Big East's Big Three Heisman Hopefuls: Noel Devine, Dion Lewis or Isaiah Pead?

As the college football season draws closer, the preseason award watch lists have started to be released and the Heisman is no different from being examined this summer.

The Big East has three potential Heisman candidates—all in the backfield—that will try to earn the first Heisman Trophy for a Big East school since Gino Torretta at Miami in 1992.

In Pittsburgh, running back Dion Lewis will enter his sophomore season with the Panthers, trying to improve on a 10-win season in 2009.

Lewis was nothing short of astounding in his freshman season in 2009. He was just one shy of 1,800 yards rushing, along with 17 touchdowns on the ground. Lewis will have both offensive tackles return in 2010,and the carries will probably increase, as a new quarterback Tino Sunseri will be broken into the Panthers offense.

The chances of sophomore Lewis adding a Heisman to an already impressive resume may be too much to ask for this season, but he should be a threat as his career in the steel city continues the following years.

In the Queen City of Cincinnati, Isaiah Pead emerged as the future running menace in his junior year and the Bearcats are expected to use him more frequently in their offensive game plans in 2010.

With more than 800 yards on the ground and nine touchdowns, Pead made the most of a pass heavy offense in his sophomore year under former coach Brian Kelly on the way to an undefeated regular season. He’ll have three of the five offensive linemen from 2009 to run behind in Cincinnati’s attempt to win a second straight Big East Championship.

However, the chances of being in the running for a Heisman might be out of the question for Pead with the style of offense that the Bearcats execute when they drive down the field.

Finally, in Morgantown, West Virginia, Noel Devine returns for his senior season with WVU to lead the rushing attack as the best home run hitter in the Big East.

Devine has been nothing but "divine" in his time for the Mountaineers, including his junior season, where he had more than 1,400 yards while racking up 13 touchdowns.

He will have one of the best offensive lines in the Big East, with only one missing starter from 2009 lost for the Mountaineers. Devine will use his elusiveness this season to break tackles and wait for blocks to set him free down field, making him the most dangerous running back in the Big East.

Being a threat on the ground and in the passing game, Noel Devine would be my choice from the collection of Big East running backs that may end up in New York City in early December.

As for the overall landscape of college football, the three players mentioned may pale in comparison to the numbers put up by other players in the nation in 2010.