Terrelle Pryor Suspended: How Does This Change 2011 Heisman Race?

Terrelle Pryor should be excited about his future and what's awaiting him.

There's the upcoming Sugar Bowl matchup with Ryan Mallett and Arkansas. Then next season is his senior year at Ohio State, and Pryor would likely be the leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy. That changed dramatically today, after it was announced the Buckeyes quarterback is one of five players who have been suspended for five games next season for selling awards and accepting improper benefits. 

The former No.1 high school recruit in the nation has had a great career, but it will be a huge disappointment to see him finish without a national championship or Heisman.

With Pryor out of the running in 2011, the Heisman race does shift dramatically. There are plenty of familiar names who could be back and in the mix. Others could be surprises. Let's also assume that Boise State junior quarterback Kellen Moore will declare for next year's NFL Draft, along with Auburn junior quarterback Cam Newton.

Here's a look at the top 10 Heisman candidates, now that Pryor will be suspended:

10. QB Ryan Lindley, San Diego State

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SAN DIEGO - NOVEMBER 20: Quarterback Ryan Lindley #14 of the San Deigo State Aztecs throws a pass against the Utah Utes at Qualcomm Stadium on November 20, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

What's a Heisman race without some darkhorses?

There will be plenty of you barking and snapping about how Lindley plays in the Mountain West Conference. Save it. There have been players from smaller, lesser known schools contend for this before.

Lindley finished the regular season ranked sixth nationally in passing with 3,554 yards. He also threw for 26 touchdowns, and finished with under 200 yards passing only twice this season. A week after almost leading the Aztecs to a shocking upset over TCU, Lindley threw for a career-high 528 yards against Utah in a 38-34 loss.

9.RB Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon State

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CORVALLIS, OR - DECEMBER 04: Jacquizz Rodgers #1 of the Oregon State Beavers runs the ball against the Oregon Ducks during the 114th Civil War on December 4, 2010 at the Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

The player known as "Quizz" will be a senior, and should be in the Heisman mix.

He entered this season avergaing 109.2 yards rushing per game for his career, third among FBS players behind Oregon's LaMichael James (134.9) and Pitt's Dion Lewis (111.8). Rodgers, however, did have 749 carries, far more than James (455) or Lewis (469).

In 11 games this year, Rodgers has 234 carries for 1,097 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also has 39 receptions for 267 yards, with two touchdowns.  If the Beavers can rebound from a 5-7 season this year, Rodgers' Heisman chances could also increase as well.

8. RB Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M

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BOULDER, CO - NOVEMBER 07: Cyrus Gray #32 of the Texas A&M Aggies returns a kick off for a touchdown against the Colorado Buffaloes during NCAA college football action at Folsom Field on November 7, 2009 in Boulder, Colorado. Colorado defeated Texas A&M

It's one thing if you're a great quarterback or running back, but if you can be a playmaker all over the field, that will often increase your Heisman stock.

Gray qualifies. This year, he's led the Aggies in rushing with 180 carries for 1,033 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also has 33 catches for 242 yards and a touchdown, and is used on kick returns as well, where he has 17 returns for 422 yards.

Gray will be challenged when he faces a talented LSU defense in the Cotton Bowl. Excel there, and he may vault up this list quickly. For now, this is a good spot.

7. RB Knile Davis, Arkansas

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COLUMBIA, SC - NOVEMBER 06: Knile Davis #7 of the Arkansas Razorbacks pushes away from Josh Dickerson #41 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 6, 2010 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lec

When the Razorbacks lost Broderick Green to an injury this year, Davis stepped in and shined, rushing for 1,183 yards and 13 touchdowns during the regular season. Davis had five 100-yard games, but his two most important ones came at the end against Mississippi State (187 yards, three total touchdowns) and LSU (152, one touchdown). 

6. QB Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State

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STILLWATER, OK - NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Brandon Weeden #3 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys looks for an open receiver against the Oklahoma Sooners at Boone Pickens Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Image

Weeden will lose senior running back Kendall Hunter, and wide receiver Justin Blackmon is expected to be a first-round pick in next year's NFL Draft.

Replacing those two will be tough, and Weeden is also losing Cowboys offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, the architect of the nation's top offense this year. Holgorsen is headed to West Virginia for the same role, but will also be the coach-in-waiting, with Bill Stewart retiring after the 2011 season.

There will be plenty of challenges, which is why Weeden is not higher on this list. But his talent was obvious this year, as he threw for 4,037 yards and 32 touchdowns.

5. RB Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina

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GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 13: Marcus Lattimore #21 of the South Carolina Gamecocks rushes during a game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

There wasn't a more dynamic freshman in the nation this year.

The South Carolina running back rushed for 1,198 yards and 17 touchdowns during the regular season, and also caught 26 passes for 364 yards and two touchdowns. He had four 100-yard games, but three of those were for 180 yards or more. Against Florida, he rushed for 212 yards and three touchdowns.

4. QB Darron Thomas, Oregon

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CORVALLIS, OR - DECEMBER 4: Quarterback Darron Thomas #1 of the Oregon Ducks passes the ball in the second quarter of the game against the the Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Corvallis, Oregon. The Ducks beat the Beavers 37-20

One of two Heisman candidates for the Ducks, the sophomore quarterback has passed for 2,518 yards and 28 touchdowns, while rushing for 492 yards during the regular season. He has a quarterback rating of 151.1, which ranks 21st nationally, and is tied for 10th in the nation in touchdown passes with 28. Three others have thrown for the same amount, including Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton and finalist Andrew Luck of Stanford.

3. QB Denard Robinson, Michigan

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COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Denard Robinson #16 of the Michigan Wolverines runs with the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

If you go on simple raw talent, this should be Robinson's award to lose next year. But he will not be the favorite, simply because he plays on an average team.

His talent is freakish, though: He finished the regular season with 3,959 yards of total offense.

2. QB Landry Jones, Oklahoma

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ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 04: Quarterback Landry Jones #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners drops back to pass against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the Big 12 Championship at Cowboys Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Ge

Last year, Jones seemed to always be struggling but this season he definitely seemed much more comfortable. Jones finished the regular season second in the nation in passing yards (4,289), completed 65 percent of his passes and threw for 35 touchdowns.

Jones' biggest problem is often himself. He threw three interceptions against Oklahoma State, but still finished with 468 yards in the 47-41 win. The following week, he threw for 342 yards against Nebraska in the Big 12 championship. Anyone who wants to win the Heisman needs to shine in big games, and Jones has proven he can do that.

1. RB LaMichael James, Oregon

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CORVALLIS, OR - DECEMBER 4: LaMichael James #21 of the Oregon Ducks celebrates a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the game at Reser Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Corvallis, Oregon. The Ducks beat the Beavers 37-20 to likely go on to the BCS Championshi

The Ducks running back is your frontrunner for now. He was a Heisman finalist this year after rushing for 1,682 yards on 281 carries and finishing with 21 touchdowns in the regular season. A strong performance in the BCS National Championship against Auburn could do nothing but help his case for 2011.