Nation’s Best DB

[Stonewall]

I'm brand new to this forum, having just registered. This is a most beneficial site, thanks to all for the valuable contributions.


I wanted to point out that 2 of the 3 finalists for the Thorpe Award (nation's top DB) are white. Craig Steltz and Jamie Silva. Both of these men must be considered as top NFL prospects at safety, deserving to go in no later than the 2nd round. I'll talk about Steltz because I am more familiar with him. We all know that the media will compare Steltz to guys like John Lynch and Adam Archuleta. While I obviously love both Lynch and Archuleta, Steltz is a different player. He's a fast ball-hawking free safety who patrols centerfield for the nation's best team. He brings great leaping ability and quickness to the table. While Steltz can hit, his coverage skills make him more of an Ed Reed type than a John Lynch.


The dearth of white safeties in the NFL is a real travesty, as we all know. Just as in recent years there has been a revival of superstar middle linebackers in the NFL, I predict that we will see the same at free safety over the next few years. This will filter down to the youth ranks, where young white kids will realize that they can play positions like safety at the highest level.

 

[guest301]

Good first post. Welcome to Caste Football. It is a rare thing for two white DB's to be up for the Thorpe award.

 

[whiteathlete33]

Both are outstanding athletes. I wish them the best.

 

[backrow]

who will actually win in your opinion?

 

[jared]

Steltz is a big guy and really does well in run support. I think he'll be a strong safety in the pros. The caste NFL is more likely to push whites there than to the more coverage-intensive FS position.

p.s. welcome to the boards, we need more college football fans.Edited by: jared

 

[jaxvid]

Good observation Stonewall, like the white RB's that are moved to LB, the good white CB's will get moved to safety. Eventually the sheer amount of good players at those postions will filter down to other spots too.

Nice first post. Welcome aboard.

 

[Stonewall]

Thanks for the welcome messages, this is a really valuable board.


Backrow, regarding your question about who will actually win this award, I'd have to go with Craig Steltz. LSU's defense is ranked 2nd nationally, and Steltz has been in the spotlight all season long. He had one of his best games in the season opener against Miss. State when he picked off 3 passes, and has benefited from his team's nearly weekly appearance on CBS.


To the best of my knowledge since the Thorpe Award began being awarded in 1986, only one white player has ever won (Greg Myers of Colorado State in 1995). Most of the winners have gone on to be 1st round picks, I believe Myers was a 2nd or 3rd round pick of the Bengals in 1996.


Interestingly enough, the criteria for the award includes "athleticism and character". The winner of the award is chosen by the Jim Thorpe Association in Oklahoma. I have no idea who is involved with that group, hopefully not the mainstream media.


I just noticed Steltz was ranked as the 2nd best safety entering the draft on one mock draft board, but it obviously varies depending on where you look.

 

[jared]

I just checked the Jim Thorpe Association website. They didn't list who is on the selection committee. The Biletnikoff site lists the media folks who are on their selection panel under the tab "Judges". http://www.biletnikoffaward.com/

 

[backrow]

To the best of my knowledge since the Thorpe Award began being awarded in 1986, only one white player has ever won (Greg Myers of Colorado State in 1995).  Most of the winners have gone on to be 1st round picks, I believe Myers was a 2nd or 3rd round pick of the Bengals in 1996.

"Myers started 34 of his 58 career Bengals games. He was a fifth-round draftee from Colorado State in 1996, started for all of 1997 and '98, then yielded to Cory Hall after four games of the '99 season.

Myers has had a steady if unspectacular career, with 212 tackles but only four interceptions in his 58 appearances. He was the Bengals' primary punt returner in 1997, averaging 7.7 per return."

so this outstanding player, two time all american went in the 5th round after winning Thorpe award...
after his first 4 seasons with Bengals he got injured in 2000 preseason and played 1 season for Cowboys, special teams mostly and disappeared from the league.
i guess he still got a better deal that our last white Biletnikoff award winner... at least Myers started at some point.

 

[Stonewall]

Thanks for the details on Myers. I remember following him back when he was drafted after watching him play for Colorado State in a bowl game. Wow, that is really ridiculous that he was drafted in the 5th round. I mean, he was even highly touted by the media back then. And, I believe that he had a good combine. Myers being a 5th rounder is a joke.


He played on some really bad Bengal teams, who had some really bad cornerbacks. Whenever I saw highlights of him, he was chasing after a receiver who had just badly beaten a Cincy corner. He should have had an opportunity to play corner.


The fact that Myers started in only his second year really demonstrates the kind of ability he had. It took Sehorn, and even John Lynch several years to become starters. I can remember looking forward to watching Sehorn play against Dallas on Monday Night Football back in 1995 (pretty sure that's the correct year). Needless to say, Sehorn didn't start and I don't remember him even playing on special teams. It really bothers me that many in the mainstream attribute Sehorn's fame solely on the fact that he was white. Sehorn is well known because he proved it on the field. No one knew who Sehorn was for his first several years with the Giants, he got no media attention until he started playing, and playing well for that matter.


Little known fact: While playing cornerback at USC, Sehorn shared the defensive backfield with Mike Salmon, a free safety, who is the brother of former Angels star rightfielder Tim Salmon. Unfortunately, Mike didn't get much of a chance to play in the NFL.

 

[whiteCB]

This Jamie Silva guy really came out of nowhere this season. I mean I had heard of Steltz before the season and remember seeing him play but I didn't even know of Silva until like the 5th week of the season. Congrats to both!!!

 

[backrow]

This Jamie Silva guy really came out of nowhere this season. I mean I had heard of Steltz before the season and remember seeing him play but I didn't even know of Silva until like the 5th week of the season. Congrats to both!!!

that's because he's a WhiteSafety and you're a WhiteCB

 

[Stonewall]

I checked a few mock drafts and noticed Silva being ranked ridiculously low. I'm talking as low as the 25th-30th ranked safety on the board. I'm not an expert on him, but he looks to compare similarly to Adam Archuleta. Silva measures just a tad under six feet and is known as a vicious hitter. I don't have any of his speed or strength numbers. I believe his weight is similar to Archuleta's. Archuleta really made a name for himself prior to the 2001 draft with his rep total on the 225 test and his overall serious workout regimen. Even before that, Archuleta proved that he was a very good football player, and not just a combine warrior. Archuleta was a 1st round pick who started as a rookie, started the Super Bowl in fact. Silva may not be a 1st rounder (I don't know), but I can't see him not being one of the Top 50-65 players in the draft.

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Good one back! There are so many players in college, its impossible to know about everyone.

 

[backrow]

linked by draftdaddy:

"Dixon, McFadden, Tebow up for Maxwell

Oregon senior quarterback Dennis Dixon, Arkansas junior running back Darren McFadden and Florida sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow are finalists for the Maxwell Award for the nation's best all-around player.

The Maxwell and eight other honors will be presented Dec. 6 at an awards ceremony televised by ESPN. Finalists were announced Monday.

The contenders for the Chuck Bednarik Trophy for the best defensive player are Penn State linebacker Dan Connor, LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and Ohio Sate linebacker James Laurinaitis.

Dorsey is also a finalist for the Outland Trophy, given to the best interior lineman, along with Kansas' Anthony Collins and Michigan's Jake Long.

Dixon, Tebow and Missouri's Chase Daniel are up for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award.

McFadden, the reigning Doak Walker Award winner, joins Michigan's Mike Hart and Rutgers' Ray Rice as finalists for the trophy given to the best running back.

Candidates for the Biletnikoff Award for the best wide receiver are Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree, Michigan's Mario Manningham and Kansas State's Jordy Nelson.

Jim Thorpe Award finalists for the best defensive back are Arizona's Antoine Cason, Boston College's Jamie Silva and LSU's Craig Steltz.

For the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, finalists are UTEP's Jose Martinez, Indiana's Austin Starr and Arizona State's Thomas Weber.

Finalists for the Ray Guy Award given to the nation's top punter are Georgia Tech's Durant Brooks, Cincinnati's Kevin Huber and Toledo's Brett Kern"

plenty of white players nominated for end of season awards. definitely a disproportionate numbers if you take into the account just how few of them are there.
especially Butkus, who is completely white with Dizon, Leman and Connor.

 

[Deus Vult]

http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/lsu/11635116.html

LSU's Steltz named finalist for Thorpe Award

SCOTT RABALAIS
Advocate sportswriter
Nov 20, 2007 - Page: 1C

LSU strong safety Craig Steltz pulled down a big Southeastern Conference honor Monday after pulling down two interceptions in the Tigers' 41-24 win Saturday at Ole Miss.

Now he's going to Disney World, too.

Steltz was named Monday as the SEC defensive player of the week after his two picks and five tackles against the Rebels.

Also Monday, Steltz was named as one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award â€â€￾ given annually to the nation's best defensive back â€â€￾ along with Antoine Cason of Arizona and Jamie Silva of Boston College.

The winner of the Thorpe Award will be announced Dec. 6 during the ESPNU College Football Awards show at Walt Disney World.

The program is set for 6:30 p.m. CST on ESPN.

Steltz, a hard-hitting senior from Kenner, now has six interceptions on the season, tied for the SEC lead with Alabama's Rashad Johnson and ranked fourth in the country. Steltz also leads the Tigers with 73 tackles.

The Walter Camp All-American team will also be announced during the ESPN awards show.

 

[whiteCB]

So who would you guys vote for Steltz or Silva? I would personally go with Steltz. The guy is such a ball hawk!

 

[backrow]

Steltz.

 

[celticdb15]

Ill go w\silva

 

[Stonewall]

I'd go with Steltz. If anyone hasn't had the chance to see him, check him out on You Tube. You'll see clips of several interceptions and a few big-time hits.


This guy really can hit and plays a prominent role in every game for LSU. He makes big plays in big games on national television week in and week out. Watch him go after McFadden today.


I saw the game where Boston College lost to Maryland, and I honestly can't rememberSilva's name being called more than 2-3 times. He's still a stud though. The man can really hit.


Ithink Steltz is just a better overallfootball player than Silva.

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

there's been so many years with zero white defensive backs on the list, that i'm going to take them both.

Silva is VERY similar to Adam Archuleta. in fact, a large portion of Silva's career at BC has been spent playing linebacker. he is a hard-hitting, in the box strong safety. he is a very good complement to Steltz' ground-covering, play the ball in the air style.

i'm taking both of them!