2024 Herbie Awards 🏆 Kirk Herbstreit names Jaxson Dart best Field General | College Football Live

What are the Herbie Awards? the moment we've all been waiting for it's time for the 2024 Herby Awards and this of course is Kirk's doing it's all in that beautiful brain Kirk so tell us a little bit more about how exactly you come up with these Awards before we start handing them out well we just me and a couple guys look at it and get excited like everybody else who's a fan of college football we came up with this probably 20 years ago to come up with different categories not that ours names are right but it just makes people start to debate and start to discuss different uh uh categories uh when we throw like who's the best quarterback out there everybody has their own thought so it's just a good way to get people talking about the sport getting people excited start the arguments here early in August and uh and kind of go from there yeah uh 20 or so years and it never gets old let's start with the first award you ready Field General Award it's time for Field General who do we got well the field General is the best quarterback in college football this year I got to start with Carson Beck guy that played so well last year led the SEC in passing very accurate really a quick processor and they're going to be relying on his experience a lot of people thought he would leave but he decided to come back how about staying in the SEC Jackson dart at Old Miss third year now to be the starter for Old Miss won 11 games last year for Old Miss runs that RPO game has a great feel for what Lane kein wants to do here's a curve ball Preston Stone SMU really like what he can do 10-2 last year in 23 they were in the American they're now in the ACC look out for these guys takes a lot of downfield shots in that ret lash Lashley system Preston Stones ready to have a big year in the first year of the ACCC the Herby Award for best Field General goes to or Miss quarterback Jackson Dart we saw so much success from Jackson Dart last year and kther saying even better already in Camp he's working on those intermediate throws yeah the the transfer from USC from a few years ago like I said his third year now is starting you're right I think when you play that much football and have that much success 23 touchdowns only five picks this is what I like about him you get down to that red area especially the low red area his feet are a factor not like Matt carral who was always being able to run the football but he does have enough athletic ability to make the defensive coordinator have to prepare for that which opens up the passing game I expect him again they won 11 games last year first time in Old Miss school history and I think we're all excited to see what Jackson Dart and ol Miss can do again in 2024 yeah they're not going to surprise anyone this year but I think they're up for that task they're they're sort of embracing the bullseye being on their back a little bit more than it has been all right let's go to the other side of the ball how about a game record on the Game Wrecker Award defense these are the guys that each week an offensive coordinator sees them and just thinks oh man we got to work around this guy how about ma Mason Graham number 55 I love watching this guy play probably my favorite player to watch in the country and I love putting a big guy in the middle not just the edge players when you look at what he can do Ahmad hassanin from uh was just just a great player from Boise State the the size of this guy is what stands out to me 63 271 12 1 12 sacks last year number 91 knows how to play the game and James Pierce we had to have that edge guy the guy that just wins with quickness usually you go to the SEC James Pierce 10 sacks last year I think he's the best Edge rusher in the sport of college football look out for him in Knoxville this year the hery award for best game record goes to Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham it just seems like everything Mason Graham does is explosive Kirk that's a great word for him you know you don't say that often about the the big defensive tackles but you're right he uses size and especially his quickness and instincts to be a Difference Maker that that game against Alabama in the semifinal he took it over was able to get through and and and get through some of those uh those seams through the centering guard and make so many plays in the back field he can Rush the quarterback the national championship game against Washington again a big part of that game so uh Brandon Graham to me in that entire defensive line they lost a lot but the defensive line will be one of the strengths in all the country you know NFL Scouts who were washing Michigan's defense from last year they would get so distracted by Graham and he wasn't draft eligible yet they're like wait when can we get this guy I bet they'll be paying attention this season oh yeah all right how about some question marks for some Biggest question marks for title contenders contending teams title contenders are the biggest questions to answer KT yeah these are five of them and we're going to start with Alabama obviously Nick Sav 17 years six national championships the best coach to ever do it they also lost a lot of skill around Jaylen milr so some new faces Nick we're all just anxious to see how that's going to go Georgia always has talent but let's face it on offense they lost Brock Bowers lad mcon they've got new running backs with Trevor etn coming over from Florida uh so you're going to have some new faces around Carson Beck and I think the pressure to always have to deal with for Ohio State Greg talked about it early they always have talent right they got a new quarterback in will Howard from Kansas State but will they develop the chemistry will they be the team instead of individuals and the mental toughness it takes to make a run can Oregon get over the hump last year so close came up a little bit short against Washington twice and got left out of the playoff now you lose B Knicks you got Dylan Gabriel can this be the year that Dan lanon gets over the hump and then with Sark lot like Alabama and Georgia a lot of new skill players don't forget not only you lose zve you're worthy you lose the back Jonathan Brooks they an injury to CJ Baxter so a new back in Jaden blue but some questions there for Texas as well the Herby award for the biggest questions for a title Contender goes to Alabama hey when you're replacing the goat you're going to have questions right yeah I mean it's it's great that he's got Jaylen milro back I mean that that helps and I'm a huge fan of kayin D'Or anybody who's followed his career knows what he's capable of doing but you can put anybody into this position and there's going to be a lot of people Nick Sabin didn't used to do it like that or Nick Sabin didn't used to do that and and I think kayin dbor understands that um and it's just like when Nick Sabin left Michigan State and he went down to Baton Rouge he was an outsider those LSU fans at first they didn't know really how to accept Nick saan how did he change that he won football games and that's what kayin dor is gonna have to do forget about Nick Sabin forget about barar Bryant forget about all the the lore of Alabama football be himself because what he's done has worked for him throughout his career and just go out and execute and get your team fired up to play and go win football games and that'll quiet all the noise around the program yeah coach Sabin as you know Kirk is sensitive to that too he has an office in the facility there at Alabama but really doesn't go to it because he doesn't want to be there too much as a distraction instead he's going to be sitting next to you on college game day a good reminder of what I'll be excited to see he's really good at TV and these are prestigious guys this is really exciting to see who Kirk thinks should win these Awards there's a lot to get to as we've got Kirk here with us but we're going to do some standout schools that's where we start in this segment let's Standout Schools start with the best new uniform K take it away yeah I mean uniforms to me is is something I love you know and and you go back to that Dion Sanders you got to you got to look good feel good to play good how about those old miss all whites I there's just something about what Lane kein is doing down in Oxford with the the way they're changing the image of that program I think the Unis that they've been pulling out here lately are about as good as anybody that's putting out these new fresh Unis so old Miss to me that top uni the best band I mean come on there's some great bands out there but the Best Damn Band in land is in Columbus Ohio and they are they practice more than the Ohio State football team I mean you've never seen a team more discipline and have such an impact on a stadium than the Ohio State marching band we appreciate them and everything they did do some of the fans go just to watch the band not the whole not even the football team the best student section I get a lot of grief about this who has the best students come on it's a no-brainer there's a lot of great student sections out there but the Penn State student section general admission they're in there 2 hours before the game starts they're as good as they're is especially the white out we love the Penn State student section congrats nitty Lions and the best mascot another tough one a lot of great mascots but are you kidding this is the modernday San Diego chicken the Oregon Duck not just that uni look at him but the personality he's an instigator he's always up to Shenanigans when college game day comes or here he is doing the push-ups the duck brings his own props he's very creative uh Laura there are a lot of great mascots but I got to give the the duck the nod here is the best mascot in the land you know I I got to agree with you that duck is up to some hij Janks like you kind of if you're down in the field with the duck you got to look over your shoulder because he might be doing something crazy behind you all right now this is really cool because a lot of these players are going to be super motivated coming into next season the ones who are coming off of injuries let's get to the welcome back Welcome Back Award award yeah great to see these guys work their way back to have an impact uh on this 24 season Jaylen Daniels man it seems like he's been fighting injuries throughout his career only played in three games a year ago he's healthy he's ready some people believe Kansas is a real threat and a team to look out for in the Big 12 Riley Leonard boy what a story he was last year with Duke Duke was a great team he goes down to the noted aim game of all games with an injury not the same missed the last six games and now he's back obviously transferred to Notre Dame he's going to have a great year this year cam Rising got injured two years ago in the Rose Bowl against Penn State missed all of last year has worked his way back cannot wait to see cam Rising what a great leader one of the best in the country for the Utah youths the welcome back kby award goes to Utah quarterback cam Rising well cam Rising all you have to know is that Kyle Whittingham his head coach he's been coaching a long time he said that cam Rising is the best leader that he's ever been around and for them to lose him last year it was tough for them to try to overcome that uh but it's great to see number seven back healthy again you look at that big 12 now they're out of the Pack 12 into the Big 12 uh a lot of people feel that they're the team to beat Laura in that conference and a big part of that reason is seeing number seven back under Center I love it cannot wait to see him back out there he's always been a focused but emotional player you got to know there's a little extra for him this season love that Herby award all right the transfer portal always shocks over 2,800 transfers this past year Kirk it's kind of hard to figure out who is where who's Impact QB Transfer your biggest impact quarterback transfer yeah yeah let's start with the quarterbacks I I think Dylan Gabriel you know not only is he a talented player coming out of Oklahoma now going to Oregon but where he lands uh I think he's got a chance to have a big gear he's got a ton of uh Talent around him you see the big offensive line so keep an eye for him DJ oui angal going from Oregon State he decides to leave he'll now be at Florida State remember at Clemson this is his third school things didn't go that well he was able to get things back in order in Oregon State now people are excited to see what he can do in Tallahassee cam Ward another quarterback transferring from Washington State out of the Pack 12 he'll be in Miami of Florida excited to see what he can do some people think they're a real threat to win the ACC and maybe make a run into the playoff and make a maybe a run to a national title with Cam Ward as a quarterback the Herby award for impact quarterback transfer goes to Oregon quarterback Dylan Gabriel you know will Stein is the offensive coordinator there Laura and you know they they scored 44 points a game a year ago and I know they had bow Nick but you got a new new quarterback and Dylan Gabriel uh you know I really think the skill around him with TZ Johnson and Jordan uh James the running back he's got a lot to work with and I don't think they're going to have much of a drop off offensively uh they lose great players I mentioned Bo Knicks but I still think with Gabriel there uh it's going to be a different kind of offense because you don't have the running threat the way you did with B Knicks but I still think they're going to score close to 40 points a game game well later on we're going to get to our potential Heisman watch and I wouldn't be surprised if Dylan Gabriel's on that list for some people as well all right those are the quarterbacks but what about the biggest impact from non-qb Impact Non-QB Transfer transfers yeah I mean you're right this is the world that we live in now with these transfers Caleb DS was at Alabama last year as a true freshman and to ended up leading the team in tackles I think he has a great impact on what he can do for the Ohio State secondary they got a lot of experience around him so he steps into a very good position Damen Martinez another uh just like DJ oul another another player from Oregon state that left he's at Miami as well a chance to I think have a great uh year because he brings physicality Nick scorton left Purdue he had 10 sacks a year ago he's now at Texas A&M you can see what he can do as far as athletic ability to R get after the quarterback expect the SEC to get used to hearing the name of Nick squ the Herby award for impact non-quarterback transfer goes to Ohio State defensive back Caleb DS Jim noes the defensive coordinator from Ohio State says he's a coach's dream he understands everything picks up everything and he takes the meeting to the field he's a pro I I really felt watching him last year I would have never guessed he was a true freshman he had such Poise about him him whether he's blitzing whether he's in coverage whether it's making a tack one the open field he's surrounded with a veteran group and now he could become the quarterback of that secondary despite all that experience of being around Jim nolles now in his third year as Ohio State's defensive coordinator so look for Caleb Downs to me the biggest impact of any transfer in my opinion in the country yeah Kirk you mentioned him being a pro well his brother Josh starts for the Indianapolis Colts and then his father Gary spent a bunch of time in the league too he just knows how to get it done and we can't wait to see what he does this season we talked a little bit about how different college football is Coaching Changes going to look next season but a big reason why big changes at head coach heading into 2024 three of the four playoff teams from last year have new coaches with kayin dor taking over for Nick Savin at Alabama Jed fish replacing dor at Washington and then Chiron Moore who we just talked about getting promoted to replace Jim Harbaugh at Michigan Kirk which head coach has the biggest shoes to fill well you could you could put in an argument for Chiron Moore but obviously when the greatest coach in the history of the game steps away there's a pretty big shoes to fill and kayin theor even though he got his team all the way to the National Championship at Washington it's a new region you know how it is in the SEC when an outsider comes in and you're dealing with the pressure of trying to do things the way Nick Savin did kayin dor needs to be Kaylin dor not worry about Nick Savin coach the way he does and he's going to do in my opinion a great job impact defensive coordinator to me is going to be deanton Lynn played at Penn State grew up in coaching last year he was at UCA did such a good job that Lincoln Riley went to his rivalry and said I'm going to take this defensive coordinator to try to improve this USC defense that has really had some issues over the last couple years we the best fit for it as a new head coach I really like Mike ELO who was a defensive coordinator there under Jimbo Fischer he goes back he will demand that this team do the little things right and when you do the little things right eventually that'll lead to doing uh everything right so I think Mike gelo will fit in just perfectly there in College Station and bring a little bit of a kind of a toughness or an edge that I think's been missing there the last few years it's a great point I mean they haven't lacked for talent it's been more about developing that talent and getting that fourth quarter toughness that you're referencing there in College Station it's a proud fan base too all right this is where we would have a drum roll if we had a drummer but we don't so we're just going to do it in our heads it's time for the ultimate Herby first The Ultimate Herbie of all what does this award mean to you uh this this is my favorite award because it means so much about a player not just on the field but off the field and again kind of the world that we live in a lot of individuality a lot of focus on what's in it for me the great teams focus on the team and having players like these three allow you to be able to have a chance to focus on still it's still about winning we still keep scoring the scoreboard right I mean so it's still about the team and the guys that come together and I think all three of our candidates are are great representations of making it about us and doing things on and off the field the right way and uh let's take a look at the three that we have it was tough to pick only three because I think there's a lot of great candidates this year uh in college football that would fit the bill but uh let let's start with Texas Jade Baron is a a guy that uh you know again experienced guy talked with the Texas coaches Sark cannot say enough about what Jedi Baron brings to this table and again makes a lot of plays he's that Nickelback plays in the slot does a lot such a diversified approach but a great guy off the field Jeffrey Basset started for four years and when you talk to Dan Lanning about his team they want to win a National Championship and a big part of that is what Jeffrey Basset who could have gone to the NFL last year but had unfinished business he felt he wanted to come back in Ohio State a lot of great players a lot of great of individual ability but AAA is going to be the guy that I think can keep this team focused on again the team goals first and now it's his turn to shine after waiting behind Marvin Harrison and others the ultimate Herby award goes to Oregon linebacker Jeffrey Bassa a true true honor for Jeffrey Bassa and Dan Lanning says that he demands Excellence KK yes he does and and like I said I think Oregon's starting to get used to high expectations you see that Washington game they came up short in Seattle that day they ended up getting a rematch in the Pack 12 Championship with a Chance possibly to go into the playoff and came up short again and I think those two losses really kind of fueled the fire in the off season for Oregon and nobody represents that that attitude more than Jeffrey basso so really a great Ambassador for the sport great Ambassador for the Oregon Ducks and uh I'm glad we're able to recognize him as being kind of that ultimate Herby doing things the right way on and off the field I love it uh by the way he's going to be trying to lead this Oregon team to the college football playoff in their first season in the Big 10 so wrap your mind around that one this was so much fun Kirk thanks for handing out these Awards and giving some shine to players that maybe are well known some who are not as welln it gets you really excited for college football and also of course you can catch Kirk with the rest of the game day crew that's coming your way game day live from Dublin at 9:00 a.m. eastern this Saturday you got to get ready to get over there to Ireland I know it's going to be a haul I've got a Thursday night uh preseason game so I can't leave till Friday I think I'm going to be on the ground for eight or nine hours actually in Dublin but we cannot wait to go looking forward to it dude only you congrats and can't wait for college football season how work l c down a good times staring down the CL throw some Hu