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Heading into the 2017 college football season, WalterFootball.com will debut our projections for the nation’s leaders during the fall. The All-American teams always have some surprises, and the next fall’s stars could be the headline players next April for the 2018 NFL Draft. We also will project the winners of the postseason awards that are given out to the best of college football.
The Rimington Trophy is given to the top center in college football. Five years ago, I predicted that Alabama center Barrett Jones would win the Rimington Trophy, and Jones brought home the award. I was less confident four years ago, but I still got it right with Florida State’s Bryan Stork. I made it three years in a row the next year of getting it right with Auburn’s Reese Dismukes. Two years ago, my streak ended when Alabama’s Ryan Kelly won the award. My prediction was Notre Dame’s Nick Martin, who ended up being drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, a round behind Kelly. The other finalists were Michigan State’s Jack Allen, who went undrafted, and Iowa’s Austin Blythe, who was a seventh-round pick. Last year, Ohio State center Pat Elflein won the award.
Rimington Trophy Winner:
Frank Ragnow, Arkansas Ragnow could be the best center in college football this season. He also could be in the running to be one of the top center prospects in the 2018 NFL Draft. Over the past two seasons, Ragnow hasn’t allowed a single sack despite taking on excellent competition. As can expect coming from Arkansas, Ragnow is also a tough run blocker who is adept at opening holes in the ground game. The senior is a technician who enters 2017 having made 26 straight starts. As a sophomore, Ragnow was the Razorbacks’ starter at right guard. The 6-foot-5, 317-pounder has the size to be a guard or center. The Rimington Trophy typically goes to seniors, so given Ragnow’s track record and respected reputation, he could easily win the Rimington Trophy for 2017.
Rimington Runner-Up:
Mason Cole, Michigan With Graham Glasgow in the NFL in 2016, Cole moved to center and had a good season for the Wolverines. The 6-foot-5, 305-pounder is a good technician who is developing well for Jim Harbaugh and his staff. Cole was Michigan’s starting left tackle during 2014 and 2015 and really improved in that time. Cole’s best fit comes at center, and the senior should be among the best centers in college football in 2017.
Rimington Dark Horse:
Will Clapp, LSU One could argue that Clapp was LSU’s best interior lineman over Ethan Pocic in 2016. Clapp has dealt with a shoulder injury, but the plan is for him to be the starting center for the Tigers in 2017. He is a tough run blocker at the point of attack and reliable in pass protection. Clapp could produce a big season blocking for Derrius Guice and earn a lot of postseason honors.
Honorable Mentions: Ohio State’s Billy Price, UCLA’s Scott Quessenberry, Florida State’s Alec Eberle, Alabama’s Bradley Bozeman, Auburn’s Austin Golson, Miami’s Nick Linder and Michigan State’s Brian Allen.
2017 Preseason All-American Projections:
QB| RB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K/P
2017 Preseason Postseason Award Projections:
Thorpe Award | Lombardi Award | Biletnikoff Award | Lott IMPACT Trophy | Outland Trophy | Rimington Trophy | Mackey Award | Butkus Award | Maxwell Award | Hendricks Award | O'Brien Award | Doak Walker Award | Bednarik Award | Nagurski Award | Hornung Award | Jet Award | Walter Camp Award | Ray Guy Award | Groza Award | Heisman Trophy
QB| RB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K/P
2017 Preseason Postseason Award Projections:
Thorpe Award | Lombardi Award | Biletnikoff Award | Lott IMPACT Trophy | Outland Trophy | Rimington Trophy | Mackey Award | Butkus Award | Maxwell Award | Hendricks Award | O'Brien Award | Doak Walker Award | Bednarik Award | Nagurski Award | Hornung Award | Jet Award | Walter Camp Award | Ray Guy Award | Groza Award | Heisman Trophy
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