2010 Heisman Trophy Rankings: Cameron Newton Headed for Heisman Victory
We've come to the end of the season, and it's time for the final edition of Bleacher Report's 2010 Heisman Trophy Rankings, presented by Heismanpundit.com.
The Heismanpundit.com Heisman poll is made up of 13 Heisman voters from across the country. They vote for three players each week. Tabulations are made on a 3-2-1 basis, with three points awarded for a first-place vote, two points for a second-place vote and one point for a third-place vote.
In the past two years, the Heismanpundit poll was the most accurate in the country, picking five of the top six finishers in the Heisman vote in 2008 and the top four in 2009.
Members of the panel include Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel, Teddy Greenstein and Brian Hamilton of the Chicago Tribune, Olin Buchanan and Tom Dienhart of Rivals.com, Jenni Carlson of The Oklahoman, Bruce Feldman of ESPN.com, J.B. Morris of ESPN The Magazine, Austin Murphy, B.J. Schecter and Stewart Mandel of Sports Illustrated, plus Dick Weiss of the New York Daily News.
Chris Huston, owner of Heismanpundit.com and a Bleacher Report contributor, coordinates and also votes in the weekly poll.
The poll has been featured here on Bleacher Report each Tuesday during the college football season.
Here are the top players in the poll heading into the 2010 Heisman ceremony...
No. 7: Andy Dalton, QB, TCU -- 1 Point
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Andy Dalton is seventh in the final poll with one point.
When you lead a team to a 12-0 record and a No. 3 national ranking, you'd think that'd result in more accolades, but Dalton has flown under the radar for much of his career.
He leaves TCU as one of the great players in school history. He'll get a chance to prove voters wrong when his Horned Frogs take on the Wisconsin Badgers in the Rose Bowl.
But for now, look for him to finish outside the top five in this year's Heisman balloting.
No. 6: Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan -- 2 Points
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Denard Robinson of Michigan is sixth in the final poll with two points.
Early in the season, it looked like Robinson had a chance to be a major player in this year's Heisman race. He led this poll for four-straight weeks and was putting up incredible numbers.
Alas, injuries took their toll and Robinson ceded the dual-threat spotlight to Cam Newton. That takes nothing away from Robinson's final numbers, which are quite impressive. He threw for 2,316 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 1,643 yards and 14 touchdowns. He's the only player ever to throw for 2,000 yards and rush for at least 1,500.
At this rate, he'll be a prime contender for the 2011 Heisman, but look for him to take sixth in this year's vote.
No. 5: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State -- 4 Points
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Justin Blackmon checks in at No. 5 with four points.
Blackmon had one of the most dominant seasons ever by a wide receiver. He finished with 102 catches for 1,665 yards and 18 touchdowns. He caught a touchdown and had over 100 yards in every game he played, which is something that hasn't happened in over a decade.
Blackmon takes him place among recent Heisman-contending receivers like Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Crabtree. If he chooses to return for his junior season, he'll be a force to reckon with in 2011.
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No. 3 (tie): LaMichael James, RB, Oregon -- 11 Points
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LaMichael James is tied for third with 11 points.
James led the nation in rushing, averaging 152 yards per game while totaling 1,682 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was the engine of the nation's most potent offense all season long and put up his fine numbers despite missing one game due to suspension.
If it weren't for his considerable slowdown in November, we might've seen James on the top of this list, but while his overall numbers were good, he couldn't keep up with the Newton express.
As a consolation for not winning the Heisman, he'll get a shot at the national title....not a bad deal at all!
No. 3 (tie): Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State -- 11 Points
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Kellen Moore is also tied for third with 11 points, but he did pick up one first-place vote.
Moore showed from the get-go that he belonged in this Heisman race. From his come-from-behind drive to beat Virginia Tech, to his Hail Mary bomb that nearly beat Nevada, he made the clutch plays all season long. He also put up yet another impressive statistical season, throwing for 33 touchdowns and just five picks, while accumulating 3,506 yards and a passer rating of 185.
Heisman voters will get another chance to vote for Moore next season, when he could entrench himself as one of the more accomplished quarterbacks in NCAA history.
No. 2: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford -- 19 Points
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Andrew Luck finishes all alone in second with 19 points and two first-place votes.
It looks like a Stanford player will be the Heisman runner up for the second-straight season. Luck's late surge has been remarkable and it's a testament to how much people are really beginning to recognize his superior talent.
By all accounts, he's a lock to be the first pick in the next NFL draft. It's no wonder, considering he led Stanford to its best season in school history while throwing for 3,045 yards and 28 touchdowns in addition to rushing for another 438 yards and three scores.
If, by chance, Luck comes back for his junior season, he'll be the front runner for the 2011 Heisman.
No. 1: Cameron Newton, QB, Auburn -- 30 Points
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Cameron Newton leads the final poll with 30 points and 10 first-place votes.
What more can be said about Newton that hasn't already been said? He had one of the most dominant seasons in college football history and, as a result, he is about to win the Heisman Trophy.
Were it not for the scandal over his father's pay-for-play scheme, he would be one of the great landslide winners in Heisman history. He'll have to be content instead with a comfortable and easy victory.
Newton's numbers tell the whole story: 2,589 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, six picks, an NCAA-record 188.15 passer rating, plus 1,409 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground. And he has led Auburn to the brink of a national title. What more can you ask for?
During the ceremony, many people will be thinking about the allegations of impropriety, but that still takes nothing away from the fact that he was the best player in college football this season. It may be the case that he has to give the Heisman back in the future, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy his talents in the meantime.
Congrats to Cameron Newton, the 2010 Heisman winner-to-be!
FINAL POLL RESULTS
Total Points (with first place votes in parentheses)
1. Cameron Newton, QB, Auburn — 30 (10)
2. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford — 19 (2)
3. (tie) Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State — 11 (1)
3. (tie) LaMichael James, RB, Oregon — 11
5. Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State — 4
6. Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan — 2
7. Andrew Dalton, QB, TCU — 1
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