College Football: The 8 Heisman Trophy Front Runners for the 2011 Season

2006 Troy Smith Ohio State

2007 Tim Tebow Florida

2008 Sam Bradford Oklahoma

2009 Mark Ingram Jr. Alabama

2010 Cam Newton Auburn

This is the most exclusive club in all of college football. Here are eight players who have the best preseason chance out of all the players in the nation. Obviously, that's why they play the game, but if I was to make an educated guess, one of these will win the 2011 Heisman Trophy

8. Matt Barkley, USC

He is the dark horse for the Heisman race this upcoming season.  Matt Barkley came into USC with all the hype in the world, being the top overall recruit from the 2009 recruiting class. 

He improved his completion percentage, touchdowns and yards from his freshman to his sophomore year.  He also has arguably the best receiver core in the nation with Robert Woods, Markeith Ambles, Kyle Prater, Ronald Johnson and George Farmer.  

He will become one of the elite QBs in the nation and will probably be a Top 10 draft pick if he decides to enter the draft after next year’s season.

7. Darron Thomas, Oregon

In the year of the quarterback in the PAC-12, Darron Thomas has the weapons on offense to help him receive the Heisman Trophy. 

He has LaMichael James, Kenjon Barner and Lache Seastruck out of the backfield, and Devon Blackmon, Tacoi Sumler, David Paulson, Colt Lyerla, Lavasier Tuinei, Josh Huff and DeAnthony Thomas at receiver. 

If that isn’t the fastest and most explosive group of players in the nation, I have no idea what is.  He has all the tools at quarterback, having thrown for 2,800 yards and 30 touchdowns last season. 

If his completion percentage goes up next year, watch out for Darron Thomas to sneak into the Heisman race late in the season.

6. Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma

With one of the best quarterbacks in the nation throwing him the ball, Ryan Broyles has a great chance to be in the running for the Heisman. 

Last year his numbers were staggering: 131 catches, 1,622 yards and 14 touchdowns.  He was third in receiving yards to only Justin Blackmon and Greg Salas. 

He led the nation in catches and is one of the fastest receivers as well.  It is unbelievable that he came back for his senior season.  In Oklahoma’s spread offense, Ryan Broyles should have an unbelievable season.

5. Kellen Moore, Boise State

Possibly the most accurate quarterback in the nation, Kellen Moore is deadly anywhere on the field.  He lost his two biggest targets last year in Austin Pettis and Titus Young, but after watching Kellen Moore for three years, he will find other players to help his team win. 

He has thrown for over 10,000 yards and 99 touchdowns passes in his three years as Boise State’s starting quarterback.  He completed 71.3 percent of his passes last year, and in the past two seasons combined, has only thrown nine interceptions. 

He is overlooked because he goes to Boise State, but watch out for this Bronco, come the December ceremony, to be crowned the Heisman Trophy winner.

4. Landry Jones, Oklahoma

After starting for only two years, Landry Jones has thrown for over 8,900 yards and 64 touchdowns.  Last year he completed 65.6 percent of his passes and over 400 total completions. 

He has Ryan Broyles, another Heisman candidate, returning along with one of the most potent offenses in the nation. 

Bob Stoops knows how to produce a Heisman winner, seeing as how he has done it in the past.  With this much talent coming back next year around him, Landry Jones should have an even better year, if that’s possible. 

He is going to be one of the best quarterbacks in the nation and should be a very serious candidate for the Heisman Trophy.

3. Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

Last year’s Fred Biletnikoff Award winner is returning for his junior year, and it will be hard for him to have a better year than last year. 

He caught 111 passes for 1,782 yards and 20 touchdowns.  He had one of the best years for a wide receiver in recent memory.

He recorded over 100 yards in all thirteen of his game last year and scored three touchdowns in two different games. 

He caught 10 or more catches six different times and led Oklahoma State to an 11-2 record.  If Oklahoma State wants to have a good year next year, it will be on the back of Justin Blackmon.

2. LaMichael James, Oregon

He is one of the favorites going into the 2011 football season.  He finished third in the Heisman race last year and was the nation’s leading rusher. 

The 2010 Doak Walker winner ran for 1,731 yards and 21 touchdowns in only 12 games, not the normal 13 that everyone else played. 

He averaged 5.9 yards per rush and was almost untouchable in every game he played.  In this offense, it is hard to get a lot of touches because of the way Chip Kelly distributes the ball.  But if LaMichael gets off to a hot start, he will be extremely hard to take down in the Heisman race. 

Andrew Luck, Stanford

He is the top candidate going into the season for the Heisman Trophy. He finished second in last year’s Heisman Trophy race, and as the obvious No. 1 draft choice in the 2011 draft, he opted to come back for his senior season and finish his degree. 

If Andrew Luck sets his mind to something, chances are he will accomplish it.  He threw for over 3,300 yards last year and broke Stanford’s all-time single-season touchdown passing record with 32. 

That record was previously owned by John Elway by the way.  He is a great representative of the Heisman Trophy and most likely will win it next year.