The FootballScoop Coaches of the Year awards, presented by ProGrass, are the only set of awards that recognize the most outstanding position coaches in college football. Finalists were selected based off of nominations by coaches, athletic directors and other athletic department personnel. The winner will be chosen by the previous winners of this award and will be announced on Friday December 19th.
The 2014 FootballScoop Coaches of the Year will be recognized and will receive their awards at an event held in their honor at the American Football Coaches Association's annual convention in January in Louisville, KY.
Previous winners of the Linebackers Coach of the Year award are Bill McGovern (Boston College, 2008), Bob Fraser (Rutgers, 2009), Luke Fickell (Ohio State, 2010), Dave Huxtable (Wisconsin, 2011), Bob Gregory (Boise State, 2012), and Jim Reid and LeVar Woods (Iowa, 2013)
Bob Gregory, Washington
One ranks among the nation's top 75 tacklers. Another leads the nation in sacks and ranks second in tackles for loss. And a third stands as college football's best two-way players, collecting 71 tackles when he's not busy popping off for 7.5 yards a carry as a running back. One could make a very strong case that Bob Gregory employs the nation's most multi-talented, and multi-destructive, linebacker corps. Washington also ranks 12th in turnovers forced and 15th in red zone defense.
Key Stats
- Hau'oli Kikaha ranks first nationally in sacks, second in TFL
- Shaq Thompson regarded as nation's best two-way player
- John Timu ranks among nations' top 75 tacklers (96)
- 15th in red zone defense (74.07 percent)
- 12th in turnovers forced (27)
Jeff Casteel, Arizona
Manti Te'o finished second in the 2012 Heisman Trophy voting for collecting 113 tackles, seven interceptions, 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Now consider Scooby Wright's 2014 stat line: 140 tackles (fourth nationally), 14 sacks (third) and 28 tackles for loss (first). With three TFLs in Friday's Pac-12 championship, Wright will surpass Sammy Brown's 30 TFLs for Houston in 2011 for most in at least the past seven seasons, and he'll do it in one less game. And he's a sophomore. Beyond Wright, Arizona ranks third in the Pac-12 in yards per carry allowed.
Key Stats
- 6th in passing offense (340.2 yards per game)
- 7th in yards per carry as a team (6.10 yards per carry)
- 1st in yards per reception among teams with at least 250 catches (14.85)
- 2nd in receptions of 30-plus yards (31)
- 1st in receptions of 40-plus yards (22)
Brent Pry, Penn State
Led by All-Big Ten performer (and the nation's seventh-leading tackler) Mike Hull, Penn State ranks third nationally in total defense and second in yards play. Penn State stands as the nation's toughest to run against (2.56 yards per carry allowed) and seventh-toughest to pass against (5.8 yards per attempt allowed). The Nittany Lions also rank sixth in third down defense and eighth in plays of 10-plus yards allowed.
Key Stats
- Mike Hull ranks seventh in tackles (134)
- 1st in yards per carry allowed (2.56)
- 7th in yards per attempt allowed (5.8)
- 6th in third down defense (29.95 percent)
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