10th annual Herbie Awards

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Editor's note: Check out "The Herbie Awards" airing on ESPN Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

With the season's kickoff just days away, it's time to step back and celebrate the players, coaches, color and pageantry of college football. Who are the players to know? Where are the places to be? The 10th annual Herbie Awards presentation answers those questions and more.

This list tackles the top playmakers, the defensive difference-makers, the fresh faces on the scene, the student sections that roar and everything else that's great about college football. Herbies are given to the best college football players, coaches, teams and fans across the nation.

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

So, without further ado, here are the 10th annual Herbie Awards:

RIGHT TO EXCITE: MOST EXCITING PLAYERS

Jacquizz Rodgers is no stranger to the highlight reel. (Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/US Presswire) 1. Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon State 2. LaMichael James, Oregon 3. Jake Locker, Washington 4. DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma 5. Noel Devine, West Virginia

BORN TO RUN: BEST RUNNING BACKS

Ryan Williams was one of 2009's best freshmen. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) 1. Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech 2. Mark Ingram, Alabama 3. DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma 4. LaMichael James, Oregon 5. Evan Royster, Penn State

CATCH A RISING STAR: TOP WIDE RECEIVERS

Defenses will handle A.J. Green with care in 2010. (Photo by Nelson Chenault/US Presswire) 1. A.J. Green, Georgia 2. Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma 3. Jon Baldwin, Pitt 4. DeAndre Brown, Southern Miss 5. James Rodgers, Oregon State

OFF AND RUNNING: READY TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

1. Jeff Demps, Florida 2. Anthony Allen, Georgia Tech 3. Shane Vereen, California 4. Ron Johnson, USC 5. Brandon Bolden, Ole Miss Florida will need increased production out of Jeff Demps. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

RODNEY DANGERFIELDS: PLAYERS WHO DON'T GET ENOUGH RESPECT

The Herbies appreciates the work Montel Harris does. (Photo by Cary Edmondson/US Presswire) 1. Montel Harris, Boston College 2. Chris Polk, Washington 3. Ryan Whalen, Stanford 4. Jordan Todman, Connecticut 5. Stephen Paea, Oregon State

FRESH APPROACH: TOP TRUE FRESHMEN

1. Dillon Baxter, USC 2. Michael Dyer, Auburn 3. Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina 4. Kenny Stills, Oklahoma 5. Lamarcus Joyner, Florida State USC has high expectations for Dillon Baxter. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

QUARTERBACKS: POCKET PRESENCE

Andrew Luck is lethal in the pocket. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) 1. Andrew Luck, Stanford 2. Kellen Moore, Boise State 3. Christian Ponder, Florida State 4. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas 5. Jacory Harris, Miami

QUARTERBACKS: DUAL-THREAT

Jake Locker gets it done on the ground or in the air. (Photo by Joe Nicholson/US Presswire) 1. Jake Locker, Washington 2. Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State 3. Jerrod Johnson, Texas A&M 4. Robert Griffin III, Baylor 5. B.J. Daniels, South Florida

MOST EXPLOSIVE PLAYERS

The Herbies loves DeMarco Murray's extra gear. (Photo by Tim Heitman/US Presswire) 1. DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma 2. Noel Devine, West Virginia 3. Titus Young, Boise State 4. Jeremiah Masoli, Ole Miss 5. Shane Vereen, Cal

REMEMBER ME: BEAT THE BANDWAGON

Remember the name Greg Reid. (Photo by Sam Sharpe/US Presswire) 1. Greg Reid, Florida State 2. Cameron Newton, Auburn 3. Kenjon Barner, Oregon 4. Will Hill, Florida 5. Garrett Gilbert, Texas

ALL TOGETHER NOW: BEST POSITION UNIT

No QB looks forward to the day he has to face UNC. (Photo by Bob Donnan/US Presswire) 1. North Carolina LBs 2. Alabama backfield 3. Iowa DL 4. Arkansas WRs 5. Nebraska secondary

DRESS FOR SUCCESS: LOOKS THE PART

DeAndre McDaniel anchors Clemson's secondary. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/US Presswire) 1. DeAndre McDaniel, Clemson 2. Patrick Peterson, LSU 3. Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame 4. Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech 5. Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina

ALL THE MARBLES: QB WITH THE GAME ON THE LINE

Not many can match Kellen Moore in the win column. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Image of Sport/US Presswire) 1. Kellen Moore, Boise State 2. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas 3. Andrew Luck, Stanford 4. Jerrod Johnson, Texas A&M 5. Jacory Harris, Miami

SHOW ME SOME RESPECT: UNDERRATED COACHES

Mike Riley has worked wonders at Oregon State. (AP Photo/Don Ryan) 1. Mike Riley, Oregon State 2. Randy Edsall, Connecticut 3. Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern 4. Houston Nutt, Ole Miss 5. Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech

TAPE 'EM UP: ANKLE-BREAKERS

LaMichael James is deadly in the open field. (Photo by Steve Dykes/US Presswire) 1. LaMichael James, Oregon 2. Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon State 3. Jeremy Kerley, TCU 4. Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh 5. Roddy Jones, Georgia Tech

HITS KEEP COMING: BIGGEST HITTERS

Ronnell Lewis delivers a mean hit for the Sooners. (Photo by Ivan Pierre Aguirre/US Presswire) 1. Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma 2. Jay Valai, Wisconsin 3. Manti Te'o, Notre Dame 4. Dont'a Hightower, Alabama 5. Jeron Johnson, Boise State

NOSE FOR THE BALL: MOST INSTINCTIVE PLAYER

Wherever the ball is, that's where Scott Lutrus is. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) 1. Scott Lutrus, Connecticut 2. Ross Homan, Ohio State 3. DeJon Gomes, Nebraska 4. Luke Kuechly, Boston College 5. Greg Jones, Michigan State

NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN: COMEBACK PLAYER

Baylor happily welcomes back QB Robert Griffin III. (Photo by Brendan Maloney/US Presswire) 1. Robert Griffin III, Baylor 2. Dont'a Hightower, Alabama 3. Mark Herzlich, Boston College 4. Darren Evans, Virginia Tech 5. Jewel Hampton, Iowa

ULTIMATE GAME-CHANGER

UW's fortunes rest on Jake Locker's shoulders. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) 1. Jake Locker, Washington 2. Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State 3. Mark Ingram, Alabama 4. DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma 5. A.J. Green, Georgia

TOE THE LINE: TOP LINEBACKERS

1. Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina 2. Travis Lewis, Oklahoma 3. Kelvin Sheppard, LSU 4. Greg Jones, Michigan State 5. Brian Rolle, Ohio State UNC's embarrassment of riches includes Quan Sturdivant. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)

CORNERING THE MARKET: TOP CORNERBACKS

Patrick Peterson has things covered for the Tigers. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) 1. Patrick Peterson, LSU 2. Prince Amukamara, Nebraska 3. Aaron Williams, Texas 4. Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina 5. Kendric Burney, North Carolina

OFF THE EDGE: BEST DEFENSIVE ENDS

Robert Quinn will have his eyes on opposing QBs this fall. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) 1. Robert Quinn, North Carolina 2. Adrian Clayborn, Iowa 3. Cameron Heyward, Ohio State 4. Greg Romeus, Pitt 5. Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue

STAGE DIRECTION: TOP PLAYCALLERS

Steve Sarkisian pulls the strings for Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images) 1. Steve Sarkisian, Washington 2. Chip Kelly, Oregon 3. Gus Malzahn, Auburn 4. Bobby Petrino, Arkansas 5. Kevin Wilson, Oklahoma

TOP DEFENSIVE MINDS

T-1. Bo Pelini, Nebraska T-1. Will Muschamp, Texas T-1. Nick Saban, Alabama 4. Monte Kiffin, USC 5. Gary Patterson, TCU Bo Pelini has big plans for Nebraska's defense in 2010. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images)

MOST UNDERVALUED TEAMS

Greg Jones and MSU might surprise people in 2010. (Photo by John Albright/Icon SMI) 1. Michigan State 2. UCLA 3. Northwestern 4. Rutgers 5. Ole Miss

AND THE BAND PLAYED ON: TOP STUDENT BANDS

Fortunately, the band plays on at Ohio State. (Photo by Matthew Emmons/US Presswire) 1. Ohio State 2. Florida A&M 3. Wisconsin 4. Michigan 5. Tennessee

STAY IN SCHOOL: TOP STUDENT SECTIONS

Penn State's White Out is a sight to behold. (Photo by Ned Dishman/Getty Images) 1. Penn State 2. Notre Dame 3. LSU 4. Wisconsin 5. South Carolina

FAVORITE UNIFORMS (after the scarlet-and-gray of Ohio State, of course)

The Longhorns keep it classic with their all-white unis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson) 1. Texas' all-whites 2. USC's away 3. Alabama 4. Penn State 5. TCU's Nike Pro Combat

CANDID COACHES (arranged alphabetically)

1. Bret Bielema, Wisconsin 2. Mack Brown, Texas 3. Gene Chizik, Auburn 4. Chip Kelly, Oregon 5. Rick Neuheisel, UCLA 6. Houston Nutt, Ole Miss 7. Bo Pelini, Nebraska 8. Nick Saban, Alabama 9. Steve Sarkisian, Washington 10. Randy Shannon, Miami 11. Mike Stoops, Arizona 12. Jim Tressel, Ohio State The Herbies recognizes Bret Bielema's point. (Photo by David Stluka/Icon SMI)

BULL DURHAM COACHES: GREAT COACHES WHO PLAY IT CLOSE TO THE VEST

Frank Beamer is still getting it done at Virginia Tech. (AP Photo/John Raoux) 1. Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech 2. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa 3. Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern 4. Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech 5. Gary Pinkel, Missouri

Kirk Herbstreit is an analyst on ESPN's "College GameDay."

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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.