DoubleAlum
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Who was your choice? I don't know if I would have chosen ML, but I don't have a problem with his selection.Um what? Did not expect that.
I have no problem with Leidner being selected as breakout player of the year. Last year he was a bit player, and this year he was a solid starter on an 8-4 team that's playing on January 1.
Botticelli, Wilson, and Mortell were all starters last year and improved. I wouldn't call any of them "breakout" players.
IMO a breakout player is someone who either hasn't played or has only played sparingly, and becomes a solid-to-good contributor on a team. My breakout list would be Mitch, BBC, Pirsig, Jack Lynn, and Jalen Myrick.
I guess it depends on the definition. BBC was incredible; Carter-like this year (senior season) but we knew he was good going in. We were pleasantly surprised he still had it, I suppose.
For me, guys like Miles Thomas, Joe Bjorklund, Jonathan Celestin, Steven Richardson (especially Richardson) gave us quality minutes when the starters were either underperforming (Harte, Bush, Campbell) or hurt (Ekpe, Foster Bush) and all arguably contributed to some wins this year. They will be key players next year as well.
BBC was hurt last year so we don't really know how well his season would have been and how much better he got plus he did well in the UNLV game. Botticelli got a little bit better but Wilson lost 10 pounds and as a result had 33 more tackles than the previous year and 5 more TFLs. Has to be him.
Jack Lynn.
Played fantastic football at a critical position that was substantially in doubt in August
I think you're failing to grasp what a breakout player is. Wilson was a starter in 2013, and probably the 3rd best player on our defense last year. So while he definitely improved, we already knew he was really good.