Weekend Top 25 results

After watching Nebraska QB Eric Crouch work his magic Saturday in Lincoln against Oklahoma, it was obvious to me that Crouch belongs on offense at the pro level. Normally, you think about a transition to safety for an athlete with the toughness and skill level of Crouch.

	Eric Crouch and the Huskers control their own Rose Bowl destiny.

John Lynch, a former QB at Stanford, turned into a big-time safety with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Former Nebraska QB Scott Frost was also immediately projected to safety in the NFL.

And remember names from the past such as Ohio State's Rex Kern and Oklahoma's Jack Mildren, both of whom excelled as option QBs in college only to switch to safety in the NFL.

With Crouch, though, I see similarities to former Iowa QB Ed Podolak, who became an excellent running back for coach Hank Stram with the Kansas City Chiefs. Crouch is tough, runs with purpose and shows plenty of shiftiness. He also demonstrated his pass-receiving ability Saturday.

This opens up the possibility of Crouch being experimented with at wide receiver. Bert Emanuel was an effective QB at Rice and became a receiver in the NFL. Freddie Solomon also made the successful transition from college QB to wide receiver with the Dolphins. And how about former Georgia signal caller Hines Ward, who showed dual potential in the SEC as a wideout.

What impresses me with Crouch are his self assuredness and swagger. It's obvious that he thrives on pressure and wants to be the difference-maker in the most critical of situations. He's a gamer in every sense of the word. I want this kind of player on offense, responsible for making plays that change the scoreboard.

Sure, it will take some time for Crouch to gain a complete grasp of what is expected at either running back or receiver. While he's learning the nuances of either position, whatever team drafts him will initially benefit from Crouch's toughness and desire on special teams. And I'm not just talking about utilizing Crouch on kick and punt coverage.

How about taking a look at Crouch as a return man? His 96-yard TD run against Missouri a few weeks ago gave an accurate illustration of his big-time, open-field running ability. That run brought back memories of another Cornhusker All-American, Johnny Rodgers, who won the 1972 Heisman Trophy. In one of the greatest college football games ever played (on Thanksgiving Day in 1971), the incomparable Rodgers put on a dazzling, awe-inspiring display, keying Nebraska's 35-31 victory over Oklahoma.

While Crouch's numbers weren't spectacular against OU on Saturday, he delivered game-changing plays when the 'Huskers needed them most. So Nebraska fans could be looking at their next Heisman winner. As for the NFL brass, they would be wise to allow Crouch to do his damage on offense while taking advantage of his intriguing potential on special teams.

MAC QBs ON COLLISION COURSE
While we're talking about toughness and grit at the QB position, how about blue-chip redshirt freshman Ben Roethlisberger of Miami (Ohio)? The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder has developed into one of the country's more effective passers and has the RedHawks poised to make a run at the Mid-American Conference Eastern Division title.

Roethlisberger, who was compared to Marshall's Chad Pennington when he arrived at Miami in 1991, has put on quite an aerial display this season for head coach Terry Hoeppner. Through eight games, Roethlisberger completed 63 percent of his passes, throwing for 1,900 yards and 19 TDs. He's on pace to break just about every school single-season passing record.

In the RedHawks' 25-11 victory over Western Michigan on Saturday, Roethlisberger completed 18 of 29 passes for 215 yards and a pair of TDs. But this wasn't the real story line for the game. The amazing part was that Roethlisberger was able to suit up and play. Against Ohio the previous week, he tore cartilage in his chest. On Friday, he was hospitalized due to discomfort from the injury. After remaining in the hospital until 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Roethlisberger strapped on the pads and was, amazingly, ready to go.

The RedHawks are 5-0 in the MAC, setting up a showdown in less than two weeks with Marshall. The Thundering Herd, led by exceptional junior QB Byron Leftwich, are also undefeated in league. Since a season-opening loss at Florida, Marshall has been an offensive juggernaut, averaging 40 points in the past six games. Physically gifted at 6-5 and 240 pounds, Leftwich has completed a 66.2 percent of his passes for 2,476 yards and 22 TDs (and just four interceptions). Leftwich's favorite target has been exciting sophomore Darius Watts. He leads the nation with 11 TD receptions and an average of 143.6 receiving yards per game.

By the time his college career is over, Leftwich could very easily carry a higher pro grade than Pennington had.

So while other matchups will garner more focus from a national standpoint, pay attention to what transpires Nov. 10 when Marshall and Miami (Ohio) square off in Oxford.

A NEW SIR CHARLES?
With so many true freshman running backs stealing the spotlight -- such as Texas' Cedric Benson, Ohio State's Lydell Ross, Miami (Fla.)'s Frank Gore, Auburn's Carnell Williams, Minnesota's Marion Barber III and Virginia Tech's Kevin Jones -- the sudden emergence of another first-year performer, SMU's ShanDerrick Charles, has been easy to overlook.

After not carrying the football in the first four games of the season, Charles was given an opportunity against San Jose State on Oct. 13 after the Mustangs' leading rusher, Keylon Kincade, didn't travel with the team due to a concussion. While all of his carries came after the first quarter, Charles still rushed for 243 yards and led the Mustangs to their first win of the season.

That single-game total topped the 241-yard mark of Eric Dickerson and fell one yard shy of the school record (244 yards by Mike Richardson in 1968).

This past weekend, Charles proved that he wasn't just a one-game flash, again leading the way as the Mustangs overcame an early two-TD deficit to roll to a 40-14 victory over UTEP. Charles rushed for 212 yards and four TDs on 27 carries. The hard-nosed 5-9, 173-pounder showcases a determined style to go along with his vision and quick feet.