Movie stars are rewarded with an Oscar. Television stars receive an Emmy.
When it comes to football, it's called a "Lemmy."
CBS/MaxPreps recruiting analyst Tom Lemming will unveil his annual college and high school football awards during the Lemming Report Friday at 7 p.m., EST, on the CBS Sports Network.
He will announce his Junior All-American team, Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, High School Sleeper of the Year and College Head Coach of the Year.
Though fans will have to wait until the show airs for most of the awards, Lemming did release his six Assistant Coach of the Year Awards. They went to Curtis Luper, Auburn; Sal Sunseri, Alabama; Mike Denbrock, Notre Dame; Fred Jackson, Michigan; Brian Polian, Stanford; and Tosh Lupoi, California.
Al Golden (Miami), James Franklin (Vanderbilt), Rob Ianello (Akron) and Danny Hope (Purdue) are among past Lemmy winners who now are head coaches.
Lemming also gave his Director of Operations Award to Ed Marynowicz of Alabama.
Though he wouldn't reveal his Junior All-Americans, Lemming did note that the No. 1 junior running back is
Ty Isaac of
Joliet Catholic Academy (Ill.). The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder, who runs 40 yards in 4.5 seconds, has gained more than 2,100 yards so far this year and is averaging an impressive 12 yards per carry, Lemming said.
Derrick Henry.
Photo courtesy of JVK Photography
Lemming noted, "Isaac has got great hands and can do it all. He's the best out of the Chicago area since Rashard Mendenhall of
Niles West (Skokie, Ill.), who plays for the Steelers."
Florida also has two junior running backs who rank among the nation's Top 5. Lemming ranks
Derrick Henry of
Yulee (Fla.) No. 2 at the position and also lists
Kelvin Taylor of
Glades Day (Belle Glade, Fla.) in his Top 5.
He calls Henry "a big power back with real good speed." He said he is impressed that Henry set a
Northeast Florida career rushing record in just three years "because a lot of talent comes out of that area."
He says that Taylor "is smaller, but just as explosive. His competition is suspect, but not his talent."
Lemming cautioned that the junior rankings "are very fluid, because I like to see everybody on film and in person. It takes a lot of time."
* Told that
David Thompson of
Westminster Christian (Miami) broke most of the school passing records held by Alex Rodriguez and is being compared to Tim Tebow, Lemming replied, "It's a compliment to the kid, because Tebow was a great college player and is in the pros. He's got a great arm, anticipation, timing, release and all the talent to be a great college player. He can't run like Tebow. He's more of a Jay Cutler-type. He can run himself out of trouble, but he's more of a passer."
* Lemming was impressed by
Chad Chalich, who led
Coeur d'Alene (Idaho) to the Class 5A state title despite playing with a hairline fracture of his right foot.
"I don't recommend it (playing with a fracture), but it does tell colleges that he's got heart and desire to excel," Lemming said. "Football is a tough sport and he's a tough kid."
* He admits he is not as impressed by passing records as he once was. He explained, "Passing records are not as meaningful as they used to be. Rushing yards mean more now, because everyone is going to the spread offenses."
* Lemming had a reminder for college coaches to save a few scholarships for the players who just develop in their final year. He pointed out, "There are millions of kids (who play football) and some fall through the cracks. There's always someone who's (unexpectedly) going to have a great senior year."
* The veteran talent scout said he is pleased that the University of Arizona has hired Rich Rodriguez as its head coach. He called it "a great catch for the Arizona Wildcats. He wasn't given much of a chance at Michigan. He can really excel at Arizona. You watch, in two or three years they're going to be near the top of the Pac-12."
* If rumors that former Florida coach Urban Meyer will take the Ohio State job, Lemming said it "would be a great move for the Buckeyes. He's one of the great coaches and recruiters that I have seen. There would be no dropoff if Urban takes the job. He's one of the few guys who can turn a good (recruiting) class into a great one."
Meyer left Florida because of health reasons and would have to get his doctor's approval to step back into the pressure cooker. Why would he even consider threatening his health?
Lemming replied, "It's why Bob Davie is going to New Mexico. These guys have it (coaching) in their blood."
