Heisman 2012: Top 25 Candidates for Next Season

Montee Ball is officially returning to Wisconsin for his senior season after their heartbreaking loss to Oregon in the Rose Bowl.

Ball is sure to be one of the top candidates for next year's Heisman after being a finalist in New York this year.

Ball and fellow finalist Tyrann Mathieu, along with several other big names from this past season, will all be in the running for the most prestigious individual award next season.

There are also a few potential candidates that many have yet to watch exclusively this season or don't know of at all. After all, how much did we know about Robert Griffin III before this year?

Here are some names to watch for next season, when the Heisman race kicks off once again in the fall.

25. Taylor Martinez, Quarterback, Nebraska

Though he's here by near default (Brock Osweiler would have been a quarterback in front of him), Martinez has an outside shot of creating some buzz.

He did a lot of that last year as a freshman, but that hype seemed to die down a bit this year. Inconsistency is an issue, and his performance against South Carolina was a testament to that.

In his second year against tougher defenses in the Big 10, he'll be more prepared for who his Cornhuskers are facing and is expected to accomplish around 25 total touchdowns and 1,000 yards rushing.

He will need much more than that to win the Heisman, but he's worth throwing on this list.

24. Logan Thomas, Quarterback, Virginia Tech

Logan Thomas and Virginia Tech came extremely close to winning the Sugar Bowl this week, and may have had a touchdown not been overruled.

But it's fair to say they both have a bright 2012 in front of them. Thomas will have to stretch out his 19-10 touchdown-to-interception mark, but he has the tools to become a star in the ACC.

And on top of that, he was only a sophomore this season and still had his share of big games, including a 23 for 25 contest against Miami in which he threw for three scores and ran for two others.

He may not be considered a Heisman candidate just yet, but don't be surprised if he turns quite a few heads next season with a big year in Blacksburg.

23. E.J. Manuel, Quarterback, Florida State

I want to think this guy will eventually start taking control of games, but I have yet to really see the dominance factor that many thought he would have when he first arrived at Florida State.

Manuel's season was a decent one for the Seminoles, but I expect him to be let loose more in 2012. The Notre Dame showdown in the Champs Sports Bowl wasn't too far past boring, but throwing two late touchdown passes caught my eye.

I still consider him a decent NFL prospect, though he doesn't have the arm you would expect from a 6'5", 245 pound quarterback.

And as far as the Heisman goes, I'd consider him a long-shot. But a long shot is better than no shot at all.

22. Robert Woods, Wide Receiver, Southern Cal

While it looks like he will be more than overshadowed by Matt Barkley next season, Robert Woods should be watched very intently.

Woods is an amazing talent and used his skills exceptionally with close to 1,300 receiving yards and 15 touchdown receptions this fall.

Woods likely would not surpass Barkley even if he had over 1,500 yards receiving and 20 scores.

But that doesn't mean he couldn't possibly work his way up to become a finalist for the Heisman trophy.

After all, being a finalist would be an honor in and by itself, as the last wide receiver finalist came in 1997 when two-way star Charles Woodson won the award and Randy Moss was a finalist.

21. Braxton Miller, Quarterback, Ohio State

I have to say, I was actually rather impressed with Braxton Miller's freshman year.

His season didn't end very well, seeing as the Buckeyes lost to Florida this week, but I consider his first season a complete success.

Sure, a little over 54 percent passing isn't close to jaw-dropping whatsoever, but 13 touchdowns with only throwing four interceptions is a definite building block.

Under Urban Meyer, Braxton Miller will thrive in the spread option and will be able to use his full running ability while allowing himself to dink-and-dunk passes until he is fully ready to consistently throw down the field.

With that said, look for Miller to breakout this season instead of waiting till his junior year. He's surely a player to keep on watch throughout 2012.

20. Kenjon Barner, Running Back, Oregon

Now that LaMicheal James has decided on his future, Kenjon Barner will officially be the lead back for Oregon in 2012.

That is if Barner doesn't also decide to take his talents to the NFL by declaring for the draft this April.

Barner is just another of the lightning-quick Oregon Ducks, a true track meet on the football field. Except for guys like Barner, running isn't his only strong trait.

The vision he and James have is exceptional. Let the fact that he had 939 yards on only 152 carries rattle around in your brain. That's a 6.2 average per-carry. And on top of that, he scored 14 touchdowns for the Ducks.

It's safe to say that with James leaving, Oregon won't have a problem replacing him, provided that Barner stays (which he should). And it's also safe to say that he will be a dark horse candidate for the Heisman trophy. 

19. Keith Price, Quarterback, Washington

I regret questioning Keith Price. After the Alamo Bowl against Baylor (I know, it was Baylor's defense), I have to give him serious props.

And throwing him on this list does just that. Price was only a sophomore this year, so he's only getting started. Throwing for over 3,000 yards and accounting for 36 touchdowns is impressive, so imagine another two years in this offense at Washington.

Price also has fought through a couple of injuries and will hopefully be fully rested come spring practice. If he stays healthy, he could put up some scary numbers.

Numbers that could at least be near Heisman-worthy. It's just a thought, but don't be shocked if it becomes reality in 2012.

18. Jarvis Jones, Linebacker, Georgia

Oh, if I could only count the times I forgot that Jarvis Jones was only a sophomore this season. The Georgia linebacker is almost a lock to be a top-five pick when April 2013 finally rolls around.

But in the meantime, he'll rack up some more individual honors while trying to push the Bulldogs to an SEC crown in 2012.

Seeing as the Heisman voters, dare I say, shun defensive players, I'm not going as high with Jones. That doesn't mean he won't be one of the more dominating forces on the field though.

Jones very well could do what Tyrann Mathieu did this year, unless Mathieu himself does it again.  Either way, Jones deserves as much recognition as he can get.

He will certainly get that on draft day 2013, but as far as the Heisman goes, we all know defense isn't nearly as appreciated as it should be.

17. De'Anthony Thomas, Wide Receiver, Oregon

The second of three Oregon speed demons on this list is De'Anthony Thomas, the running back, wide receiver and return man for the Ducks.

He may even be more dynamic then the other two and will be a huge part of Oregon's offense for 2012. His 2011 was big enough as it is, with an exclamation point coming in the game against Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl.

Though undersized at 160 pounds, Thomas won't be beat around too much, seeing as Oregon has many spectacular offensive threats. Another factor is that not too many people will even be able to catch him anyway.

I see Darron Thomas taking too many of his votes for him to contend at the end of the season, but De'Anthony Thomas is undoubtedly one of the players to keep your eyes on in 2012, just for the pure fun of watching him run.

16. Michael Dyer, Running Back, Auburn

Even though it says Auburn up top, now that Michael Dyer has been released from his scholarship there, it's uncertain where he'll wind up.

Arkansas State, with former coordinator Gus Malzhan maybe? Another SEC school? Whatever way, Dyer's future is a question mark, other than the fact we know he has the talent for the next level.

But if Dyer ends up at Arkansas State with the Red Wolves, his Heisman potential dwindles quite a bit. Even if he had an explosive season like Garrett Wolfe did several years back with Northern Illinois, being at a non-BCS school will diminish the meaning of his stats.

So with the uncertainty surrounding Dyer, he falls down this list, but he still has an outside shot at contending for Heisman. If he carries his all-SEC numbers over to his next destination, anything is possible.

15. Knile Davis, Running Back, Arkansas

If Knile Davis had played this year as he did the last, I would have said that he was more than NFL-ready.

But with an ankle injury that kept him out all this season, there's no telling what he'll decide to do for this upcoming year.

He could still return for one more season, a season with national title hopes for Arkansas, that is if Davis returns for the Razorbacks.

Davis would be in the running for All-SEC, if not All-American honors, if he does decide to return to class. He also may want to prove to scouts that he's fully healthy.

But Davis may decide to do that at the NFL combine instead of in his senior year in Arkansas. Along with quarterback Tyler Wilson, Arkansas would pose a threat as the next SEC team to win the National Title.

But Davis may decide to start fresh of his injury in the NFL. Until he does, he's someone to watch for Heisman next season.

14. Tajh Boyd, Quarterback, Clemson

After a very forgetful, 70-33 loss to West Virginia in the Orange Bowl, it's safe to say Tajh Boyd wasn't of Geno Smith's caliber.

It shows in him being several spots down from Smith but doesn't mean he will not have a chance to put it all together, with a Heisman-worthy season as a junior next year.

33 touchdowns is a big number for a sophomore in the ACC, and he could easily be a threat for over 4,000 pass yards when next season rolls around.

Some of his decision-making isn't the greatest, but he'll progress in that fashion with another year in the Clemson offense. And with big games against teams such as North Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Auburn, I have no doubt he is an elite college football player.

Whether or not that translates into making him a Heisman finalist, we won't know till fall. But Boyd's name should definitely be thrown into the hat of candidates when the new season begins.

13. Collin Klein, Quarterback, Kansas State

For all those people who like dual-threat quarterbacks, Collin Klein is a guy you'll love watching.

Though the passing part of the threat isn't particularly phenomenal, his legs more than make up for it. He ran for nearly 1,100 rushing yards (stats before Cotton Bowl) along with 26 touchdowns on the ground to make for a fantastic season.

And throwing for 12 more scores and over 1,700 yards only adds to a special season in which Klein carried Kansas State to the Cotton Bowl.

Even bigger things could be on the horizon for Klein, who is due to be a senior next fall. The Wildcats have to be excited about the return of Klein for yet another year, one in which they will battle for the Big 12 title. 

With nearly 40 total touchdowns, how could Kansas State not be walking on cloud nine with Klein having one more season there? And with even more improvement in his passing game next year, Klein easily will stay in the Heisman talk throughout 2012.

12. Landry Jones, Quarterback, Oklahoma

Landry Jones has decided to stay in school for one more year, thereby placing his name on our top 25 list.

The only reason why the Oklahoma senior-to-be isn't higher on our list is for the second half he had without his main target, Ryan Broyles.

After having a rough time when Broyles hurt his ACL, Jones will have to go a whole season without him, seeing as Broyles is declaring for the draft.

A less-than-impressive bowl game against Iowa keeps the red flags waving, while we wonder if he will ever be as good as he was when he had Broyles on the field with him.

We'll just have to watch and see, but Jones is still worth throwing in a Heisman conversation when the Sooners open up their 2012 schedule.

11. Eddie Lacy, Running Back, Alabama

Call it Running Back U. Alabama has certainly turned some workhorses out of the stable the past few years, with one Heisman winner and another finalist in the past three years.

And along with Glenn Coffee, Mark Ingram, and Trent Richardson, Eddie Lacy should certainly be added to the list of dominating backs. His 7.5 yards per-carry is dynamic. That's 84 carries for 631 yards.

With Richardson most likely headed to the draft, where he will be a first-round pick, Lacy will become the lead back, and I see nothing but brightness in the future of this young bruiser.

The only thing I have to be worried about with Lacy is him going far beyond the 13th-spot I put him in. He could very well be just as good as, if not better than, Richardson.

That's what we said about Richardson when comparing him to Ingram and look how that turned out. Keep your eyes fixed on Lacy. It's time to let another one out of the stable for the Crimson Tide.

10. Tyler Wilson, Quarterback, Arkansas

If not for Matt Barkley returning, Tyler Wilson could have easily become the number one quarterback prospect for the 2013 NFL draft.

In the case Knile Davis returns, Wilson and Arkansas would be in position to contend for the BCS National Championship next year.

And along the way, Wilson is sure to get his fair shot at many individual accomplishments as well. Wilson was already recognized as an All-SEC quarterback, but he will be shooting even higher in 2012.

With Davis out all of this season with an ankle injury, Wilson carried the load for the Razorback offense, totaling 3,422 pass yards, 22 touchdown passes to only six interceptions, and a 63.1 completion percentage.

He may be a better NFL prospect than Heisman prospect, but expect Wilson to improve even more with all the weapons he'll have around him. 

9. Aaron Murray, Quarterback, Georgia

I flip-flopped Tyler Wilson and Aaron Murray several times before finally coming to the conclusion of having the latter higher on the list.

Murray is coming off a season in which he led the Georgia Bulldogs to the SEC Championship but lost the game to LSU along with their bowl contest against Michigan State.

Despite the late season disappointments, Murray more than showed his worth throughout 2011, even with A.J. Green, Murray's favorite target as a sophomore, having moved on to the NFL.

Murray didn't make huge strides from his sophomore season to his junior one, but he has certainly established himself as one of the better quarterbacks in college football.

After 35 passing scores and over 3,000 yards through the air, consider Aaron Murray one of the bigger names to watch in the Heisman race.

8. Geno Smith, Quarterback, West Virginia

After his incredible performance against Clemson in the Orange Bowl in which he had a bowl record 401 yards and seven touchdowns, Geno Smith had made his case to be considered a 2012 Heisman favorite.

Smith had 4,379 pass yards with 31 touchdowns and a pin-point 65.7 percent completion percentage. With it appearing as if he'll return to college, Smith has thrust himself into early stiff-arm talk for next season.

Being in the Big East may take away from some of his big numbers when they're judged by those who vote for Heisman. That looks to be the only concern for the Mountaineer star, who had an outstanding 201.2 QB rating versus Clemson Wednesday night.

Easily the best player in the conference, Smith may now be considered one of the best in the entire nation.

As of now, I consider him a borderline Heisman finalist when looking at the list of those returning to the college ranks next season. 

7. Sammy Watkins, Wide Receiver, Clemson

With one of the better seasons ever by a freshman, Sammy Watkins has broke onto the scene, and into the Heisman spotlight starting next fall.

The only danger to his candidacy could be his teammate Tajh Boyd. If the two were to both have excellent seasons, they could end up canceling each other out of the voting.

But Watkins shouldn't be worried about that. He'll at least have one more shot after next season for the Heisman, if not two if he decides not to declare early.

But that's thinking too far ahead. For now, he can appreciate the rare freshman season he has had at Clemson.

But next year even more will be expected. It wouldn't surprise me one bit if he goes beyond those expectations. So keep your eyes peeled on Sammy Watkins.

6. Tyrann Mathieu, Defensive Back, LSU

Getting to the Heisman ceremony as a defensive player may almost be as tough as winning the actual award as an offensive one.

That is what Tyrann Mathieu did for LSU this season, flying around the ball constantly, with his scrappy demeanor that made you forget that he is slightly undersized for a safety.

This in turn earned him the nickname "Honey Badger," along with his unique hair coloring style. His style on the field was even more unique, with intensity matched by few, if any.

But all of this doesn't necessarily mean a return trip to New York next December for the next go round of Heisman night.

But it's still clear to see he's the most dynamic defensive player in college football, and he will continue to play with extreme effort to make sure he stays just that.

5. Darron Thomas, Quarterback, Oregon

Leader of one of the hottest programs in the country (Oregon) and coming off an outstanding Rose Bowl, it's hard not to think of Darron Thomas having a shot at college football's biggest individual award in 2012.

With LaMichael James headed to the draft, Thomas will be relied upon more than ever. He will have plenty of help along with him though in the likes of De'Anthony Thomas, Kenjon Barner, and Tra Carson.

The Ducks look primed to battle USC and Matt Barkley for the Pac-12 crown in 2012, and they will settle for no less than just that. After all, Thomas and the Autzen crazies are looking for payback after losing to Southern Cal this season by just a field goal.

Also, with James gone, Thomas will have the spotlight in Oregon, which is the perfect set to making his Heisman run, even though Barner and De'Anthony Thomas both have shots at grabbing a few of his votes away.

I expect Thomas in the race right down to the end of the regular season, and with the Ducks being one of the top five teams to start out next year, make sure to pay close attention to Oregon's dual-threat QB.

4. Marcus Lattimore, Running Back, South Carolina

If not for a season-ending knee injury, Marcus Lattimore may have become a Heisman finalist. But with the early ending to his once-promising season, Lattimore will look to 2012 as his year to go beyond the rest.

Lattimore, even with his injury, could be the Doak Walker's leading candidate coming into next season, even with Montee Ball returning to Wisconsin.

But Lattimore can take more than just the title of best running back. He will be considered a top five Heisman candidate by mostly anybody that knows anything about college football.

It's safe to say that Lattimore's role in South Carolina's offense will continue to be one of a workhorse, with likely 30 carries or more in many games as long as he remains healthy.

The high amount of carries, in return, could sprout huge numbers for Lattimore, more than propelling him into the top tier of Heisman candidates.

3. Denard Robinson, Quarterback, Michigan

Denard Robinson created all kinds of buzz his sophomore year at Michigan, which carried over into this season. Though he is one of the more gifted athletes in college football, he has yet to completely blossom.

He is one of the better players in the nation but could be the best. He needs to cut down on his interceptions though, and improve his throwing decisions altogether.

His year throwing the ball was in fact worse than that of his sophomore season. And he also ran for nearly 600 yards less but managed to have four extra overall touchdowns.

I may have him a bit higher than most, but I believe he'll be in New York as a finalist next year with another year under Brady Hoke, provided that he does what most expect and return for one more year.

It's clear he has the potential to win Heisman, and he has shown flashes of it over his time at Michigan. But I believe in 2012, he will finally put it all together.

2. Montee Ball, Running Back, Wisconsin

No, Montee Ball doesn't quite top this list, but any one of these top four players can nearly be switched around. Ball is the only other Heisman finalist from this year still remaining, besides Tyrann Mathieu.

With a nearly unimaginable 1,923 yards and NCAA record 33 rushing touchdowns, it's hard not to place Ball as the lead candidate for the big award next year.

Another 300-plus yards receiving with six touchdowns brings his value up even more for Wisconsin, who will have to replace Russell Wilson. Ball won't mind taking even more of the offensive load and should get all the attention in Camp Randall this year with Wilson gone.

Some considered Ball's decision to come back to Wisconsin as foolish, with the shelf-life of running backs being limited.

Whether it was a good choice or not, and even if the Badgers aren't as good as they were this season, Ball is in prime position to be a finalist again for the 2012 Heisman, barring injury.

1. Matt Barkley, Quarterback, Southern Cal

No surprise here. Matt Barkley is the front-runner for Heisman. After being basically shunned from this year's Heisman ceremony, USC is off probation, and the sun is coming back up to shine on this program once again.

Barkley will have his same targets that he had this season, including top receiver Robert Woods. Barkley will be able to play not only for a conference championship but also a bowl game. And that bowl game could very well be the biggest of all.

And with USC being in the early BCS title talk, it will only boost Barkley's chances. Sure, Andrew Luck's Heisman hopes didn't work out in the end after he was was the favorite all season, but that doesn't mean the same won't happen for Barkley.

He will have plenty of competition next season, including 2011 finalists Montee Ball and Tyrann Mathieu, and other strong contenders, like Marcus Lattimore and Denard Robinson.

But if he has a year anything like the last one, Barkley will be a finalist. And if he improves much at all, he should win the Heisman award next December.