Heisman Trophy Race 2010: Kellen Moore and 9 Other Darkhorse Contenders
Well into the college football season, the Heisman race treads on with two front-runners on undefeated teams, followed by some great football players flying way under the radar.
LaMichael James and Cameron Newton have been the class of college football thus far. Both are the key parts of their respective teams' offenses, perhaps Newton a bit more for Auburn. They are also seemingly the only two names garnering any Heisman consideration right now.
While they must be given their dues for their crucial parts on undefeated teams, there are other worthy candidates out there.
The darkhorse Heisman candidates may not necessarily play for undefeated teams. But their contributions on the field are worth at least considering before being dismissed. Here are my top 10 Heisman Darkhorse candidates who deserve a look from voters.
10. Colin Kaepernick, Nevada
1 of 10
Never heard of him?
He's only the quarterback for the surprise one-loss No. 24 Nevada Wolf Pack. Despite the meteoric rise of this team, Kaepernick has flown suspiciously under the radar. He deserves recognition.
Also, he and the Wolf Pack may be the toughest opponent Boise State will see this year. A win over the Broncos would definitely warrant Heisman chatter.
Kaepernick has 25 total TDs (13 rushing, 12 throwing) and is one of the most accurate passers in the nation. His completion percentage is up nearly 10 points from his output last season of just 58.9 percent of passes completed.
Put that on top of his 2,441 yards from scrimmage and you have some numbers that deserve at least a look.
This Senior's maturation has been the most impressive thing of all. His leadership and maturity have fueled a run out of this Nevada team. If they end the season with just one loss and that win over Boise, chances are you'll be seeing Kaepernick play in a New Year's Day bowl game.
9. Justin Blackmon, OK St.
2 of 10
Oklahoma State is having another big season down in Stillwater and this Sophomore standout is one huge reason. After making little to no noise in his Freshman year at OSU, this little known three-star recruit out of a small Oklahoma town has shown tremendous upside.
Blackmon leads the nation in TD catches with 14 and is second with 1112 receiving yards despite being suspended for one game.
His lack of discipline off the field displayed in his DUI arrest suggests he is, like a lot of great receivers, very immature. That arrest likely keeps him off of most Heisman ballots, as it should.
Regardless of character or discipline issues, it is clear Blackmon has been one of the best big-time college football players this season and deserves recognition for the hard work he has put in on the gridiron.
8. Taylor Martinez, Nebraska
3 of 10
One of the nations newest and biggest threats as a dual-threat quarterback, Martinez has fueled life into Nebraska's offense this season and is a big reason the Cornhuskers are No. 7 in the latest BCS Rankings.
He put together two really solid games the last couple of weeks against top 15 foes in Ok St and Missouri. His game against the Cowboys was Martinez' coming out party. The kid went 23/35 through the air for 323 yards and 5 TD, all season highs. But that wasn't all, the Freshman chipped in 112 on the ground to really turn this game into the Taylor Martinez show.
He did suffer an injury in the game against Mizzou that forced him to miss much of the second half. They are calling him day-to-day with a sprained ankle.
If the 'huskers sneak back into the national title picture, Martinez will likely be a huge reason. Should Nebraska keep winning, Martinez could be looking for an invite to New York in the mail.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State
4 of 10
Terrelle Pryor is a freak. He may not be quite the runner that Cam Newton is and he may not quite be the thrower Colt McCoy was, but this 6-6 233lb Junior can really play some football. Ohio State is once again in the hunt for a Big 10 Title. Guess Why? It has been the stellar play of this young man right here.
Pryor may not be putting up quite what was expected of him as he came into this season as one of the awards' front-runners, but he still has shown dramatic improvement over his throwing ability from last season.
Pryor has already thrown for more touchdowns with almost as many yards as he had all of last year. His completion percentage is up from 56.6 percent last year to an astounding 67.6 percent this season.
Pryor's improvement fuels this Jim Tressel engine, and we'll likely be seeing another big Rose Bowl out of this young man from Jeannette, PA.
6. Denard Robinson, Michigan
5 of 10
His Heisman hype and national coverage may have vacated Denard Robinson, but his performance hasn't diminished one bit. The only reason he is not getting any more hype reflects poorly more on his team than it does Robinson. Three straight losses will do that.
Despite the Michigan struggles, Denard still shines. He still leads the nation in rushing, barely in front of Oregon's LaMichael James with 1,287 rushing yards.
There are a lot of things you can blame this Michigan losing streak on, quarterback play is not one of them. Robinson has a combined 22 TDs this year with almost 3,000 yards from scrimmage already.
For Robinson to receive any future consideration, Michigan needs to start winning again. That's going to be tough to do with a lackluster defensive squad and a tough Big 10 schedule ahead. We have seen a glimpse of "Shoelace" Robinson, though, and I can't wait to see how he matures.
5. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina
6 of 10
The Ol' Ball Coach really pulled a rabbit out of his hat with the rapid development of starting quarterback Stephen Garcia.
Garcia was mired in mediocrity for two seasons down in Columbia, SC. This year has been drastically different, however, as the Gamecocks have their eyes at a potential SEC Title game and are 10 points away from being undefeated.
Garcia's numbers in pure yardage and touchdowns may be lacking, but he is completing his passes at over a 70 percent clip, only a few quarterbacks in the nation can make that claim. He has also improved in yards per attempt, averaging 9.8. Compare that to just above six yards per attempt last year and you can really see the development in Garcia.
If South Carolina wants to take down either Alabama or Auburn in an SEC Championship showdown, Garcia will have to be a factor. He is likely to be a favorite for the Heisman heading into next season.
4. Andrew Luck, Stanford
7 of 10
Why has Stanford been so good this season? Luck is a big reason. Not luck, Andrew Luck is likely the number one pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, and he has shown why so far this season.
The 7-1 Stanford Cardinal can thank their All-Everything quarterback for their high ranking in the latest BCS Standings. Luck has impressed this season with 20 TD throws and just six INTs. He has also proven more able as a runner than previously thought. A true athlete,
Luck should have little trouble succeeding at the next level with his pinpoint accuracy and big arm.
The loss to Oregon and subsequent absence from the National Championship picture has pushed Luck to the side of most Heisman conversations, but he is one of the best players in college football.
After seeing what is going on with Jake Locker in UW this season, it would be hard to see Luck coming back for another year in Palo Alto, but if he does, he could dominate the PAC-10 next year.
3. Darron Thomas, Oregon
8 of 10
Isn't it great watching a young QB mature before your eyes? That's what viewers have been treated to the last couple weeks as Oregon has showcased its first-year starter in two nationally televised games.
While LaMichael James is obviously Chip Kelly's biggest offensive weapon, we can call Darron Thomas 1A.
This Redshirt Sophomore out of Houston has exceeded all expectations this season and there is no telling how high this Duck may soar. In just his first year on the job, Thomas has 21 passing TDs (fourth in the nation), 160.6 QB rating (13th in the nation) and just six interceptions.
The amazing thing has been as Oregon's schedule gets tougher, Thomas stands out more and more.
The new No. 1 in the BCS has many stout offensive weapons, and Thomas is right at the top. Darron Thomas is likely to challenge James for votes next season. Heck, if he finishes strong, he could get an invite this year.
2. Kellen Moore, Boise State
9 of 10
You would think a star quarterback on an undefeated team, ranked fourth in the country would garner more Heisman chatter. Regardless of the reasoning for why Moore is rarely discussed as a Heisman candidate, Kellen Moore has shown he is one of the nation's best quarterbacks.
The lefty has thrown for over 1,800 yards with 18 TDs for the unbeaten Broncos of Boise State. His two most impressive statistics are his 188.30 QB rating (leading the country) and just two interceptions.
The numbers are a little down in the TD department from last season, but that is probably due to better competition both in conference and out.
He is behind a tremendous O-line and is rarely under pressure, which is a likely reason for his low interception total.
If two of the top three teams falter and Boise finds themselves in a National Title game, Moore will be right near the top of a lot of Heisman ballots.
1. Ricky Stanzi, Iowa
10 of 10
Eight points short of being undefeated, the two-loss Iowa Hawkeyes have every reason to thank their Senior quarterback Ricky Stanzi. Stanzi's play has Iowa right in the hunt for a Big 10 title and potential Rose Bowl berth.
Often unnoticed by the talking heads on ESPN, Stanzi has been one of the best, most accurate passers in the country. His QB rating of 180.28 is second to only Kellen Moore. Stanzi's throws have accounted for 19 TDs and 1,922 yards.
The most impressive statistic of all is that Stanzi has thrown just two interceptions while being sacked 12. This ability to execute under pressure is what sets Stanzi apart from Moore.
Hopefully for Stanzi and Iowa, the Hawkeyes can get into a BCS game so the country gets to see this kid play.
Rarely discussed, Stanzi should be a finalist for the O'Brien award and deserved much more recognition that he is currently receiving. He has never really seemed like a guy who needs the spotlight, and I'm sure a Big 10 Title is all the hardware he needs.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
