Jeremiah Masoli: Heisman Contender?

(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Although Masoli and Smith's styles weren't really identical—Masoli being a power runner and Smith being more of a slasher while Smith was a better drop back passer, but Masoli can throw better on the run—Masoli isn't going to get criticized for his size. Smith was the outright choice in 2006 to win the Heisman.

The other reason I compare Masoli to Smith, is if Masoli carries his excellence from those last three games into next year his season will be comparable if not better than what Smith did in 2006.

Granted, Smith had a lot more talent surrounding him than Masoli has now, but Masoli has one thing that Troy Smith didn't have: Chip Kelley.

Just look what Chip did with Dennis Dixon over the course of one year. Dixon was the favorite to win the Heisman until Mike Belloti decided he wanted to run up the score against Arizona State and left Dixon in the game late in the fourth when we already had the game won, and got his star player hurt. Then he totally tears his ACL against Arizona then our season is over, but lets try to stay on point where talking about Masoli.

Kelley has already developed Masoli into a great runner, we know that, and his passing skills really showed at the end of the season. So if Kelley can keep developing Masoli and make him better and better by his senior year, if not this year, Masoli can truly be a contender for the Heisman Memorial Trophy.

I'm not saying that Masoli will ever win the Heisman, but something tells me he will do great things for Oregon football—I am so stoked for the next two years!

Go Ducks!!

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