On the Matt: Mid-season MVP awards

We're over half way through the 2010 college football season, so I'm giving out my mid-season Most Valuable Player awards for the Colorado State Rams on offense, defense and special teams.

Don't agree with my picks? Let me know in The Fort.

Offense: Pete Thomas

I think it's a little hard to keep Thomas from being named the offensive MVP at this point. Only a true freshman, Thomas has shown maturity beyond his years ever since getting his feet wet in Week 1 against Colorado and continues to grow each game.

Seven games into the 2010 season, Thomas has passed for 1,566 yards, averaging 223.7 yards per game. Thanks to his three-touchdown game against UNLV, he now has a touchdown to interception ratio of 8:8 and his completion percentage of 67.7 ranks him 16th nationally, third for quarterbacks who have attempted at least 200 passes.

Thomas isn't only the quarterback of the future; he's been vital in both of the Rams' two wins this season.

Defense: Guy Miller

If Phil Steele puts him on his All-Mountain West Conference midseason team, how can I argue against not listing him as the Rams' defensive MVP?

Playing on the interior line at nose tackle, Miller ranks seventh on the team in tackles with 23, 8.5 of which have been for loss. The only defensive lineman for CSU with more take downs than Miller is Broderick Sargent with 24.

But where Miller really steals the show is bringing down the quarterback, as he leads the Rams with 6.5 sacks this season - 4.5 of which came against UNLV on Saturday, setting a school record previously held by Mike Bell and Brady Smith.

Miller's 6.5 sacks rank him seventh nationally. Josh McNary of Army leads the country with 9.5.

Special Teams: Derek Good

I know it's only been two games for Good returning kickoffs, but he has been phenomenal, breaking huge returns against both Air Force and UNLV. If he could shed just a couple of more decimal points off of his 40-yard dash time, he would have two touchdowns already.

He has great vision out there with the ability to see the holes created by his blockers no matter how small they might be. Plus, his average of 37.44 yards per return ranks him first nationally.

Having Good and Tony Drake back to return kickoffs makes for a very deadly duo.

I know some people might think Ben DeLine should be the special teams MVP, but he has been too shaky this year, having field goals and extra points either missed or blocked. All but one of these blocked kicks have been on DeLine's shoulders rather than the offensive line, as he never puts arch on them.