Cam Newton: Latest Allegations Hurt Heisman Chances for Auburn QB

Cam Newton, as recently as a week ago, was considered the favorite for the most prestigious award in college football, the Heisman Trophy.

However, the Auburn Tigers' quarterback may have been passed in the informal Heisman standings by players like LaMichael James of the Oregon Ducks and Kellen Moore of the Boise State Broncos.

That's not to say those two have outperformed Newton on the field; no one has been able to do that all season. 

The fact of the matter is, the latest accusations leveled against Newton may be enough to dissuade voters from casting him first on their ballot, especially in light of the Reggie Bush scandal.

No one wants to see another vacated Heisman, so the voters may hedge their bets and simply keep him out of the top spot. 

Allegations have been trickling out over the past week, and some are more serious than others. 

The early allegations were serious and embarrassing for Newton, but ultimately, they didn't affect his standing as an eligible student athlete. 

The laptop incident was a regrettable one, but Newton paid the price for that and that no longer can be held against him while at Auburn. 

The cheating issue that occurred when he was a student at the University of Florida, while a detriment to his character, should not affect his academic standing at Auburn. That was three years ago, and he no longer attends that institution. 

Those two incidences on their own aren't enough to disqualify Newton, but where there's smoke, there's usually fire. 

It has recently been alleged that during the recruiting process Newton went through while a student at a junior college, he was seeking money from universities in exchange for his services. 

Supposedly, he sought money from Mississippi State University as he was being recruited by head coach Dan Mullen, a man with whom he had a relationship from their time at Florida. 

Sources say Cecil Newton, Cam's father, was looking for "more than just a scholarship" for his son to play at Mississippi State. 

The Bulldogs were unwilling to meet his demands, but apparently, Auburn had no such qualms. 

Other sources say that Newton called a Mississippi State recruiter after Cecil forced him to choose Auburn, emotionally detailing the fact that the money was "too much [to turn down]."

In light of these allegations, the laptop incident and the cheating scandal seem to pale in comparison. 

These allegations threaten the very spirit of collegiate athletics and are at the crux of a major issue that has plagued NCAA football for decades. 

Ultimately, as much as it pains me to say it, it seems that Cam Newton will eventually be rendered ineligible for his 2010 campaign. 

While he is innocent until proven guilty, this is a song that college football fans and writers have heard before. The writers, specifically, will not want to award another Heisman to someone who will eventually end up giving it back. 

Judging by the snail's pace at which the NCAA investigates these claims, the full scope of the allegations likely will not be uncovered for a few years. 

Newton is head and shoulders above the rest of the players in college football and is obviously deserving of the award. 

That said, the latest pay-to-play scandal in all likelihood will cost him any chance at winning it. 

Mike Osterberg is a student at Penn State University and a writing intern at BleacherReport.com. Follow him on twitter @Mike_Osterberg.