College Football 2011: Andrew Luck and Other 2011 Heisman Trophy Hopefuls

With the 2011 NFL Draft in the books, we can all move ahead to next year's college football and NFL seasons.  However, with the NFL season possibly on hold due to a lockout, college football may be the biggest hit in town.

Spring practices are well underway, and the spring games already showcased the elite talent that we can anticipate on the field next year.

Players like Andrew Luck, Trent Richardson, LaMichael James and Marcus Lattimore will not only be looking to lead their team to a national championship, but to bring home the Heisman Trophy.

Andrew Luck is the clear favorite, but here are some other players who have a shot at upending the Stanford star.

Marcus Lattimore (RB, South Carolina)

Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images

ATLANTA - DECEMBER 04: Running back Marcus Lattimore #21 of the South Carolina Gamecocks runs with the ball during the 2010 SEC Championship against the Auburn Tigers at Georgia Dome on December 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty

The South Carolina Gamecocks won their first ever SEC East championship in large part due to Marcus Lattimore's dominating freshman season.

He burst onto the scene with over 1,600 yards of total offense and 19 total touchdowns for the Gamecocks.  Lattimore was the backbone of the Gamecocks' offense last season, when he struggled the team struggled.

In his seven games with less than 90 yards rushing, the Gamecocks amassed just two wins, including a loss to Auburn in the SEC championship game.

With question marks surrounding the South Carolina QB position, Lattimore will have even more of an opportunity to impress.

Lattimore is a bit of a long shot at this point though, but could easily become one of the finalists for the heralded trophy.

Brandon Weeden (QB, Oklahoma State)

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

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

Brandon Weeden torched the Big 12 last season, and don't expect that to change with both him and his star WR Justin Blackmon returning to school.

Weeded threw for over 4,200 yards last season and added 34 passing touchdowns in just his first season as a full-time starter.

With a year under his belt, Weeden should obviously improve in the coming year.  However, Weeden is another one of the QBs on this list who is facing the loss of his coach.  While he is not losing his head coach, Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Dana Holgorson opted to accept the same position with the West Virginia Mountaineers.

If Blackmon continues to develop, this duo could be the most lethal combination in college football.  However, Weeden is going to need the defense to step up, and his team will likely have to defeat the rival Oklahoma Sooners for him to even have a chance at the Heisman.

Landry Jones (QB, Oklahoma)

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: Landry Jones #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners throws the ball against the Connecticut Huskies during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Peters

Landry Jones is coming off of a huge sophomore campaign, throwing for over 4,700 yards and 38 touchdowns.  Following in the footsteps of Sam Bradford was not going to be an easy task but Jones has appeared up to the task and the Oklahoma Sooners are one of the favorites to win the national championship this year.

Jones improved greatly from his freshman season and has the look of a player who wants to follow in the footsteps of Sam Bradford all the way to the NFL.

Jones has a very good team around him, and if he is able to carry his team to a national championship appearance he is going to be a legitimate contender to win the Heisman Trophy.

Look for Jones to throw for more than 5,000 yards this year en route to a top three finish in Heisman voting.

Denard Robinson (QB, Michigan)

Rick Dole/Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, FL - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Denard Robinson #16 of the Michigan Wolverines rushes against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the Gator Bowl at EverBank Field on January 1, 2011 in Jacksonville, Florida (Photo by Rick Dole/Getty Images)

Denard Robinson came out of nowhere to become a serious Heisman contender in the beginning of last season, but a knee injury combined with limited production down the stretch all but sealed his fate.  Robinson made his presence to the nation when he torched Notre Dame for over 500 yards of total offense and three touchdowns in a 28-24 victory in just his second start.

Robinson now has a year under his belt and will likely have improved his passing game over the offseason.  However, the biggest concern for Robinson has to do with how well he will fit into Brady Hoke's offense. 

It is always difficult for a QB at the college level to learn a new offensive system, but there is no doubt that Robinson is the best dual-threat QB in college football.

If Robinson worked on his passing game this offseason there is no doubt that he will be in New York City for the selection of the Heisman Trophy winner.

Trent Richardson (RB, Alabama)

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 23: Trent Richardson #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide runs for a touchdown during the SEC game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 23, 2010 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Trent Richardson's talent has never been an issue for him, but he had New Orleans Saints RB Mark Ingram in his way the previous two seasons.

Now, Ingram is out of the picture, and the keys have been handed over to Richardson.  Richardson rushed for over 700 yards in his first two seasons at Alabama despite never receiving more than 145 carries in a season. 

Richardson is an all-around RB that has the power to run between the tackles, the speed to run off tackle, the hands to catch the ball out of the backfield.  He averaged over six yards per carry last season, while also averaging over 11 yards per reception.

With Ingram out of the picture, Richardson has the chance to become Alabama's second Heisman winner in the last three years.

Kellen Moore (QB, Boise State)

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 22: Quarterback Kellen Moore #11 of the Boise State Broncos throws for yardage against the Utah Utes during the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas at Sam Boyd Stadium December 22, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Boise State Won 26-3. (Photo by Eth

Kellen Moore was a field goal away of seeing his team headed to the Rose Bowl last season for a meeting with the University of Wisconsin.  However, Kyle Brotzman missed not just once, but twice for the Broncos, and Kellen Moore was left looking ahead to next season.

Statistically, no one compares to Kellen Moore.  He led the NCAA in QB rating last year with a 182.6 rating, and puts Andrew Luck's QB to INT ratio to shame.  Moore threw six touchdowns for every one interception last season, and averaged a first down per attempt.

On statistics alone Kellen Moore should be the Heisman Trophy winner.  However, the Broncos do not play a difficult enough schedule and do not appear on national television enough to draw media consideration.

Moore will definitely be a finalist for the Heisman, but he is a long shot to win the award.  Unless Boise State finds themselves as the only undefeated team in the country, and atop the polls at the end of the season, it is highly unlikely Moore can bring home the trophy.

LaMichael James (RB, Oregon)

Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: LaMichael James #21 of the Oregon Ducks reacts during their game against the Auburn Tigers during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by

LaMichael James finished third in Heisman voting last year, and would have had a very good chance of winning if it wasn't for Cam Newton's dominating season.

James totaled over 1,900 total yards last season and is one of the quickest and shiftiest backs in all of football.  He excels in Oregon's spread offense and is a threat to take it to the house every time he touches the ball.

With both him and Darron Thomas returning for their junior seasons, Oregon will again be a threat to win the national championship.  James will look to up his numbers again this season and could very easily top the 2,000 yard plateau.

There is no doubt that if anyone has a shot at knocking off Andrew Luck, James could be the guy to do it. 

Andrew Luck (QB, Stanford)

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 03: Andrew Luck #12 of the Stanford Cardinal celebrates after he threw a 38-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter against the Virginai Tech Hokies during the 2011 Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 3, 2011 in Miam

Andrew Luck is the clear favorite to win the Heisman Trophy this coming year.  He was also the clear favorite to go No. 1 in this year's NFL draft, but that didn't happen, so how do we know he will win the Heisman?

So, that may have been a bit of a stretch for an argument, but the point is, things change quickly in the sports world and we shouldn't be too quick to hand Luck the Heisman.

For one, injuries can happen at any point, Sam Bradford can most definitely attest to that.  Secondly, who knows what freshman or sophomore will explode onto the scene and steal the Heisman right out from under him.

However, Luck is without a doubt the best player in college football, and will be the No. 1 overall pick in next year's draft, barring a miracle. 

Luck had a QB rating of 170 last season and threw for over 3,000 yards with a 70 percent completion percentage.  Combine that with his 4:1 TD to INT ratio, and Andrew Luck was lights out in his second year as Stanford's starting QB.

Like Denard Robinson, the concern for Luck is that he has a new coaching staff this year.  With Jim Harbaugh leaving town to head for greener pastures in the NFL, Luck will have to improve his game without his QB guru head coach around.

Even so, Luck should be the Heisman winner next year, and while it is not a bold prediction, it is the smart one.