2006 NFL

1. LaDainian Tomlinson: Was the MVP, Offensive Player of the Year and NFL Man of the Year.

He set the NFL record with 31 touchdowns, including breaking Shaun Alexander’s mark with 28 rushing TDs.

LT led the NFL with 1815 yards, became just the 14^th runner to eclipse 1800 yards in a season.

He finished 4^th in the league averaging 5.2 yards per carry on 348 attempts (2^nd in the NFL)

He led the NFL in total points with 186, another NFL record.

Tomlinson’s 2,323 yards from scrimmage were 6^th most of all-time and 2^nd in 2006.

He added 56 catches.

During San Diego’s season ending 10 game winning streak, the Bolts’ RB scored at least 2 TDs in eight of those games. The Chargers finished with football’s best record at 14-2.

In the divisional round vs. New England, LT pummeled the Pats for 123 yards on the ground, 64 in the air on two catches and 2 TDs. The second put San Diego up 8 with under nine minutes to play.

The Chargers lost the lead and fell 24-21 to the Patriots.

San Diego led the NFL in scoring at over 30 points a game and was second in the league in rushing.

 2. Peyton Manning: Was Super Bowl MVP while leading the Colts to their first title in 35 years.

He threw for 247 yards and a score in the game.

He led the Colts from down 21-3 to the Patriots to an epic 38-34 victory in the AFC Championship game. He threw for 349 yards in game.

During the 3^rd quarter comeback, Manning scored a running from a yard out on the ground and threw the air. He threw the tying two-point conversion.

He was named 2^nd team All-Pro. He finished 3^rd in the MVP voting.

The Sheriff led the league in TDs (31) and rating (101.0) for the 3^rd straight season. He was 2^nd in yards with 4,397 and 3^rd in the NFL in completions and completions % (65).

He topped the league with 4 comeback wins.

Manning was AFC Offensive Player of the Week three times.

The Colts finished 12-4 and won the AFC South. They were second in the NFL scoring 26.7 points a game.

They got past Kansas City and upset 13-3 Baltimore before knocking out the Patriots.

3. Drew Brees: Led the Saints to their first NFC Championship game.

He led New Orleans from down 21-13 in the 3^rd quarter to a 27-24 win over the Eagles in the divisional round.

His 11 yard TD toss to Deuce McCallister put the Saints in front for good with just over a minute to go in the 3^rd. Brees passed for 243 yards and had a 96.2 rating in the game.

In the NFC title games at Chicago he went 27-49 for 354 yards and 2 TDs. His two TD passes in a span of less than four minutes pulled the Saints to within 16-14 after being down 16-0.

The Saints would fall 39-14.

In his first year in New Orleans, the ex-Charger, was 2^nd in the MVP voting and was 1^st team All-Pro.

He was the Man of the Year (with Tomlinson).

Brees led the league in yards (4,452), and was third in TDs (26) and rating (96.2). He also finished 4^th in completion % (64.3) and 4^th in completions and 5^th in attempts.

Brees engineered the top offense in yards gained and passing yards in the NFL. The Saints went 10-6 and won the NFC South scoring nearly 26 points a game.

2006 College Football

1. Darren McFadden: Finished 2^nd in the Heisman voting and was the Doak Walker award winner as the nation’s top running back.

He was a consensus All-American and SEC Offensive Player of the Year. 

The sophomore led the SEC in rushing and was 5^th nationally with 1,647 yards rushing and 1,796 yards from scrimmage.

McFadden also topped the conference with 16 touchdowns and 96 points scored.

He averaged 5.8 yards per carry, caught 11 passes, returned 10 kicks for 262 yards and a score.

As a part time “Wildcat” quarterback he completed 7 of 9 passes for 69 yards and 3 TDs.

Arkansas won 10 straight games in the middle of the season including over then #2 Auburn behind 145 yards and a TD from McFadden.

 

In the SEC Championship game against Florida he ran for 73 yards, had 27 yards receiving and threw a TD pass.

In the Citrus Bowl, he ran for 89 yards on 19 carries in a 17-14 loss to #6 Wisconsin.

Arkansas went 10-4 and won the SEC West. They finished #15 in the final poll. The Razorbacks finished 5^th in the country rushing over 218 yards per game.

2. Chris Leak: Led Florida to its 2^nd national championship. He was the MVP of the national championship game, a 41-14 rout of then #1 Ohio St.

 

He was 25-36 for 212 yards and a score the title game.  He started the game 9-9 passing.

In the SEC title game against #15 Arkansas,

Leak ran nine yards for a score and tossed a 37 yarder to Percy Harvin for TD that gave Florida a 17-0 lead. 

 The Gators would go on to win 38-28.

During the regular season, Leak was 4^th in the SEC with 2,942 yards and completion % (63.6).

He was 3rd in TDs with 23. 

He also ran for three scores.

Leak led an offense that scored nearly 30 PPG. Florida won its final seven games to win the title. 

The Gators remained in the top 10 all season and finished the regular season at #2 in the final poll.

3. JaMarcus Russell: He was the MVP of the Sugar Bowl as LSU routed Notre Dame 41-14.

He threw for 322 yards and two touchdowns.

Russell’s five yard scamper put LSU up 21-14 with just over a minute to play in the first half.

He was named 1^st team All-SEC and the Manning Award winner given to the nation’s top QB.

Russell was also named SEC offensive player of the week three times.

He led the SEC in rating, completion % at 67.8, and was 2^nd in yards with 3,129 and 28 TD passes.

The junior gunslinger was 3^rd in the NCAA in rating and 6^th in completion %.

LSU finished 11-2 and #3 in the final poll with Russell tossing at least two TD passes in each of the Tigers 11 victories.

LSU finished 9^th in the NCAA scoring 33.7 points a game.

He would become the #1 pick in the NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders.