SEC Football: Top 7 SEC Heisman Candidates

The Heisman trophy is the most prestigious award that college football has to offer. The winner will attach "Heisman trophy winner" to their name for the rest of their life. 

The trophy has been awarded since 1935 and has been held by NFL Hall of Famers, first-overall draft choices and even held twice by the same player—Archie Griffin is the only player to win the award more than once, between 1974-75.

With three of the last five Heisman winners coming from the SEC there is a good chance the award will again come from this conference. 

While Matt Barkley may be getting the early Heisman hype, let's take a look at seven players from the SEC that could win the Heisman in 2012. 

7. Tyler Bray

The Heisman has only been awarded to a player on a losing team once. In 1962, Paul Hornung quarterbacked a 2-8 Notre Dame team but was awarded the Heisman. 

Tennessee finished last season 5-7, but they have a young nucleus returning and should finish with a better record this season. 

Tyler Bray is a strong-armed quarterback who has two huge threats at receiver in Justin Hunter and Da'Rick Rogers. Hunter tore his ACL on Tennessee's first possession against Florida and missed the rest of the season. 

While Bray is a long shot to win the award, if Hunter and Rogers can stay healthy and play up to their ability, Bray could put up video game like passing numbers. Tennessee will need to develop enough of a running game to keep opposing defenses honest, but Bray is a Heisman dark horse candidate.

6. A.J. McCarron

Some would call A.J. McCarron a game manager. Well if you are a game manager and your team wins a national championship, shouldn't you get some Heisman love?

Most people think that McCarron will simply be a game manager in 2012, asked not to win the game but simply not to lose it. Alabama has traditionally been a power running team and that will not change, but Alabama is lacking in the kind of fire power they have had at tailback the past couple of years. 

The Tide is deep at the position, there is no doubting that with players like Eddie Lacy, Dee Hart, T.J Yeldon and Jalston Fowler. However, none of those players are quite as talented as Trent Richardson and Mark Ingram. 

With Alabama rotating backs more than they have the past two seasons, there will be less focus on the tailbacks and more focus on McCarron. Going into his junior season, McCarron will be asked to do more this season than he was last season and if Alabama can run the table and get into another SEC championship game, McCarron will have to get an invite to New York for the Heisman presentation. 

5. Knile Davis

Knile Davis is an explosive running back. He showed just that in 2010 leading all SEC rushers with 1,322 yards on 6.5 yards per carry. Averaging over six yards per carry against the defenses in the SEC is no easy feat. 

Davis missed last season with a fractured left ankle but is fully healed and ready to improve upon his 2010 numbers. 

At 6'2'' 226 lbs, Davis has the size to run between the tackles, but his sub-4.4 speed allows him to get outside the tackles and get up field in a hurry. 

Davis will need to improve upon his 2010 statistics in order to outshine his teammate and fellow Heisman hopeful, Tyler Wilson. With Wilson getting all of the pre-season hype, Davis should be able to take advantage of defenses that focus in on Wilson and the passing game. 

If Arkansas can take down Alabama and LSU, watch out for Davis working his way into Heisman contention. 

4. Aaron Murray

Aaron Murray and the Bulldogs are getting a lot of pre-season hype. The Bulldogs are being lauded as favorites to win the SEC East and Murray is being lauded as a possible Heisman contender. 

Last season, Murray led the Dawgs on a 10-game winning streak en route to a birth in the SEC Championship game. Murray threw for 3,149 yards, 35 touchdowns and completed 59.1% of his passes while throwing 14 interceptions. 

Murray will need to improve upon those numbers in 2012, especially limiting his interceptions, if he wants to become the third Georgia Bulldog to win the award. 

3. Tyrann Mathieu

The Honey Badger took America by storm last season. 

Tyrann Mathieu had an incredible season last year and was invited to attend the Heisman ceremony as a finalist. On his way to becoming a finalist, Mathieu finished second on the team in interceptions (2), first in fumble recoveries (4, 2TD), first in forced fumbles (6), tied for first in tackles (76), was second in pass breakups (9) and tied for fourth in tackles for a loss (7.5). 

Not to mention that he accounted for 421 yards returning including two touchdowns. 

The Heisman has traditionally been awarded to offensive players. Desmond Howard, in 1997, is the only primarily defensive player to win the award. Like Mathieu, Howard was an exceptional punt/kick returner. 

Mathieu, if it is even possible, will have to improve upon those numbers this season. In order for a defensive player to win the Heisman he must have a year that is so impressive it simply cannot be overlooked. 

Mathieu will not be able to take any teams by surprise this season and will need to bring his A+ game every week. 

2. Tyler Wilson

Tyler Wilson is one of the top quarterbacks in the country. At 6'3" 220 lbs, Wilson has good size for the position and a rocket for a right arm. Wilson prides himself as one of the most accurate passers in the conference, only James Franklin and A.J McCarron completed a higher percentage of their passes last season. 

Arkansas will go as far as Wilson takes this this season. With Bobby Petrino making a mess of the off-season, the team will look to Wilson to become a vocal leader this season. 

Arkansas has the talent this season at receiver, quarterback and running back that could lead to video game-like offensive numbers which could catapult two Razorbacks into the Heisman race. Arkansas has never had a Heisman winner, but this season they have two opportunities to get their first. 

Arkansas will likely have to earn a birth into the SEC Championship Game for Wilson to have a legitimate shot at winning the Heisman, but they have the talent to upset both LSU and Alabama and could wind up in Atlanta at the end of the year. If they do, expect to see Wilson in New York waiting to hear his named called as the newest Heisman Trophy recipient. 

1. Marcus Lattimore

Marcus Lattimore is a freak of nature and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. Lattimore is so good that he has turned Steve Spurrier's playbook from the Fun 'N Gun to a ground-and-pound attack.  

Lattimore only played 6 1/2 games last season but still carried the ball for 818 yards and 10 touchdowns. 

As a freshman, Lattimore carried the ball 249 times for 1,197 yards and 17 touchdowns. 

The only thing that can keep Lattimore from ending up in New York as a Heisman finalist is another injury. Lattimore should be healthy enough to start the season and knowing Spurrier he will ride Lattimore if the tailback can show he is healthy. 

If Lattimore averages over 20 attempts a game—he averaged 23 carries a game last season and 19 as a freshman—Lattimore has a real chance to run for close to 2,000 yards. 

A 2,000 yard 25-30 TD season is not out of the question for Lattimore and would be more than enough have him hoisting the Heisman trophy.