NCAA’s Most Unheralded People

By Dustin Snyder
Love of Sports Correspondent

Our economy isn’t the only thing going through a credit crisis.

In the college football world, there are always players and coaches who slip through the cracks and don’t get the credit they deserve.

Maybe they aren’t in the big programs. Maybe they are, and they’re still unnoticed nationally.

By no means is this list all-inclusive. There’s players on every team who have attributed to their team’s success, despite the records and the statistics.

But here are 10 (or 13) people who’ve done some great things, but are clearly under the national radar. Some you’ve heard of, most you probably haven’t.

As a massive fan of this great sport, when you see something noteworthy, I take notes.

College Football’s Most Unheralded People

12. Mario Cristobal, Head Coach, Florida International

There aren’t many things more difficult for a coach than to have to build a new program from the floor up. Cristobal isn’t the first head coach in FIU history, but he might as well be. He comes from a tradition of winning and knows nothing other than success. As an all-Big East offensive tackle, he went on to become the Miami Hurricanes’ tight end coach from 2004-05 and offensive line coach in 2006. In his first year at FIU, the Golden Panthers went 1-11. They got their win in the last week of the season against North Texas, snapping the nation’s longest losing streak at 23 games. Now, in his second year, he has these kids believing they can really do this. The Panthers started the 2008 season ranked 119 of 119. Seven games into the season, instead of being 0-7, this team is 3-4. He and his staff are looking at what Greg Schiano, a former Miami coach as well, has been able to do at Rutgers. Cristobal knows FIU’s moving in the right direction. It isn’t a question of whether or not it’ll happen, it’s a question of how soon.

11. Naaman Roosevelt, WR, Buffalo

We all know the job Turner Gill’s doing at the University of Buffalo, and there’s no doubt he’s living up to his billing as being one of the hottest non-BCS coaching targets. One of the main reasons for his success up there has been his ability to find gems and lure them from all over the country to the cold banks of Lake Erie. A gem’s certainly what he got in local boy Roosevelt, who actually came to UB as a quarterback before turning into the monster special teams and receiving threat he is today. The 6-foot-0, 187-pound junior currently ranks second in the MAC in receiving, with five TDs and 637 yards, with 14.5 yards per reception. UB’s close to bowl eligibility, and for the first time in what seems like an eternity, the Bulls aren’t being taken lightly.

10. SMU’S Wide Receivers

Yes, we’re all well aware June Jones left Hawai’i to take over at SMU, and we all know SMU will be contending for a BCS bid in about three years, if not sooner. Their offense, under freshman quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, is already doing a lot better than people realize, even for a Jones offense. That’s a shame, because they have themselves two extremely talented wide receivers this season. So talented, in fact, they’re ranked No. 1 and 2 in the nation in receiving. Aldrick Robinson, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound sophomore, currently has 909 yards and 10 TDs. He’s gone over 100 yards in four of their eight games, including a 210-yard performance against UCF. His cohort, Emmanuel Sanders, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound junior, has 823 yards and eight TDs. He’s gone over 115 yards five times. Once this defense gets on track the sky’s the limit.

9. Stan Brock, Head Coach, Army

You never want to step into a situation where you are changing the offense … after the last guy stepped into a situation where HE changed the offense. Brock did everything possible to keep the competition from knowing that Army was going back to the wishbone, but the secret got out. When he assumed the head duties after being Bobby Ross’ O-line coach, he realized this team needed another change after his mentor’s failed pro-style attack. He’s a former player for Ross, with the San Diego Chargers. His Black Knights have suffered two heartbreaking losses this season, to Buffalo and Texas A&M, and are currently 2-5. In his second year at West Point, they’re playing much better football than the record indicates and should contend to best last year’s 3-9 record.

8. Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford

Jim Harbaugh took over at Stanford and stepped into a program that had been in a downswing for years. Leading the charge for the re-emergence isn’t a strong-armed quarterback, it’s a running back who seems to have come out of nowhere. Gerhart’s been a blessing for Stanford and a nightmare for everyone else. The 6-foot-1, 228-pound junior’s a physical, punishing running-back. He’s rushed for over 100 yards in five of Stanford’s eight games to date, and three times in the past four. He’s currently ranked second in the Pac-10 and 13th nationally in rushing, with 779 yards, 5.6 yards per carry and nine TDs.

7. Paul Johnson, Head Coach, Georgia Tech

I’m not sure there’s a better case of a head coach being a miracle worker. The job Johnson did at a service academy in today’s day and age of super-competitive recruiting is simply amazing. You can call it a gimmick offense if you want, but he ran much of the same offense at Georgia Southern before he took over at Navy. So far at Georgia Tech, the job he’s doing there is insane. He’s done a wonderful job of getting the kids acclimated to this new system, one that’s radically different than his predecessor’s. He’s a very confident coach who knows this system works. He was I-AA coach of the year four straight times at Georgia Southern and now has a chance to recruit players for this system that would typically not choose Navy over a BCS school. It’s not all offense at Georgia Tech this season, though, evidenced by their 6-1 record. Morgan Burnett’s currently tied for first in the nation in interceptions, with five.

6. Tyrell Fenroy, RB, Louisiana-Lafayette

Talk about mired in obscurity. Fenroy not only plays for a team half the country never heard of, but he plays in a whole conference half the country never heard of as well. But those people don’t know what they’re missing. Fenroy, at only 5-foot-9, 186 pounds, is a crushing running back. He leads the Sun Belt Conference in rushing with 970 yards, putting him at an almost unbelievable fourth nationally. He has a yards per carry average of 7.5, with 12 touchdowns. He’s been running all over people. In seven of Louisiana-Lafayette’s games, he’s gone over 100 yards rushing, which includes a 297-yard performance against arch-enemy Louisiana-Monroe.

5. Kyle Whittingham, Head Coach, Utah

Probably the hardest job as a head coach is being the man who followed “the man.” Whittingham was the defensive coordinator under Urban Meyer at Utah before taking over the head coaching duties. Whittingham, who’d been the defensive coordinator at the school since 1995, was fought over by both BYU and Utah when Meyer left for Florida. Although a BYU grad, he stayed at Utah. Now in his fourth season as head coach, the Utes have gotten better each season under him and are currently 3-0 in bowl games with him at the helm. So far in 2008, the Utes have proven to be a tough and gritty team, are undefeated at 8-0, and are looking like they’re probably the best team not in a BCS conference. He’s done an excellent job in getting kids to come to Utah. At the end of this season, it’s almost a given that bigger schools will come calling. A job many are eyeing as a possible landing spot for him is Washington. Regardless of what happens in the offseason, Utah’s in a prime position to bust the BCS.

4. Dick Tomey, Head Coach, San Jose State

After his stint with Arizona, where he led the Wildcats to a 95-64-4 record and seven bowl appearances, Tomey’s next head coaching gig would take place at a program mired in mediocrity. Now in his fourth season at San Jose State, he’s been doing a marvelous job, all things considered. In 2006, the Spartans participated in their first bowl game since 1990 with a win over New Mexico State. In 2007, they fell to 5-7 after starting the year 0-3, despite being seventh nationally in turnover margin. Defense is the Tomey specialty. While at Arizona, he orchestrated the “Desert Storm” to much success. He left, and they haven’t been to a bowl since. This year, he has one of the most underrated wide receiver corps in the nation. On defense, Duke Ihenacho is tied for first in the country interceptions, with five ... two of which turned into touchdowns. The Spartans are 5-2 so far in 2008 and are all but certain to return to a bowl this season.

3. Gus Malzahn, Offensive Coordinator, Tulsa

Malzahn (the now infamous Gus Malzahn) came to Tulsa as the co-offensive coordinator in 2007 after a stint with the Arkansas Razorbacks that still has many people shaking their heads. He’s a former high school coach who was well known for his spread attack offense. He went to Arkansas and took his two high-profile commits with him: WR Damian Williams and QB Mitch Mustain. There was some sort of scandal involving e-mails, and no one understands it, and neither do I. At the end of the day, however, The Three Amigos all left Arkansas. Mustain and Williams are now at USC, and both are doing well, especially Williams. The job Malzahn’s done at Tulsa with quarterback David Johnson (a first-year starter) is simply remarkable, and there’s no question as to whether or not Malzahn will get offered a head coaching gig. Johnson’s currently first nationally in QB rating, at 212.82, and ranked fifth nationally in yardage, with 2,397. He has a TD to INT ratio of 31 to 8. Tulsa’s having a monster season and is looking like the favorite in C-USA. Hopefully, the BCS voters are taking notice of how good this team really is, especially on offense.

2. Brady Hoke, Head Coach, Ball State

Who ever would have thought that Ball State would be a ranked team in a prime position to not only win their conference, but to post an undefeated record? You can’t say enough good things about the job Hoke’s done in Muncie. The Cardinal (yes, singular, and if you have an explanation, I’m all ears) have posted a better record in each of the six seasons under Hoke’s leadership. They’re one win away from besting their 2007 record of seven wins and are set to meet helpless Eastern Michigan this weekend. Hoke’s a Ball State alum, and was the defensive line coach at Michigan from 1997 to 2002 before taking over the head duties at his alma mater. He’s 22-27 overall going into 2008, and there’s no doubt bigger programs will be knocking on the door shortly. He’s done it with a great sense of finding the kids to run his system; typically kids who are overlooked by the big schools. The passing game with Nate Davis and the now-injured Dante Love is well documented, but the running game with Miquale Lewis (sixth nationally, 914 yards) is extremely deceptive. It’ll take a miracle for them to get a BCS bid, so it’s looking like the 2008 campaign will end with a bid that’s sadly beneath this team’s level of talent.

1. Evan Royster, RB, Penn State

He’s probably the most well recognized of anyone on this list, and with good reason. When Royster came to Penn State out of Fairfax, Virginia, he was a bigger lacrosse prospect than a football one. Happy Valley’s glad he chose the latter. The sophomore running back’s been the stabilizing force of the Penn State offense, even more so than quarterback Daryl Clark. Royster’s a very intelligent runner, is durable, patient and last, but certainly not least, reliable. To date, he has zero career fumbles. He’ll need all of those qualities this weekend in Columbus when the Nittany Lions square off against Ohio State. The 6-foot-1, 212-pound phenom’s ranked seventh nationally in rushing yardage with 893. He has a yard-per-carry average of 7.7, with 10 TDs.