So this video is like 2 months old, but for some reason was just uploaded to Youtube today… so I thought I would post it. Panini America interview Knowshon Moreno over at the NFL Players Rookie Premier (remember Knowshon won the best touchdown dance here). The interview itself isn’t that great. The guy asking the questions looked like he had never done this before and kept asking stupid follow up questions.

Anyways, it’s nice seeing Knowshon on video. There’s not much going on right now until training camp so hopefully this can help hold you over.

At the 2009 NFL Rookie Premier Photoshoot in LA on May 16, Upper Deck held a touchdown dance competition. The winner would receive an authentic autographed Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls jersey. there was some stiff competition from guys like Mark Sanchez, Matt Stafford, Jason Smith and Aaron Curry… but ultimately there could only be one touchdown dance champion. Our boy Knowshon Moreno!

Check out his dance and prize acceptance in this video.

Here’s a clip of new Denver Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno doing an interview with ToppsTV at the NFL Rookie Shoot. He dances through the whole thing.

Generally, a lot is expected of first round draft picks. Knowshon Moreno, of the Denver Broncos, will be expected to start at running back immediately and contribute right away. Broncos fans are used to have a high powered rushing attack and they’ll expect no less from this former Georgia great.

Someone over at the Bleacher Report posted 10 questions he would ask Knowshon Moreno. Are there any questions you would add to the list? How do you think he would answer them?

1. How do you think playing football in the SEC will help you transit into the NFL?
2. Was it a surprise to hear your name get called to the Denver Broncos? Was there anything that only you knew that helped you predict this?
3. What was the first thing you’re going to do with the signing bonus of your contract?
4. What do you like about new head coach Josh McDaniels?
5. How much of an impact do you think the team will lack without Jay Cutler?
6. To fans of the Broncos who haven’t seen you play, how would you describe your running style?
7. What are your realistic individual goals for this upcoming season?
8. What do you think the team can do, in terms of record?
9. How do you think Broncos’ fans will react to you wearing number 27?
10. What do you think you need to improve upon most, as a running back?

Knowshon Moreno may have missed out on the Doak Campbell Award, but the AP was still kind enough to recognize him with something. Knowshon Moreno was named second-team AP All-American on Tuesday, becoming the first Georgia football player in three seasons to make the prestigious team. Moreno, a sophomore, rushed for 1,395 yards and 16 touchdowns, with another 329 yards receiving.

He was one of 25 players from the ACC or SEC to be named to one of the three teams.

Knowshon Moreno was all over the news when he burst on to the scene as a freshman in 2007. By all accounts, Knowshon had an even better sophomore season… so why isn’t there as much love for him this season? Most likely because Georgia fell off the map with their 3 losses. Georgia was the preseason No. 1 team in the country. Knowshon Moreno had a chance to be the star of that team to everyone in the country. You can put up the best stats in the country, but if only a select few media types in the south are watching, it’s hard to get recognized for your achievements.

Well, congratulations Knowshon for making the second-team AP All-American.

From AccessNorthGA.com:

Georgia sophomore tailback Knowshon Moreno has been selected to the AFCA Coaches’ All-America Team, the American Football Coaches Association announced Thursday.

The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and is the only one chosen exclusively by the coaches themselves.

Moreno, a 5-foot-11, 208 pound native of Belford, N.J, has averaged nearly six yards per carry en route to a 1,338-yard rushing season through 12 games making him just the second player in Georgia history to record more than 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons (Herschel Walker, 1980-83). Moreno, who also has 27 receptions for 329 yards, has scored 17 touchdowns his season, the most by a Bulldog since Garrison Hearst’s 21 in 1992.

Moreno leads the SEC in scoring with 102 points and rushing with an average of 111.5 yards per game. He is currently seventh in UGA history with 2,672 yards rushing in only two seasons.

The AFCA All-America team features 11 players on offense, 11 on defense and three specialists. The AFCA’s Football Bowl Subdivision All-America Selection Committee is made up of three head coaches from each of the AFCA’s nine FBS districts, one of whom serves as a district chairman, along with another head coach who serves as the chairman of the selection committee. The coaches in each district are responsible for ranking the top players in their respective districts, that information, along with ballots submitted by FBS head coaches, are used to select the AFCA FBS Coaches All-America Team.

ATHENS, Ga. — University of Georgia redshirt sophomore tailback Knowshon Moreno has been named one of three finalists for the 2008 Doak Walker Award, according to an announcement by the award’s selection committee.

Moreno is the only finalist from the Southeastern Conference for the Doak Walker Award, which is given annually to the nation¹s top collegiate running back.

Moreno, a 5-11, 208-pound native of Belford, N.J., has rushed for 1,244 yards this season making him only the second player in Georgia history to record more than 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons (Herschel Walker, 1980-83). Moreno, who also has 23 catches for 255 yards and a score in 2008, has scored 16 touchdowns this season, which is the most touchdowns by a Bulldog since a record-breaking 21 by Garrison Hearst in 1992.

Through 11 games, Moreno has scored more points than anyone in the SEC (96) and leads the league in rushing (113.1 yards/game). He currently stands at the No. 7 spot in school history with 2,578 yards rushing in only two seasons.

Hearst won Georgia its only Doak Walker Award in 1992. Moreno joins Michigan State’s Javon Ringer and Iowa’s Shonn Greene as finalists for this year’s award.

Georgia redshirt sophomore tailback Knowshon Moreno was named one of 10 semifinalists for the 2008 Doak Walker Award. Moreno (5-foot 11-inch, 208-pounds), has rushed for 1,113 yards this season making him only the second player in Georgia history to record more than 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons (Herschel Walker, 1980-83). Moreno, who also has 19 catches for 197 yards in 2008, has scored 15 touchdowns this season, which is the most scores by a Bulldog since 1992 (Garrison Hearst, 21).

I am so excited for Knowshon Moreno to e a semifinalist for this Award. Not only has he racked up tons of yards and touchdowns this season, but he has had several memorable plays (the leap). Those type of plays are what stand out in the voter’s minds when they’re making their decisions.

The 162 members of the Doak Walker Award selection committee will cast their votes to determine the 2008 finalists on Nov. 24. After the three finalists are named, a second vote by the selection committee will determine the recipient. The 2008 Doak Walker Award recipient is announced live on The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards on Dec. 11.

I saw this article in the AJC about Knowshon Moreno being slowed down in the SEC. You can read the article here.

Moreno is still having a fine season. He’s averaging 98.3 yards rushing, which is fourth-best in the SEC and 27th nationally, and he leads the league in scoring at 10 points per game.

But the highlight-reel runs have largely been absent in conference contests. In Georgia’s three SEC games against Tennessee, Alabama and South Carolina, Moreno has averaged 71.3 rushing yards. His longest run from scrimmage was 13 against the Vols on Saturday.

“Here’s what I say about Knowshon: Knowshon’s going to make great runs every game,” coach Mark Richt said. “Knowshon’s going to make people miss. Knowshon’s going to break tackles. The question is where does he start making people miss and where does he start breaking tackles? Does it happen at the line of scrimmage?

“He’s made some a great three-yard runs. I’ve seen him behind the line of scrimmage have to dodge a guy and spin. … I think Knowshon has run every bit as good as he’s ever run.”

Knowshon Moreno is only averaging 3.82 ypc in SEC play this year. Those are not Heisman numbers. And rushing the ball won’t get any easier when Georgia has to play Vandy, LSU and UF in the next three weeks.

A blog called MLive listed their top 14 running backs in college football. Take a look at their top 2.

2. Knowshon Moreno, Georgia: Moreno here means that the Michigan fans reading this will not be happy about No. 1. So be it. But I wouldn’t put Moreno too far behind – he is clearly the SEC’s best back and should be a Heisman contender if he stays healthy.

1. Beanie Wells, Ohio State: If Ohio State wins at USC, and if the Bucks run the table and if they get back to the national title game … this is your Heisman Trophy winner. Wells is an amazing back – fast, strong, great vision. Everything you want in a star.

Now, I’m not trying to say Beanie Wells sucks, but I wouldn’t rank him above Knowshon Moreno. First of all, the strength of schedule that each of these running backs face isn’t even a competition. The SEC is far more powerful and has faster, tougher defenses then what Beanie sees in the Big 10. So when you look at their stats (Knowshon stats, Beanie stats) and you see their YPC is very similar… 5.5 vs 5.4 I would give the edge to Knowshon even though he is .1 lower. Their touchdown totals are also comparbale. But whether Knowshon Moreno gets the edge is in the passing game. Beanie Wells does not catch the ball out of the backfield at all, while Knowshon had 20 receptions for 253 yards last year. He is simply a more complete back.

What’s your take?