Heisman Trophy Watch 2010: Ranking the Top 10 Heisman Front Runners
The Heisman Trophy announcement is less than three weeks away, but the crystal ball predicting who will win is as cloudy as ever.
A select group of student-athletes–Auburn's Cam Newton, Oregon's LaMichael James, and Boise State's Kellen Moore chief among them–has distinguished itself from the rest in the national conversation.
But the list of noteworthy contenders extends far beyond just those three, as outstanding as they may be.
Here are the top 10 candidates for college football's most coveted award.
10. Andy Dalton, TCU
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TCU's Andy Dalton deserves a spot at the table of Heisman contenders, and not just for being the best player on one of the best teams in the country.
The senior from Katy, Texas has been a model of efficiency for the third-ranked Horned Frogs this year, throwing for nearly 2,500 yards and 23 touchdowns against just six interceptions.
While Dalton may not have the pure numbers that some of the other players on this list possess, his profile, like those of most past Heisman winners, is boosted by the success of his team.
Should TCU leapfrog its way into the BCS National Championship Game, Dalton would likely shoot up toward the top of the list of Heisman candidates.
9. Landry Jones, Oklahoma
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The Big 12 Conference as a whole may be gone from the national title conversation, but that does not mean its best players should be forgotten from the Heisman conversation.
Case in point: Oklahoma's Landry Jones.
The sophomore from New Mexico has been nothing short of spectacular for the 13th-ranked Sooners this season, piling up 3,479 yards and 30 touchdowns, while only surrendering seven interceptions through 11 games.
And he's doing it as Bob Stoops' replacement for Sam Bradford, the 2008 Heisman Trophy Winner and number-one overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, who has starred as a rookie for the St. Louis Rams this year.
What was that about filling big shoes?
8. Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State
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Speaking of Big 12 quarterbacks who don't get enough "pub," let's not forget about ninth-ranked Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden.
Weeden's story is remarkable enough in and of itself to land him on this list.
The 27-year-old Weeden spent five years as a pitcher, weaving his way through baseball's minor leagues before an arm injury forced him to change course.
With baseball out of the picture, the redshirt junior fell back on his football roots, joining the Oklahoma State football team.
After biding his time as former star quarterback Zac Robinson's back-up, Weeden has absolutely exploded this year, establishing himself as one of the most prolific passers in college football.
To date, Weeden has accumulated 3,780 yards (second in FBS) and 30 touchdowns (third in FBS) against just 10 interceptions while leading the Pokes to the precipice of sharing, if not nabbing outright, the Big 12 South title.
Not bad for a guy who's five to 10 years older than his competitors.
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7. Darron Thomas, Oregon
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This year's crop of Heisman hopefuls may be short on running backs, but it is far from short on the fleet of foot.
Oregon's Darron Thomas is only one of several excellent examples.
Ducks fans were sent scrambling after news broke that Jeremiah Masoli had been kicked off the team, leaving a gaping hole at quarterback.
It would be something of an understatement to say that Thomas has quelled those concerns.
Through 10 games, the sophomore from Houston has thrown for 2,225 yards and 23 touchdowns, and run for another 434 yards and four scores.
More importantly, he has established himself as the unquestioned leader for top-ranked Oregon.
And if the Heisman Trophy is about more than just stats, then Darron Thomas deserves a much longer look.
6. Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
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It's not often that wide receivers garner consideration for the Heisman Trophy.
After all, only twice in the award's history has a wide-out taken it home (Notre Dame's Tim Brown and Michigan's Desmond Howard).
That being said, it's not often that a college wide receiver does what Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon is doing this season.
As the primary beneficiary of Brandon Weeden's breakout year, Blackmon has thus far racked up a jaw-dropping 1,560 yards and 17 touchdowns—tops in the nation on both counts.
And if that's not enough, the sophomore from Ardmore, Oklahoma is one game away from tying the college football record for most consecutive games with at least 100 yards receiving (11).
Heisman-worthy, indeed.
5. Andrew Luck, Stanford
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Andrew Luck came into the fall of 2010 with what must have seemed like the weight of the world on his shoulders.
With Heisman runner-up Toby Gerhart gone to the NFL and his stellar freshman season behind him, Luck was expected to deliver on his top-10 draft pick potential and lift Stanford back to national prominence.
And deliver the goods, he has.
The junior from Houston is in the midst of another stellar season, passing for 2,746 yards and 24 touchdowns with only eight interceptions.
Thanks to Luck's stellar play, sixth-ranked Stanford has an excellent shot at playing in a BCS bowl for the first time in school history.
4. Kellen Moore, Boise State
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If ever there was a player who embodied everything that his team is about, it's Kellen Moore.
Like the Boise State program, Moore is a model of consistency. He's won every game except for one as a starter in college, yet he and his Broncos teammates are still denied the credit they deserve.
Assuming the Broncos win out, they'll be playing in a BCS bowl for the second year in a row, thanks in large part to the performance of Moore, who has thus far put up nearly 3,000 yards passing to go along with 28 touchdowns and only five interceptions.
Whether or not the junior gets to showcase his talents in the BCS National Championship Game is still very much in doubt, though his Heisman candidacy certainly should not be.
3. Denard Robinson, Michigan
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Has it ever been the case that a Heisman-worthy player from the University of Michigan was UNDERrated?
Denard Robinson may just be the exception that proves the rule.
The sophomore from Deerfield Beach, Florida spent the first month or so of the season as the Heisman front-runner while Rich Rodriguez's Wolverines clawed their way into the Top 25.
A mid-season injury combined with several losses knocked Robinson clear out of the Heisman conversation. Not that such an exclusion should have ever happened.
Since that time, Robinson has quietly kept up his astronomical level of production. He currently leads the nation in rushing yardage—as a quarterback—and, in Michigan's loss to Wisconsin, became the first player EVER to rush and pass for at least 1,500 yards.
Hear that, Heisman voters? EVER!!!
If Robinson played for a national title contender, he would've had the trophy on his mantle weeks ago.
2. Cameron Newton, Auburn
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Statistically, Cam Newton should be the undisputed top choice to take home the Heisman on December 11th.
After all, Newton has racked up more than 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns through the air (with only six interceptions) and nearly 1,300 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground for the 11-0 Auburn Tigers.
However, given the gathering storm of allegations surrounding Cam Newton's eligibility, coupled with Reggie Bush's relinquishing of his Heisman trophy and the organization's mission statement including integrity, a victory for Newton is no longer a sure thing.
1. LaMichael James, Oregon
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Given the losses on Robinson's record and the shady circumstances surrounding Newton, LaMichael James is the de facto front runner for the Heisman Trophy.
Not that he hasn't played well enough to earn it on his own merit.
Despite being suspended for Oregon's season opener against New Mexico, James has still managed to lead the nation in rushing yards per game (158) while putting up totals of 1,422 yards and 17 touchdowns in nine games.
As the best player on the top-ranked team in the country, James would seem to fit the description of a Heisman Trophy winner.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
