Heisman Trophy Watch 2010: Has Cam Newton Investigation Opened Door For Others?
Heisman Trophy Watch 2010 is back. With another full slate of games behind us, it's time to break down the field to see who's leading the charge for the award and who is at the back of the pack.
There are 15 candidates inside and I break down what each one did this weekend and how they stack up. If you agree or disagree, make sure to let it be known in the comments.
No. 15: DeMarco Murray
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DeMarco Murray has had a good year and he had a good game on Saturday. But a loss to Texas A&M hurts any shot at the Heisman.
Murray rushed for 80 yards and a score and picked up another 67 through the air. But the Sooners suffered their second loss of the season and that type of loss is the kind that dooms any Heisman campaign. However, I'm not shocked that the Sooners lost.
Bob Stoops has had some struggles in finishing the job in recent years, hasn't he?
No. 14: Roy Helu Jr.
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Roy Helu Jr. caught a ton of attention last week after he rushed for 307 yards against Missouri. He put up a strong performance this week as well.
Helu Jr. ran for 99 yards and a touchdown in a close win against Iowa State on Saturday. The game shouldn't have been that close, especially when it's a team of Nebraska's caliber. Helu Jr. hasn't had an amazing year, but he's had plenty of good performances.
He's still fun to watch once he touches the ball.
No. 13: Ricky Stanzi
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Ricky Stanzi has had a great year for the Iowa Hawkeyes and he put up a solid performance in a tough test on Saturday.
The Hawkeyes got all they could handle from Indiana on Saturday. With Iowa coming off of a huge win against Michigan State, it's not shocking there was a bit of a letdown the week after. Stanzi threw for 290 yards, a touchdown and an interception against the Hoosiers.
Not bad, but not great either.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
No. 12: Mark Ingram
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The defending Heisman Trophy winner is having a good year. But with the year Trent Richardson is having, it's no shock that Ingram's Heisman stock isn't higher.
Ingram ran for 97 yards and a touchdown against LSU, as the Crimson Tide fell to the Tigers on Saturday, effectively killing Alabama's national championship hopes. Losing never helps a Heisman hopeful and despite a good performance against a good defense, it just won't cut it.
I'm sure Ingram is happy with the Heisman he already has.
No. 11: Landry Jones
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Landry Jones has done a great job for the Sooners this year, especially in cutting down on the turnovers he racked up last year.
Jones had to throw a ton against Texas A&M and it wasn't enough to get Oklahoma over the top. Jones threw 59 times, putting up 290 yards to go with a touchdown and an interception. The quarterback completed 36 of those passes.
Not bad, but he never should have had to throw that much.
No. 10: Justin Blackmon
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Justin Blackmon is having a monster year. Despite being suspended for Oklahoma State's game against Kansas State, he showed up against Baylor.
Blackmon caught 13 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown. Not only that, but he ran the ball one time for 69 yards and a touchdown in the big win over Baylor. He's the biggest threat in the Cowboys offense and he looks almost impossible to stop.
I'm excited to see what he can do for the rest of the year.
No. 9: John Clay
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It was a bit of a disappointing game for John Clay on Saturday against Purdue.
Clay carried the ball 12 times for 42 yards against the Boilermakers as Montee Ball got the majority of the carries and made the most of them. Ball ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns and helped the Badgers beat Purdue.
It was Clay's worst performance of the year and he hasn't rushed for 100 yards since the Ohio State game.
No. 8: Ryan Mallett
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Ryan Mallett ripped the South Carolina Gamecocks apart on Saturday night.
He threw for 303 yards, a touchdown and an interception as Arkansas beat the Gamecocks 41-20 in Columbia in a big SEC clash. Mallett just threw at will on South Carolina and there was nothing the Gamecocks could do to stop it.
It was a great performance by a good quarterback.
No. 7: Denard Robinson
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Even though Tate Forcier finished the game for Michigan, Denard Robinson had a monster performance.
Robinson threw for 305 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions to go along with 62 yards on the ground, which is his worst rushing performance of the season. The quarterback had to leave with an injury, which has become a big problem with Robinson.
We'll see how he holds up for the rest of the year.
No. 6: Terrelle Pryor
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Terrelle Pryor and the Ohio State Buckeyes had an off week, but Pryor and company will be back at it next week against Penn State.
Pryor has had a good season and he has been one of the major reason's for Ohio State's success. But he hasn't totally lived up to the hype that he had around him coming into this season. Pryor's been good during his time at Ohio State, but it's nothing compared to what people thought he'd do out of high school.
People keep looking for the next Vince Young and he's never going to come.
No. 5: Andy Dalton
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Andy Dalton has had an amazing year for TCU and he made a statement on Saturday against Utah.
Dalton went 21 of 31 through the air, throwing for 355 yards and three touchdowns as the Horned Frogs routed Utah in the Utes' own house. TCU jumped on top of Utah early and didn't stop as Dalton racked up the yards.
It was a huge win that likely sealed a BCS-bowl bid for the Horned Frogs.
No. 4: Andrew Luck
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Andrew Luck continues to have a great season and you know that Buffalo Bills fans have to hope he declares for the draft.
The junior helped lead Stanford to a big win over Arizona in a Pac-10 clash on Saturday. Luck threw for 293 yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions as the Cardinal beat up on Arizona, winning 42-17, ending Arizona's conference-title hopes.
Luck has had an amazing year, but it's just not amazing enough so far to win the Heisman.
No. 3: Kellen Moore
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Kellen Moore destroyed Hawaii on Saturday. There's no other way to describe it.
Moore threw 37 times, completing 31 of them for a staggering 507 yards and three touchdowns to go along with two interceptions as Boise State ripped Hawaii to shreds on Saturday. Moore has had an amazing year, but he has no shot of winning the Heisman.
Moore and the Broncos cannot get any love.
No. 2: LaMichael James
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LaMichael James continues to go into beast mode for Oregon each and every week.
James ran 26 times for 121 yards and three touchdowns as the Ducks beat up on yet another opponent. This time, the Washington Huskies were the victim of that potent Oregon offense. You can't stop the Ducks and James is a big reason why.
It would seem it is a two-horse race for the Heisman.
No. 1: Cameron Newton
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Regardless of what's going on around Newton, there is nothing to suggest that he or his family took money. And with the year Newton has had, it's hard to deny him of the trophy.
Newton threw for 317 yards four touchdowns, not to mention running for another one, as the Tigers ran over Chattanooga in a tune-up game for Georgia. Newton is carrying the Tigers this year and he is the best player in the country.
No one should change their vote just because of the latest news. As far as I'm concerned, any of these players could end up with NCAA violations. It's just the way the system is right now. It's sad but true.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
