 40,000 people gathering at midnight Friday for Yell Practice and continues with all the traditions, including the way they stand for the entire game and cheer on their Aggies.

Best Game-Day Coach*
Pete Carroll, USC	Pete Carroll takes care of ever little detail for USC.
Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
Jim Tressel, Ohio State
Mack Brown, Texas
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
Jeff Tedford, Cal

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Kirk Herbstreit

College Football analyst

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Kirk Herbstreit has been an ESPN college football studio analyst since August 1996. Herbstreit, who joined ESPN in September 1995 as a college football sideline analyst for ESPN2, is also a game analyst for ESPN's Thursday night college football telecasts.