10 Big Reasons Why Auburn QB Cam Newton Will Win the 2010 Heisman
There’s still a lot of college football left to be played this season. Strange things can and do happen when the leaves start turning and the temperatures start dropping.
But, going into the last part of this season, one detail is solid: Cam Newton will win the Heisman.
Barring injuring or alien abduction, Cam Newton’s name will finish the statement: “And the winner of the 2010 Heisman Trophy is…”
You can talk about LaMichael James, Kellen Moore or anyone else on the other 119 D1 schools.
The fact is…there are big reasons that the big guy (6’6”, 250 lbs) from Auburn will be standing on the stage in mid-December in Manhattan accepting his award.
Big Team: BCS No. 1 Team
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Currently, Auburn is the BCS No. 1 team. They are undefeated, both in the SEC and in the country.
Technically, you can play on any team at any level of college football and win the award. But, it’s safe to say that your chances are better if you are on a squad that is somewhere near the top of the BCS standings.
Auburn’s next three games (at Mississippi, and then Chattanooga and Georgia at home at Jordan-Hare) would seem to be games that the Tigers will not only win but will win big.
And that means more opportunities for Newton to shine.
Big Stage: Southeastern Conference Football
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Like it or not, good or bad, right or wrong, the SEC is the premiere conference in college football.
Jeff Sagarin would say, “No, right now, they’re actually No. 3 behind the Pac-10 and Big 12.”
But, ask most fans and most media members which conference gets the most attention from start to finish, and they are likely to say, “The SEC.”
The Southeastern Conference has the most teams (six) in the BCS Top 25 Standings. Lots of exposure and lots of coverage means people know about you if you are Cam Newton, the best player on the biggest regular season stage.
Big Coach: Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach Gus Malzahn
3 of 10Take nothing away from head coach Gene Chizik. He’s doing a great job leading the Tigers, but the coach that is helping Newton the most is Gus Malzahn, the team’s offensive coordinator/QB coach.
Malzahn is known as one of the innovators of the “wildcat offense” and has been described by Stewart Mandel of Sports Illustrated as "one of the sport's most innovative offensive minds, not just in the college ranks, but in all of football.”
Because of Newton’s size and running ability, Malzahn doesn’t have to utilize a running back in this part of Auburn’s attack. He just puts the ball in Newton’s hands and the magic begins.
Malzahn and Newton are a match made in football heaven.
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Big Game: Auburn vs. Alabama
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Every game is a big game when you are the No. 1 team. A target is permanently on your chest.
And on Thanksgiving Week, Cam Newton and the Tigers will make the 160 mile trip to Tuscaloosa to take on the Crimson Tide in front of over 100,000 fans at Bryant-Denny Stadium, with millions more viewing on TV.
Not only is it a rivalry game (The Iron Bowl), but this year, it will certainly determine the winner of the SEC West.
If this game ends up being for all the divisional marbles, and Newton steps up, he can go ahead and “strike the pose.”
Big Position: Quarterback
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In most recent times, QBs have won the Heisman much more often than any other position. Since 2000, the Heisman has been given to the following players:
2000: Chris Weinke, Florida State - QB
2001: Eric Crouch, Nebraska - QB
2002: Carson Palmer, USC - QB
2003: Jason White, Oklahoma - QB
2004: Matt Leinart, USC - QB
2005: Reggie Bush*, USC - RB
2006: Troy Smith, Ohio State - QB
2007: Tim Tebow, Florida - QB
2008: Sam Bradford, Oklahoma - QB
2009: Mark Ingram, Alabama - RB
* Vacated Award
That’s eight QBs and two RBs! As a dynamic, running/throwing quarterback, Newton has elevated a good (8-5 last season), but not great team into the national spotlight.
Big Arm: Exceptional Passing Skills
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While Newton, at this stage, may be known more for his running than his throwing, he is currently No. 3 in the nation in passing efficiency—172.08.
He is 90-of-138 (65.22 percent) for 1,364 yards. He has 13 TD passes with only five Interceptions. His 9.88 yards per attempt is second in the country to Kellen Moore (10.6).
While some dual-threat QBs are more inclined to run than throw, Newton is very capable in throwing strikes to Darvin Adams, Terrell Zachery, Emory Blake or any of his other receivers sprinting down the field.
Big Yards: Outstanding Running QB
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Make no mistake about it, Cam Newton is a special kind of QB. Usually, defensive units love to see QBs leave the safety and security of the pocket. When Newton tucks the ball under and begins to run, few defenders want to go one-on-one…think of trying to tackle a Ford F-150 in the open field!
Newton is the Tigers leading rusher (No. 6 in the nation) with 157 carries for 1,077 yards. A nice 6.9 yards per carry.
How many quarterbacks at any level could “take one to the house” from 71 yards (his longest rushing TD of the year)?
Against LSU, Newton broke the league's single-season rushing mark for a quarterback of 1,006 yards by Auburn's Jimmy Sidle in 1963…two-thirds through the season. The collegiate record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a season is 1,649 by Jayson Foster of Georgia Southern University in 2007.
If Newton continues collecting yards on the ground at his current pace, he will finish the regular season with 1,615 yards (with the possibility of playing an SEC Championship and bowl game also).
Do I need to keep going here?
Big Points: Leading a High-Octane Offense
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Newton puts up lots of numbers, but the most important numbers go straight onto the scoreboard. He has 13 passing TDs and 14 rushing TDs (first among QBs nationally).
As a team, the Tigers are scoring 38.6 points per game, first in the SEC, No. 11 in the country.
In Auburn’s victory over LSU, Newton topped Heisman-winner Pat Sullivan's 40-year-old school mark of 26 TDs rushing and passing in a season. Auburn still has four regular season games remaining.
Big Play: “The Run” Against LSU
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Most Heisman winners have a defining moment or play that people point to in order to justify a player’s worthiness of the award.
Newton may have had what could be called “The Run” against LSU.
Early in the second half, Newton was nearly tripped up but reached his right hand down to catch his balance. He juked two defenders and carried LSU star Patrick Peterson into the end zone for a 49-yard TD run.
Big Challenge: Who Compares With Cam?
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I’m ready for anyone to make their case for any other player in the country.
No emotional pleas. No suggestions of media bias. Just lay it out.
I don’t think there is another player in 2010 college football who compares with Cam Newton. That’s why he will win the Heisman. Period.
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