Heisman Race Letdown: Does Anyone Want To Win It This Year?

This year’s Heisman race has become a complete dud in what was supposed to be one of the more memorable Heisman chases over the last decade. The preseason hype touted two returning winners, Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford, and a third candidate in Colt McCoy who had equally impressive stats but had lost out in recent ballots. There were also new comers viewed as dark horse candidates such as Jacory Harris and Terrell Pryor representing young teams on the rebound. Senior quarterbacks such as Tony Pike, Dan LeFevor, and Todd Reesing had also been included along with others such as Jimmy Clausen, Tyrod Taylor, and Case Keenum. Even smaller schools top players like Kellen Moore and Ryan Mathews made the list alongside names such as Javid Best, Mark Ingram, and Jordan Shipley.

This year looked like it would be a very memorable year, as a good Heisman race almost seemed imminent. Instead, injuries to Bradford and Pike along with inconsistent play from most of the others left many of us wondering what happened so far this year. Colt McCoy’s stats have been a shadow of what it was thought to be, and the same can be said for Tebow. Tebow however, has played through a concussion that almost claimed him to the injury list with Pike and Bradford. Clausen also has suffered through turf toe and hasn’t been 100% for several weeks now.

As the dust settles and the names dwindle you just have to wonder how hard will it be for the Heisman committee to find enough valid candidates to invite five of them to New York in December.

Only two stand out to me at this time going into Week 8, Tim Tebow and Mark Ingram. Right now it’s Tebow’s to lose making him the second 2-time Heisman winner next to Archie Griffin of Ohio State.  Mark Ingram needs to continue to put up great numbers along with Alabama beating Florida in the SEC Championship Game. In that game Ingram can pass Tebow with a good performance. Colt McCoy is only one great game away from being right back in the mix, but when will we see that game. The rest don’t have a shot as long as Florida, Texas and Alabama keep winning considering at least one of those three teams will be in the BCS National Championship Game.