College football is nearby and it’s time to predict the top teams and players in the country. The preseason All-America teams are being unveiled as are the preseason awards. My interest piqued, after perusing through the previous award winners and I came across the winner of the Doak Walker Award in 2001.
Luke Staley, a bruising yet speedy back from BYU took home the honors in 2001 in what was one of the best single seasons in NCAA history in terms of toting the rock. Despite the accolades and the glorious season he piloted, Staley’s reputation needs to be dusted off and remembered.
Courtesy: Bleacher Report
The 2001 season for BYU was like a Hollywood script. The underdog mustered up the brass to be great and shock the world. The Cougars blazed to a 12-0 start thanks in part to 10 games with 35 points or more led by Staley’s ability to elude defenders. The season didn’t end with a championship or inspiring win, instead, this story included a tearjerker in place of the championship finish.
Staley’s season came to a startling halt, when the Oregon native broke his leg in the midst of a 41-38 nail-biting win against Mississippi State. Staley finished with 149 yards in the game, but most importantly led the Cougars to field goal range before prematurely leaving the game. Without his presence in the starting lineup, BYU went on to lose their final two games including a loss to Louisville in the Liberty Bowl.
Staley finished his junior campaign with 1,596 yards and 24 touchdowns rushing while adding 334 yards receiving and four touchdowns. With that said, Staley decided to forego his senior season and enter his name in the NFL draft. Despite the success, Staley was overlooked and waited, and waited, and waited, before the Detroit Lions selected him with the 214 pick in the seventh round. The knock on Staley was his checkered injury history. It’s rare that NFL “experts” are right but they can pat themselves on the back for this. With an already re-structured knee, Staley was viewed as damaged goods.
Staley suffered a season-ending knee injury in training camp and before he ever gained traction as an NFL running back, his career had passed him by. A tremendous blend of power and speed (6’1, 218lbs), Staley’s ability was so far below the radar that football fans were not able to truly embrace the gifted athlete. Despite the accolades, the BYU fanfare doesn’t cart quite the masses such as schools from the power conferences. Staley reportedly topped out at 4.42 in his forty yard dash and had then-Lions coach Marty Mornhinweg groveling over his potential. However, he endured over five surgeries during his career, most coming before the NFL. Despite the downside, his upside was too good for the Lions to pass up.
“I still think that Luke – whether he puts the brace on and plays, whether he has it redone and plays – I believe he’s got a legitimate chance in this league to help the Detroit Lions win football games,” Mornhinweg said, via Desert News in August of 2002. Staley was unable to outduel the infamous injury bug and turned out the lights on his career at the young age of 23. His premature departure leaves me wondering ‘what could have been’ if his body could have held up in the grueling sport.
Despite the diminutive professional career, what Staley accomplished at the little-known BYU was remarkable and a testament to his ability as a football player. His final season for the Cougars is considered the best single-season performance for a running back as Staley led the nation is rushing touchdowns (24), total touchdowns (28), average yards per carry (8.1) and second in the nation in total yards rushing (1,582).
Staley is one of many promising athletes to succumb to injuries. It’s the nature of the beast, football is a sport of gladiators and at the RB position, the hard blows and collisions leave an everlasting mark. Staley’s name isn’t brought up much as more than 10 years have passed since his achievements. But, in 2001, the Doak Walker was rightfully awarded to the man who carried BYU to unthinkable heights.
