Speaking of leaders, I think Ill start with a race that everyone seems to think has no clear cut winner, the Heisman Trophy Race. To me, there are few people who are taking in consideration what the meaning of the Trophy is, it is for the best player in collegiate football. Whether that person be on a bad team, an average team, or a great team. Some people are writing off players based on their exposure, where they play, what system they run, all those type of things should not come into factor when considering the best player in college football this year. There are a few candidates I would like to mention today that aren't getting close to enough attention based on their ability and the way they have performed this year.
#1
My personal favorite dark horse candidate to win the Heisman is Kellen Moore of Boise State. He has some of the most impressive numbers I have seen from a quarterback, and is probably the most important single reason that Boise is undefeated. His touchdown to interception ratio is astounding, throwing 32 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions, that is a 10:1 ratio. That is an amazing number, it means for every 10 touchdowns he throws, he throws a pick. Think about this for a second, Carson Palmer when he won the Heisman, only had about a 3:1 touchdown to interception ratio, Jason White 4:1, Matt Leinart 7:1, Sam Bradford 6:1. And remember, Bradford's numbers were considered "video game" like by many, so why is Kellen Moore not a favorite again? Oh yeah, because he doesn't go to a Florida, Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma, USC. Boise State has gotten some notice recently, but not as much as they should. Also, the one argument for Colt McCoy or a Tim Tebow or a Mark Ingram over a Kellen Moore is "Well, they are playing for a winning team." or "Ive seen them play, they are better than their numbers." Well people, there are a reason they are better than their numbers, they haven't been that good besides Mark Ingram. There is no doubt Tebow and McCoy are great leaders, but the cast around them is usually pretty good. McCoy has Jordan Shipley and Tebow the last couple years had Percy Harvin and Lewis Murphy. Though, the numbers don't lie. Tebow? His numbers, 1730 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, 5 interceptions. Not very impressive is it? His rushing numbers? 171 attempts, 604 yards, and ten touchdowns. His average per rush is only 3.5, about 0.8 yards lower than his Heisman season two years ago. He is a great leader, no doubt, but best player? I think not. Colt McCoys numbers? 2628 yards, 19 touchdowns, 11 interceptions. A little better than Tebow's, but, not even close to the level he played on last year when he finished second in the Heisman vote. Once again, a winner and great leader, no doubt, best player in college football? Definitely not this year. As far as the "winning team" argument, uhm, look at the stats people, Boise State is #6 in the country and sitting at 10-0. I know he doesn't play for a big school or a BCS team, but, the award isn't for the best player on the biggest team. It is for the best player in College Football, and Kellen Moore has his own case for that. If not, well, he still has a very good chance at the Davey O'Brien award.
#2
Another Quarterback that has eye-popping numbers that isn't being considered widely as a Heisman candidate is Case Keenum. He doesn't have to amazing touchdown to interception ratio that Moore does, but he has a pretty impressive 5:1 ratio as it stands with 31 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. The most impressive thing about Keenum this year, is how many yards he has. He has 4,194 passing yards, which is an amazing 1,003 more yards than the second leading passer this year, Tyler Sheenan of Bowling Green, with Levi Brown and Jimmy Clausen third and fourth respectively. I understand that Houston is definitely a passing team, and undeniably has a history of prolific passers under their schemes, much like Texas Tech, but the thing Tech has had the past few years is a little receiver by the name of Michael Crabtree, Harrel was undeniably good, but Crabtree made him better. Keenum however, has no receiver over 1000 yards yet this season. That was a very surprising number to me when I found it, he has over 4000 passing yards, and no receiver for Houston has 1000 yards, that means he spreads the ball around, and reads the field pretty darn well. Another thing, Houston is not a slouch of a team, they are 8-2, and would be 9-1 if their defensive players had made it on the field for the UTEP game. Keenum has a case for just about any passing or offensive award.
#3
Time for a defensive player, which I know isn't very often in the Heisman race, but, this is one I want to make. Everyone is raving about Nebraska Defensive Lineman, Ndamukong Suh, but my pick is Derrick Morgan out of Georgia Tech. He is on a winning team, and a team that will probably be the ACC Champions, he has very good stats, with 12 sacks being second in the nation only behind Texas A&Ms Von Miller (15). The numbers aren't spectacular, but if you have seen this guy play this year, you know how good he is. I watched the Duke game very closely, and he didn't have spectacular, eye-popping numbers, but he dominated that Duke offensive line and made some pretty good plays. That is the kind of player I would want on my football team. Morgan has an incredible motor and did not stop pushing until the game was over, making Duke adjust to where he was, not him adjusting to Duke. That is the sign of a great player, when the other team knows they have to stop you, but just can't. That is Heisman type football. He may not be the flashiest pick, but if a defensive player wins it, my vote would be Derrick Morgan, by a very slim margin over Suh.
Those were my favorite dark horse Heisman candidates. As far as the actual winner, it will probably be Mark Ingram of Alabama, and deservingly so, he is an amazing running back. Even though he is not my personal pick, Ingram will probably win the Heisman by a good margin unless something happens to Alabama down the road and they lose before they go to the SEC Championship game. I still think Kellen Moore of Boise State is the best candidate for the award, but, I don't have a vote. Either way, the award will come down to the wire and it should be an exciting thing to watch the Heisman special this year if it stays this close.
Well, that's my two cents on the Heisman trophy this year, I'm sure you all have your own opinions and all have reasons as I had mine. There are a lot of candidates out there and there are still 2 more games left for most of the candidates to prove themselves, some 3 more depending on championship games. Anything can happen in College Football, and it will be an exciting last two to three weeks of the season.
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