On Thursday night, ESPN will air its 2011 College Football Awards show and alumni and fans of the Colorado schools will be familiar with several of the award finalists. The Pac-12 is well represented here, so the Colorado Buffaloes were usually on the wrong end of these players' performances.
However, leading the way is Boise St. Broncos quarterback Kellen Moore. He is a finalist for the Maxwell Award, which goes to the College Player of the Year. Moore destroyed the Air Force Falcons and Colorado St. Rams to a combined tune of 619 yards and seven touchdowns in October. Moore threw for over 3,500 yards and had 41 touchdown passes in 2011.
However, Moore will go up against Stanford Cardinal quarterback Andrew Luck and Alabama running back Trent Richardson. Luck threw for 370 yards and three touchdown passes against the Colorado Buffaloes. He also broke John Elway's school record for touchdown passes in a career and has 80 with one game remaining.
Luck is also up for the Davey O'Brien Award, presented to the top quarterback in the country. Oregon's LaMichael James had a quiet game against the Buffs, but he will be up for the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation's most outstanding running back.
Robert Woods, an USC Trojans sophomore, is up for the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's most outstanding wide receiver. Against the Buffaloes, Woods caught nine passes for 130 yards and two touchdown passes. He is going up against Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon and Oklahoma's Ryan Broyles.
For more on the college football awards, visit SB Nation 2011 College Football Awards StoryStream. For more on Moore and the Broncos, check out One Bronco Nation Under God.