50 Best of the Non-BCS: Number 15
We're getting closer to the end in our month long countdown of the 50 Best Non-BCS Conference players in the country. Who will come out on top? Stay tuned to the In The Bleachers blog throughout August for the latest updates!
#15: QB Tim Hiller, Western Michigan
The Verdict: Tough, intelligent, and just a real good guy, Western Michigan's leader on offense is coming off of one of the best season's in school history. Hiller, who stands an imposing 6-foot-5, hit nearly 65% of his passes in 2008, including 36 touchdowns passes to only ten interceptions. The driving force behind Western Michigan's 9-4 season, Hiller was particularly effective in picking apart Illinois' secondary in Western's 23-17 upset of the Illini last year, hitting 28 of 40 passes for over 300 yards in the historic win. Hiller has perhaps the strongest arm of any quarterback in a non-BCS conference, while his footwork and field vision rival that of the top senior quarterback in any conference. Currently the fifth rated senior at his position according ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr, we like Hiller for his off-the-field impact (he went on a mission trip to Trinidad this summer) and toughness (he played the tail-end of 2008 with a partially torn ACL.) Currently working on his Masters Degree after graduating with a perfect 4.0, Hiller should find success on or off the gridiron once his career at Western Michigan is through.
Past Players: [#50: Navy LB Ross Pospisil] [#49: Fresno State RB Ryan Mathews] [#48: Wyoming DT John Fletcher] [#47: BSU WR Briggs Orsbon] [#46:EMU QB Andy Schmitt] [#45: Marshall TE Cody Slate] [#44: LA Tech WR/KR Philip Livas] [#43: CSU Gaurd Shelly Smith] [#42: Wyoming FS Chris Prosinski] [#41: SMU receiver Emmanual Sanders] [#40: UTEP QB Trevor Vittatoe] [#39: CMU DE/DT Frank Zombo] [#38: Nevada RB Vai Tuau] [#37:Marshall DE Albert McClellan] [#36: Boise State DE Ryan Winterswyk] [#35: ULM LB Cardia Jackson] [#34: CMU WR Bryan Anderson] [#33: SJSU DE Carl Ihenacho] [#32: ASU DE Alex Carrington] [#31: Kent State RB Eugene Jarvis] [#30: DL D'Anthoney Smith] [#29: BSU FS Sean Baker] [#28: CSU WLB Mychal Sisson] [#27: BSU QB Kellen Moore] [#26: Hawaii C John Estes] [#25: UH RB Bryce Beall] [#24 E. Carolina DE CJ Wilson] [#23 Buffalo WR Naaman Roosevelt] [#22 S. Miss. WR DeAndre Brown] [#21 TCU CB Nick Sanders] [#20 BSU RB Miquale Lewis] [#19 FAU QB Rusty Smith] [#18: BYU LT Matt Reynolds] [#17 BYU TE Dennis Pitta] [#16: FIU WR T.Y. Hilton]
