It is going to be hard for anyone to overlook running back Eugene Jarvis this year. After gaining a school-record 1,669 rushing yards last year, Jarvis becomes the leading returning rusher in the nation this year. Because of this Jarvis has been named the Maxwell Watch list.

The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the nation’s outstanding collegiate football player. Last year Florida quarterback Tim Tebow won the award while former Notre Dame and current Cleveland brown quarterback Brady Quinn won the award the year before.

Jarvis beat Kent State’s single-season rushing record by more than 300 yards last year while rushing for 139.1 yards a contest. Good enough to be ranked fifth in the nation. He also compiled 1,975 all-purpose yards, which is second in school history, and scored 13 touchdowns.

Although Jarvis is considered a long shot to win the award, he still deserves to be considered as one of the best backs in college football. After all it was Jarvis who provided the spark in the Iowa State game last year allowing Kent State to earn its first win against a BCS conference team since 1987.

If one remembers correctly Jarvis was going to sit out the game hampered by a leg injury until starting running back Darren Rogers left with a shoulder injury late in the first quarter. In just over three quarters Jarvis scampered for 113 yards and one touchdown.

The Ohio State game also gave a glimpse of what Jarvis could do against higher competition. Although the Flashes lost 48-3, Jarvis was able to shine in his very limited duty. He recorded 84 yards in limited first half action against the top-ranked, at the time, Ohio State defense. At the time that was the second most anyone had recorded against the Buckeye’s defense last season.

"Obviously he's the nation's (second) leading rusher for a reason," Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis told me after the game. "When you take him out of the game, it's going to make a big impact."

"He's a good player. He's obviously small and shifty and hard to get a wrap on," he said.

Candidates for the Maxwell Award are selected by the Maxwell Selection Committee and will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show in December.

If you’re interested in reading the story about my story about the Kent State running game against Ohio State you can check that out here. Just ignore the headline blunder it still annoys me to this day.

Cornerback Jack Williams was drafted were the prognosticators were expecting Sunday. Williams, who struggled much of last season with injury, was selected in the fourth round (119) by the Denver Broncos.

This couldn't be a better situation for him. Although the Broncos have a plethra of defensive backs on the roster, Williams will get an oportunity to learn from some of the greats. Future Hall of Famers John Lynch and Champ Bailey will be able to teach him a thing or two about the NFL.

Williams is also best friends with former Flash and current New Orleans Saints Defensive back Usama Young, who dealt with the same situations last season. He should also be there to guide Williams through the porcess of entering the NFL.

Defensive lineman Colin Ferrell also found a new home Sunday. After the conclusion of the draft Ferrell got a call from the Indianapolis Colts. He signed a free agent contract and will be reporting to Colts camp.

The Atlanta Falcons were at Dix Stadium friday morning working out former Kent State cornerback Jack Williams. The Falcons General Manager, Thomas Dimitroff, head coach Mike Smith and an area scout were reportedly there for the workout.

Does the high representation really mean anything as far Jack's draft status?

"You never know because those people keep things close to the vest," Kent State coach Doug Martin said. "It seems like a lot of people have come to work him out. New England has come to work him out. Atlanta was here (Friday). He had a nice workout on Pro Day where he ran really well. I think Jack is going to get an opportunity."

Some prognosticators view Williams as a mid-to-late round pick.

Another Flash who is looking for a shot at the next level is defensive lineman Colin Farrell, who tied Kevin Hogan for a team-high five sacks. He also had 16 tackles for a loss.

"I think Colin will get a shot as a free agent somewhere much like Danny Muir," Martin said. "If you get on at the right place you'll get a chance to make it and I think he'll get an opprtunity."

Muir was an undrafted free agent out of Kent State who was picked up by the Green Bay Packers and is still on their roster.

Former Northern Illinois football coach Joe Novak, has made his presence felt lately on the sidelines of Dix Stadium.

The recently retired coach, who has become good friends with Kent State coach Doug Martin, has been here all week with a watchful eye over Martin's program. Novak will not be joining him on the sidelines any time soon, but is here to offer advice and insight into how to run a MAC football program. Martin called Novak one of the most humble men he has ever met.

"When he retired I called him and begged him to come and watch practice," Martin said. "Because I wanted to get a set of experienced eyes that had been in this league to watch our team and really assess our talent level. Our coaches. The way we practice; really kind of an overview as a head football coach of what he thought."

According to Martin, Novak has been impressed with the overall talent level at Kent State and the depth at quarterback. Novak also like the pace and tempo at which Kent State practices

Last year didn't quite end the way Kent State football coach Doug Martin would have liked. After coming up just shy of winning a MAC title for the first time since 1972, The Flashes started last season with promise by upsetting Iowa State.

Yet they ended the year battered and flawed. Kent State dropped the last seven games of the season and cycled through four different quarterbacks as the injury bug kept biting.

The gritty Julian Edelman kept on playing after tearing a tendon in his knee the second week of the season against Kentucky. It took a Broken fore arm during the eighth week of the season against Bowling Green to finally force him off the field.

Giorgio Morgan was next. Although blessed with a golden arm, Morgan was done after an impressive game and a half. A knee injury got him too, burning his redshirt in a lost season.

third stringer Anthony Magazu had a pesky ankle and the season had to be painfully played out with the immobile Jon Brown under center.

Yet this spring has been able to deliver some optimism for Martin. Although his quarterbacks aren't completely healed, they are all suited up for spring practice.

“We haven’t had our starting quarterback in spring ball for the last three years, so this is the first time we have had all the quarterbacks healthy (during spring ball),” Martin said. “That is going to help speed up; especially the process of our passing game.”

Edelman’s arm still isn’t back to 100 percent, yet being able to practice makes a difference. At this time last spring Edelman, a senior, was out of for spring with a shoulder injury and Morgan was still in Georgia finishing his senior year of high school.

The two provide completely different styles at the quarterback position and provide Martin with plenty of options heading into the season.

Morgan, at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, is a prototypical drop back passer with a gifted arm. The ball floats out of his hand in an effortless motion. In his two games last season Morgan was 23-36 for 273 yards and three touchdowns. Against eventual MAC champs Central Michigan, Morgan picked apart the defense and found eight different receivers. It was his first collegiate game.

Edelman does not possess the throwing ability that Morgan does, but what he lacks he makes up with shear grit and guile. When healthy Edelman gives teams fits with his running ability. His pinball style racked up 455 yards last season on the ground including 167 against Kentucky. He is also more than capable at throwing the ball when needed.

Magazu and Brown also are in the open competition at quarterback, but are more likely to provide depth behind Morgan and/or Edelman.
“It’s going to be an interesting competition,” Martin said. “We got four guys that are competing at the quarterback position that have all played in games so there is a lot of experience there. Hopefully if something happens to us like what happened last year we can overcome it.”

So far this spring the battle has been extremely healthy, although Kentsportsreport.com’s Steve Hare did report that Morgan did not participate in the Saturday scrimmage because he over slept. Martin made him run stairs and work with strength and conditioning coach Toby Jacobi instead.

It will be interesting to see how the quarterback situation plays out this season. Both Edelman and Morgan are too good to not see the field, so we will see what happens.

Over at the Kentsportsreport.com they are following spring football much closer than I am, so take a look.