FanNation

D.J. Dunson said 01/04, 03:48 PM
During the recruiting process, McKnight and Devine alternated in various rankings rated as the most skilled tailbacks in the Class of 2007.
Both were integral in their teams BCS bowl aspirations but as their true freshman seasons have come to a close I believe we can glimpse back retroactively and agree that Noel Devine's freshman season was superior.

Amazingly, from start to finish this season Devine compensated for his diminutive stature, rarely struggled in the transition from high school to a pressure packed Division I football in contrast to McKnight's early struggles.. In limited carries Devine compiled a highlight reel of majestic runs(and in my next argument, I'll provide specific examples.

Though McKnight was the back heavily recruited to USC for his Reggie Bush-like skill set but watching Devine's maneuvering and cutting through unsuspecting defenses elicits spine-tingling nostalgia of Bush's phenomenal escapability.

D.J. Dunson said 01/05, 02:59 PM
West Virginia may be a run oriented team but Devine actually got fewer carries than McKnight because of Steve Slaton's presence. Lets compare their seasons statistically

Joe McKnight- 94 carries, 540 yards, 3 touchdowns, 5.7 ypc
Noel Devine- 73 carries, 627 yards, 6 touchdowns 8.6 ypc

As for your strength of schedule argument the Pac-10 may have the most potent offenses in the nation but McKnight's not a cornerback and the defenses are softer than Charmin'.

Oregon's defense allowed more rushing yards per game than Hawaiia while Washington, Washington St., and Arizona, who allowed McKnight to gain 75 yards, possessed some of the worst rushing defenses in the nation
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/stats/byteam?cat1=defense&cat2=Total&conference=I-A_all&year=2007

D.J. Dunson said 01/07, 03:16 PM
Noel Devine has had 3 100 yard games this season compared to 1 by McKnight. Devine has also secured the ball well-- a problem that plagued McKnight early on