Hold That Heisman There's Still Hope For McFadden

After Arkansas went on a two game slide into conference play, things were looking grim for D-Mac's chances to win the Heisman. But the more I think about it, the more I think his chances have actually improved.

Think about it: Darren McFadden scorched defenses up and down the field, and the same teams had all off-season to prepare for him this year. If you take a close look at his rushing statistics this season, you might understand what I'm getting at:

Troy—24 carries for 151 yards and 1 touchdown.

Alabama—33 carries for 195 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Kentucky—29 carries for 173 yards and 1 touchdown.

North Texas—19 carries for 138 yards and 2 scores.

Now those numbers might not sound like the numbers of a spectacular running back, but take this into consideration: D-Mac plays, in my opinion, the most physical conference in the nation.

He is still burning defenses, even against stacked d-lines, with eight or nine guys in the box. By those numbers he is projected to carry the ball 315 times for 1971 yards and 18 touchdowns—all three would be career highs. And he is quite capable of breaking the 2,000 yard mark.

For anyone that says "Well the Hogs are playing a cupcake schedule and he'll just pad his stats on the D-II schools"...look again. His best performances this season have come against SEC teams. He very well could have rushed for 200 yards against Troy and North Texas, but he's not about the numbers. He's a team player. He could care less about winning the Heisman.

Although he's only 20 years of age and is still a kid at heart, McFadden is a man among boys when he steps onto the field. His leadership skills and dedication to helping the Razorbacks win are remarkable—whether it's at runningback, quarterback, or receiver. Let's also not forget that he is the overall best football player in the country.

So when it comes time to tally the votes in New York, don't be surprised if Darren McFadden comes away with the Heisman hardware.