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. 

Jacory's Score:  80 percent.  Taking on Christian Ponder to start the year, a revenge game against Tyrod Taylor, and a potentially massive matchup with Terrell Pryor in Columbus highlight what should be an eventful season for Harris. 

The road to an ACC title goes through the arms and legs of Ponder and Taylor, and the game against Pryor will be a battle for the national spotlight. 

 

4. The Juice

Prime Example: Reggie Bush, 2005 and Troy Smith, 2006

What do I mean by "the juice?"  Well, it's a number of things.  It's being a good story, it's having a 1000 watt smile, it's knowing the right things to say whenever a microphone is present, it's basically all the little things that will get people on your side. 

People underestimate how important it is to have the right image, but when deciding between a number of equally qualified candidates, it's the type of thing that could swing a lot of votes. 

Or, in the cases of Bush and Smith, it's what made them both runaway winners.  Bush received the highest percentage of first place votes ever, despite two other excellent candidates in Vince Young and Matt Leinart.  Bush lost out on the '04 award to Leinart, so the convincing win in '05 may part because of his dominance that season, and part a career achievement award for the charismatic runner. 

For Troy Smith, he had to overcome a number of issues, from being in foster care for a while as a youth to his suspension at OSU for receiving booster money.  He emerged from it all to carry the Buckeyes to the national title game in '06. 

Jacory's Score: 75 percent.  Jacory has a built in story-line that's already unfolding.  The return of the 'Canes is just about as exciting a topic as one can find.  Their success this season may have put them on the radar, but if Jacory can keep this team undefeated for a long stretch next year, they'll be hyped like no other. 

 

5. Special Skills

Prime Example:  Tim Tebow, 2007.

Oh yeah...That's right.  I almost forgot.  Talent is important when one wants to win an award like the Heisman Trophy.  It's funny that something so necessary gets late mention, but those secondary traits receive so much attention, it's really taken advantage of. 

If you're saying, "Well of course skill is needed, it's almost pointless to bring it up," you certainly have a valid point, though I'm pointing more towards the type of skills that separate great players from all-timers. 

As much as it pains me to make him the example, Tebow is...as always...perfect.  He is a unique talent on the football field, as dominant a runner from the quarterback position that college football has ever seen. 

This is a kid that, again, as a quarterback,  is about to break Herschel Walker's record for most rushing touchdowns.  It's that type of skill that made him the first sophomore to ever win the award.

Jacory's Score: 60 percent.  Jacory has talent, but he's still growing as a starting quarterback.  He's been helped by a very deep, very dangerous receiving corps, but still tends to make mistakes in bunches, which is what leads to losses. 

Luckily for Harris, he has something that few veteran quarterbacks can ever really master, and that's the ability to instantly forget about past mistakes.  The kid is as even-keeled as he is confidant.  While that can be a concerning combo with lesser players, it's a nightmare for opposing teams in a player like Harris. 

 

Long story short, Harris has a lot working in his favor, and should be one of the first names listed among the favorites heading into next September.  Tune in next season to see if Harris and his 'Canes can do what it takes to make him the third Heisman Trophy winner in program history.

Please read my colleagues' cases for Georgia Tech's Josh Nesbitt and Virginia Tech's Ryan Williams .