Miami's Jacory Harris: Your 2010 Heisman Trophy Favorite

(Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

The man goes by a number of different nicknames... 

JaScorey.  JaHeisman Harris.  Lil' Dorsey.  Sergeant Swagger. 

Ok, maybe a few of those aren't real nicknames, but the kid who has played a huge role in the return of Hurricane football to respectability is deserving of them all.  What he also may be deserving of is a position as a favorite for the 2010 Heisman Trophy.

You see, there's a lot that goes into a Heisman campaign.  Simply being great at the game of football doesn't mean everything, as we've all seen over the years.  Guys like Larry Fitzgerald and Terrell Suggs can dominate the game like no other, but the formula for the Heisman Trophy looks right past them. 

Luckily for football fans, while the past can pretty much guarantee us who won't win, it can also give us a good idea of who the leading candidates might be.  Below is an analysis of some of the characteristics your everyday Heisman winner might have, and how Jacory Harris seems to have it all. 

Heisman Must Haves...

1. A Position in the Backfield

Prime Example: Eric Crouch, 2001

Only five times in the history of the award has a non-offensive back won.  Twice Tight Ends won, but both were before 1950, and the other three needed to be dominant at two positions, at least.  Historically, running backs have the advantage, taking over 40 awards since it all began 73 years ago, but quarterbacks have owned the past decade.  Since 1999, eight quarterbacks have taken home the hardware.

Crouch was a perfect example of the Nebraska offense, where a quarterback was really the running back with the best arm.  He was the 13th player to run and pass for 1,000 yards in a season, and ended his career as the Big 12 all time leader in total offense.  The reason he's listed as the best example is that he was chosen as the best QB among the finalists, as the top six vote-getters were all signal callers. 

Jacory's Score: 100 percent.  Why not?  He is a quarterback after all, and at the same time the unquestioned leader of the offense.  If the team had a back that could truly dominate games (a la Ken Dorsey and Willis McGahee), then maybe I'd be more hesitant to max out his score. 

However, with the way the offense works, a great season for the Hurricanes will have to mean a great season for J-12.

2. A Great Team

Prime Example:  Jason White, 2003

Seven of the last 10 Heisman winners made an appearance in the National Title game, and two others had their teams finish in the top four in the country.  The fact is that great teams get noticed, and notice gets you media attention.  If someone were to tell fans that most voters just pick the quarterback from the No. 1 team on their ballots, regardless of statistics or actual play on the field, I doubt many would bat an eye.

Jason White was having a great season statistically, no question, but White wasn't exactly the best player in the nation.  That player finished in second, but in the end, the committee gave it to the man leading the charge for the steam-rolling Sooners.

Jacory's Score: 50 percent.  Jacory will have a good team, but whether his rag-tag bunch of Hurricanes becomes a great team is yet to be seen.  They were twice ranked in the top ten after an impressive start this season and should only be getting better with the majority of key players being underclassmen. 

Still, talent can only take them so far, and would need to either go undefeated, or lose only one game to give Jacory his best chance.

3. An Epic Duel (or two...)

Prime Example:  Sam Bradford, 2008

Voters love media darlings, so how does a Heisman hopeful get that mug on the screen?  Play big games, especially big games against other players at your position.  That'll give newspaper and TV types the chance to use words like "showdown," and come up with impressive highlight packages for SportsCenter the next day.  Sounds stupid, I know, but those one on one battles may be the difference on election day. 

Sam Bradford had more than his share of battles a year ago, taking on Texas (Colt McCoy) and Kansas (Todd Reesing) in straight weeks, then later whooping up on Texas Tech (Graham Harrell).  Though his Sooners lost, the five touchdowns and 387 yards he passed for in the Red River Rivalry (though "shootout" really would have been more accurate for that game) may have given him just the highlights he needed. 

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