Breakout player of 2011

[TransAmBison]

Who was it?

Jensen or Smith immediately come to my mind. Tough to single out one player as this was a total team effort on both offense and defense, but who elevated their game the most? I would have to say Smith. Discuss.

[HandoEX]

Jensen!!! No question about it. He went from 45% completions to 68% and played every game. Gigantic improvements out of that kid.

[MNLonghorn10]

I like smith but really..0 tds on offense and 1td on special teams...im goin with ojuri who had 10 tds over 1000 yards and split carries

[spelunker64]

Marcus, Chad Willson, Colton Heagle, Cole Jirik on the other side possibly

[bisonmike2]

for me it's Ojuri, with honorable mentions going to Jensen and Smith.

[semobison]

Lots of guys stepped up...Sam Ojuri!

[HandoEX]

Jensen
Beck
Ojuri
Emmanuel
Dudzik
Smith

In ^^^ order. None of those guys had a huge impact last year but each was big timing it through this season.

[aces1180]

My breakout player was the man who went from a backup linebacker to the MVP of the title game...Travis Beck.

[344Johnson]

Offensively I'm going Smith. Did you guys not see his sick-ass grab against Minnesota, he was so much better than I'm guessing any of us anticipated. Complete non-factor last year (Waste of what should have been a redshirt year). We knew Ojuri was a dude from his freshman season.

Defensively I'm going with Beck. He filled the spot that Jemmison(was the off-season hip surgery a factor?) was having trouble with flawlessly. I'd also accept Drevlow, look at how well our D-Line did when he was able to play. I still think that if he was able to play in the Youngstown game we would have won. (he did miss that game didn't he?)

[BISONBRI53]

Sammy was the man this year! Many others had huge years as well. Think about the piles he carried for BIG yards!

[#1BISONFAN ASHLEY]

Matt Voitlander, such an unselfish player.

[Civil06]

Not necessarily my pick, but he hasn't been mentioned: Ryan Jastram. He was great this season with long kickoffs and who could forget the field goal against JMU.

Another player that never gets recognized, but should: Michael Murphy. He came in here last year and I can't imagine the stress on a true freshmen long snapper. This year he did great and we never heard his name (truly, we never should).

[bisonfan11]

I would have to say for me it was a tie between Jensen and Jirik.

[GRAFTONBISON]

Matt Voitlander, such an unselfish player.

I would also put his name in the conversation. See SIU and SHSU games off the top of my head.

[NDSU1980]

Ojuri or Marcus Williams. Both knew what to do and when to do it.

[17>1]

How about Ryan Drevlow? Does anyone remember a guy named Matt Gratzek whose shoes we thought couldn't be filled? Jensen is kind of a no doubter. Holloway could be on this list too.

[bisoningrandforks]

it's hard to pick one ......all these names mentioned on both sides of the ball....=....NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!!!

[steelbison]

Can't pick one as there were too many that stepped up big in my book. So here is my list in no particular order.

Jensen
Holloway
Smith
Ojuri
Veldman

Perry(animal in the Title game)
Drevlow(ditto)
Jirik(future star)
Wilson(MVP of the championship IMO)
Emanuel
Beck
Williams

Personally thought all players above had breakout seasons for us...Couldn't just pick one..

[99Bison]

Breakout player has to be something like: Beck, Smith, Jensen

[BisonTeacher]

Ojuri !!!!!!!!!!!

[HandoEX]

I thought a breakout player is someone that burst onto the scene, not someone that has been successful prior to this year.

Williams, HOlloway, Willson and the like are not breakout players. They were badasses last season.

Also surprised to see Jirik on this list. He didn't start and the guy that started ahead of him is a converted linebacker and a freshman that no one saw playing the way he did.

[KSBisonFan]

Jensen took the biggest leap over expectations and showed accuracy,poise and maturity none of us imagined. He also showed he's a gamer taking some vicious hits (Championship game) and playing through illness. He set the bar to a point where we won't be wondering about our QB position for a couple years. Talk about a luxury.

Marcus 2nd. He set the tone early as a shutdown corner and someone the opponent tried to avoid. He allowed the rest of our defense to play like a bunch of animals knowing they had Marcus deep. Again, the cornerstone of a secondary that is an embarrassment of talent in the coming years.

Difficult to pick an individual on a TEAM that played every aspect of the game as a TEAM.

[mebisonII]

Cool thing about this team is that it really was all about the team. If someone asked you "Who is the big all-star that carries your team?" You'd be hard pressed to name just one (or even two or three or four) name. Some games it was Williams making the game-changing picks, other times it was Smith with a nice grab or run-back, another time it was Ojuri pounding away on their lines, or Voit making the fake-punt decision at exactly the right time as well as saying, "you want field position? how about the 3 yard line, will that work for you?". And the list could go on and on.

Did any of our players really made the short list for the big, FCS-wide individual awards (Buchanan, etc?). That might be a sign that they were unfairly overlooked, but its also a sign that the load of this season and post-season was carried across the entire roster.

[westnodak93bison]

imho, breakout means kind of came out of no where. I'd say that has to be Travis Beck. All the others mentioned on the list played prior and at times well or very well.
If anybody would have said last spring that Beck would be starting in the NC game and have a big time pick you would have said huh?

[Kermit]

Also surprised to see Jirik on this list. He didn't start and the guy that started ahead of him is a converted linebacker and a freshman that no one saw playing the way he did.

Hando, I agree that Emmanuel is an absolute stud. I think the staff knew what they had in him, even if the fans didn't. As an aside, I think Emmanuel and Jirik split time pretty evenly. In fact, there were several games where Emmanuel was listed as the starter, but Jirik actually played the first series.

[Strommer10]

It's really fun to see people list about 20 names that had breakout seasons. That is truly why this TEAM won the National Championship. Kudos to everyone that was a part of it. I can't pick just one, too many great players stepped up when needed. WE'RE #1!!!!!!

[NorthernBison]

imho, breakout means kind of came out of no where. I'd say that has to be Travis Beck. All the others mentioned on the list played prior and at times well or very well.
If anybody would have said last spring that Beck would be starting in the NC game and have a big time pick you would have said huh?

I said to watch Beck when he signed his letter of intent. I also said he would see the field A LOT when people were questioning his starting with the #1 offense during the recent Spring game. I love the fact that he just plays the game with very little of the "look at me" crap that gets a lot of attention from some fans.

He is my pick for breakout player. He was on very few fan's radar at the beginning of the season and look where he ended up.

[17>1]

I understand the term breakout, but can look at it from another angle. Certain players needed to have big years for the team to be more successful than last year. Holloway needed to have the best season of his career. He did just that. Drevlow and Leevon needed to lock down the middle of our D line. They did just that. Jensen, nuff said. That's why I mentioned those 3. OTOH, Beck and Smith arrived on the scene in breakout fashion.

[HerdBot]

Many fit the bill. Drevlow , Jirik , Beck , Gimmestad , Smith , Ojuri , Brock ... many guys really stepped up for 1st time players with extensive roles like Littlejohn, Juckem , and Emmanual . Didn't lose much when Grant Olson stepped in. Then again Willson and Pike regained my faith in Jucos . I can't believe they were as good as they were. Unbelievable. The best TEAM no doubt . That's a whopping 13 guys I named and I probably missed someone. . 11 are returning

[HerdBot]

Hando, I agree that Emmanuel is an absolute stud. I think the staff knew what they had in him, even if the fans didn't. As an aside, I think Emmanuel and Jirik split time pretty evenly. In fact, there were several games where Emmanuel was listed as the starter, but Jirik actually played the first series.

Jirik was the backup to Boyer to start the year but ended up starting when Emmanual was hurt and was probably the best linen on the team during the playoffs. Interested to see if he replaces Boyer and Emmanual stays at RDE .

[bisonmike2]

How about Ryan Drevlow? Does anyone remember a guy named Matt Gratzek whose shoes we thought couldn't be filled? Jensen is kind of a no doubter. Holloway could be on this list too.

You know, I might change my vote to Drevlow. I remember how bad our run defense got gashed when he was out. He came back for the playoffs and we were better than ever.

[BlueBisonRock]

You know, I might change my vote to Drevlow. I remember how bad our run defense got gashed when he was out. He came back for the playoffs and we were better than ever.

And....... he can throw a nasty block when the opportunity is presented!

[CAS4127]

Picking THE breakout player of 2011 is as difficult as picking THE 2011 MVP. It seems like almost every player came up big at some point this season!! Hell, does THE breakout player = THE 2011 MVP??!!

[TateMosersneighbor]

Mr. Hazelton

[TransAmBison]

Mr. HazeltonNo way could he be the breakout coach even...our d was awesome last year as well.

[TateMosersneighbor]

No way could he be the breakout coach even...our d was awesome last year as well.

True, I rescind my typing.

I'll go with Jastram. Pooched only 2 kickoffs out of bounds all year and made some huge kicks...great thread, but really points out that every one of these guys had a great year.

[BadlandsBison]

Amos Buehner :D

[DjKyRo]

Amos Buehner :D

This thread has nowhere else to go, might as well Hall of Fame it.

[LITTLEGUYSINGREEN]

As far as improvement over last year, Brock Jensen no question about it.

[MNLonghorn10]

Ojuri or Marcus Williams. Both knew what to do and when to do it.
love me some marcus williams too...just he dropped a few picks this post season. ughhhhhh! :biggrin:

he'll get em back next years post season!

[coloradobison]

love me some marcus williams too...just he dropped a few picks this post season. ughhhhhh! :biggrin:

he'll get em back next years post season!

Who knows what he could have done with the pick he dropped against Sam - the only opponent I recall near there was the receiver and I think he fell down. He might of had a chance to return that all the way, or at least put us in position for a FG.

[NDSU_grad]

Beck for me. I remember a lot of people on this board (myself included) were even surprised when he was offerred a scholarship out of high school. I can't believe how good he is so early in his career.

[THEsocalledfan]

Jensen for me. While I was sold on him last year, his play was critical to the MVFC success we had and there were plenty of legit questions.

[TransAmBison]

Jensen for me. While I was sold on him last year, his play was critical to the MVFC success we had and there were plenty of legit questions.
I'm torn on this one. I think Jensen is beyond awesome...can't say enough about him. I just think Smith deserves a lot of credit. He was switched to receiver and surpassed all expectations. I've heard Jensen checks his other receivers first and then goes to him...because he knows he will get open. Smith has been...clutch...all season long.

I expected Jensen to play the way he did...I did not expect this from Smith. CAS wasn't a believer in Smith for a good chunk of the season, but I would think he is now...despite his concern about Smith being able to withstand the punishment of a full season. (which is valid)

[devin45k]

Without a doubt it was Ojuri!

He became a star running back.

Marcus Williams also. Not much of the fans knew alot about him last year. This year everyone was waiting for the "big" Marcus Williams play.


Everyone suspected that Jensen was going to be a starter and a decent one at that last year.

[SportsLover]

I would have to go to a position that was the toughest to fill. Ryan Drevlow and Leevon Perry filling up the middle of the dline after Gratzek graduated. They might not have had huge stats but were a big part of our Run D.

[td577]

Until the playoffs last year, there were a lot of people who weren't sold on Jensen. I just think there were so many more opportunities for other players because of Jensen's play this year. His passing game had to be respected so the running game improved. His receivers got more chances at receptions and the play of the receivers also helped Jensen's numbers, so that was a bit of a give and take. I think the entire offense was much more comfortable because of their confidence in Jensen this season. Maybe he wasn't a breakout player, but certainly the most improved with the improvement having the most effect on his fellow teammates.

[X-Factor]

How about Ryan Drevlow? Does anyone remember a guy named Matt Gratzek whose shoes we thought couldn't be filled? Jensen is kind of a no doubter. Holloway could be on this list too.

every year we have people on here saying it will be nearly impossible to fill the departed seniors. While I agree on some of the great players, Gratzek being one of the best tackles we have ever had, we somehow found a way to replace him. Drevlow has been outstanding and I am not surprised one bit. He worker harder than anyone and is very deserving IMO.

[A1pigskin]

Going with Beck and Ojuri as most improved. There are others right up there with them.

[Thunder_Struck]

Drevlow".......

[A1pigskin]

How about the entire Defense.

[Notorious]

Ojuri was a given...even I knew he would be a stud watching him in 2009.....You gotta go with Beck...love the way that guy plays...self-made...love stories like that.

[PaBizon]

Beck - for a freshman to burst on the scene like he did and then play like he did in the playoffs IMO he easliy is the breakout player. MVP - Wilson. If he was bigger we'd be watching him on Sundays.

[unbison]

beck is the breakout player of the year!

[IzzyFlexion]

I said to watch Beck when he signed his letter of intent. I also said he would see the field A LOT when people were questioning his starting with the #1 offense during the recent Spring game. I love the fact that he just plays the game with very little of the "look at me" crap that gets a lot of attention from some fans.

He is my pick for breakout player. He was on very few fan's radar at the beginning of the season and look where he ended up.

You're such a homer!
-kidding, of course.
How proud is Andy? I remember when you first talked about Bohl making a trip up to Langdon to see Travis.
Great story about a kid coming from a small community that has never fielded a football team.
I might just option the movie rights.:)

[17>1]

How many people on here say "Recruiting that kid is a waste of a scholly" or "He'll never reach a worthwhile potential"? I never see it. Does anyone besides me get tired of people starting out their posts with "I told all of you this about so and so" or "Nobody believed me when I said they'd be great". Seriously people, the kid earned a spot on the Bison roster, so therefore the coaches must have seen something in him to get him here. It wasn't by accident. Some players may surprise many of us by how soon they might get a chance to play, but sometimes an injury or two allows that to happen. If someone would have come out and said at the beginning of the season that Beck would be starting instead of the JR Brandon Jemison who had been in the spot for 2 years already, I'd say they were crazy and go back to the hole you crawled out from. But if someone said, if Jemison by chance gets hurt, or has a nagging hip injury all season, don't be surprised to see Travis Beck get some serious playing time, I'd probably believe you. Maybe this is just one of those things that just rubs me the wrong way a little bit. People doing the I told you so bit, or when I get told to go watch film because I'm a mental midget and don't know my right from my left.
Rant over.