College Football 2011: 10 Players Ready to Make a Run at the Heisman

Heading into the 2011 season, there are plenty of talented players around the country striving to become college football's most dominant player. Will we have another Cam Newton burst onto the scene out of oblivion and receive the coveted trophy? Or will a preseason favorite dominate the scene of college football?

We present to you ten of the most likely candidates to make a run at the 2011 Heisman Trophy.

Kellen Moore—Quarterback—Boise State.

Kellen Moore has been the epitome of consistency throughout his tenure in Boise, Idaho. In the past two seasons alone, Moore has thrown for over 7,300 yards, 74 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. However, this season he will be entering the fray without his two favorite targets, Austin Pettis and Titus Young. 

Moore will still have plenty of talent surrounding him in the friendly confines of Boise and has an opportunity to display his skills very early in the season. Boise State will be facing a perennial power, the Georgia Bulldogs, to open the season in a nationally televised game.

If Moore plays well, and we know he will, it will give him an early edge on booking another flight to New York City.

Landry Jones—Quarterback—Oklahoma

Landry Jones was forced into battle following an injury to Sam Bradford during his freshman season. Little was expected from Landry—he barely sealed down the back-up quarterback position heading into the season—but he contributed nicely and really developed to head into a tremendous sophomore campaign.

Jones was on fire from the beginning of the season in 2010, including a near 400-yard performance in a demolishing of the Florida State Seminoles. Landry continued to excel throughout the season—throwing for over 4,700 yards and 38 touchdowns. 

He enters the 2011 season with high expectations and national championship aspirations. Can he duplicate,or better, the 2010 season? If so, he will be a leading candidate to head to New York and Oklahoma will be battling for a BCS Championship.

LaMichael James—Running Back—Oregon

2,000 yards—that is the goal. LaMichael James has the explosiveness, the vision and the game-breaking ability to reach that elusive target in 2011. 

James burst onto the scene as a freshman, eclipsing the 1,500 yard mark and followed that up with an even more impressive sophomore campaign. James sprinted past the 1,700 yard mark, crossed the goal line an amazing 21 times and would be the proud owner of a Heisman Trophy if not for the unbelievable year by a certain Auburn quarterback.

James' ability is not limited to just taking hand-offs, he is a capable receiver out of the backfield and is a threat to score every single time he touches the ball.

Will he reach 2,000 yards? Chip Kelly believes it is possible, and, if so, James will be sprinting to the podium to deliver a speech to millions around the world.  

Marcus Lattimore—Running Back—South Carolina

Marcus Lattimore came to Columbia as a true freshman with all the hype surrounding the No. 1 high school player in the country, and he certainly delivered upon that hype.

Lattimore welcomed us to his world with a dominating 37 carry, 182 yard performance against Georgia in the second game of the season, and while injuries began to slow him down as the season progressed, Lattimore continued to show flashes of his tremendous potential. 

He compiled nearly 1,200 yards and 17 touchdowns and firmly entrenched himself in the race for the 2011 Heisman Trophy. 

Lattimore and the Gamecocks are an early season favorite to win the SEC East and compete for a BCS bowl bid, and if he is able to improve upon his already tremendous season, and stay completely healthy, he will be in the running til the end of the season. 

Knile Davis—Running Back—Arkansas

During a tremendous season for Bobby Petrino and the Arkansas Razorbacks, Knile Davis was often overlooked by football fans around the country. Davis, who has been timed at 4.29 in the 40-yard-dash and is capable of bench pressing over 400 pounds, was quietly putting up one of the best seasons running the ball in the country. 

Davis compiled over 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns during his sophomore season and is poised to make another run at the SEC rushing crown. 

With the departure of Ryan Mallett, he will gain much more exposure this season—the Razorbacks are looking to compete for an SEC West championship with the likes of Alabama and LSU. 

If Davis performs admirably versus a grueling schedule and races toward the SEC rushing crown, he will have a strong case toward receiving an invite to New York.

Justin Blackmon—Wide Receiver—Oklahoma State

Prior to the 2010 season, most people had not heard the name Justin Blackmon. During the 2009 season, he caught 20 balls for a pedestrian 260 yards and was just another cog in a potent Dana Holgorsen offense. 

However, in 2010 he solidified his position as college football's most dynamic play-making wide receiver. Blackmon caught 111 balls for nearly 1,800 yards and 20 touchdowns in an unbelievable display. He is a constant threat to put it in the end-zone every single time he is targeted and will once again be Brandon Weeden's go to receiver in 2011.

Wide receivers usually do not receive that much publicity for the Heisman—Desmond Howard was the last receiver to bring home the gold—but Blackmon's numbers are hard to deny.

Andrew Luck—Quarterback—Stanford

Andrew Luck passed up millions of dollars and the opportunity to be the overall No. 1 pick in the NFL draft to return and lead another BCS charge for the Stanford Cardinal. However, he will be doing so without his mentor, Jim Harbaugh.

Luck was the most dominant pro-style quarterback in college football last season and is drawing considerable comparisons to Peyton Manning, one of the NFL's all-time greats. He possesses the arm, the mind and the leadership qualities that are needed to be a superstar at the quarterback position. 

Last season he dominated games with his arm and showed an ability to escape trouble and make plays when needed.

Luck is, bar none, the most talented and NFL ready quarterback at the collegiate level. Will he produce the wins and the numbers needed to fly to New York City? Without question.

Trent Richardson—Running Back—Alabama

Trent Richardson enters his junior campaign as the featured tailback in a dominant Crimson Tide rushing attack. Throughout his first two seasons, he has been one of the country's most talented running backs, but was forced to split carries with Mark Ingram, which cut into his statistical production.

Richardson is as explosive and powerful as any back in the country and will be lead by a tremendous offensive line. Saban will be breaking in a new quarterback and will rely heavily upon the talents of Richardson to lead the way for the Tide this season.

Richardson will compete with Knile Davis and Marcus Lattimore for the SEC rushing crown in 2011 and could also be battling them for an all expense paid trip to New York.

Geno Smith—Quarterback—West Virginia

Geno Smith enters his junior campaign on the verge of a national explosion. Smith may have went unnoticed to innocent bystanders a year ago, but those around college football are fully aware of his talent and ability.

While playing with an injury that significantly hindered his ability as a dual-threat quarterback, Smith still threw for nearly 2800 yards and 24 touchdowns during a breakout season. 

Much more is expected from a completely healthy Smith and the high-potent offense that he will be leading during 2011. Dana Holgorsen brings an offense to Morgantown that is known to produce 5,000 yard passers and Smith will be one of his most talented proteges to date. 

If West Virginia transitions nicely, and can reach the 10 or 11 win mark, Smith will be firmly in the running for a trip to NYC. 

Denard Robinson—Quarterback—Michigan

There is absolutely no denying the talent and ability that Denard Robinson possesses as a collegiate quarterback. The epitome of dual-threat, Robinson rushed for over 1,700 yards and threw for over 2,500 more under the tutelage of Rich Rodriguez. 

Robinson is the most electric play-maker in the country and is a blur at the quarterback position. To put it bluntly, he is the equivalent of your most talented Road To Glory contributor on NCAA Football 2012. 

His only hindrance heading into the 2011 season is the change to a pro-style offense under new coach Brady Hoke. If Hoke does not utilize Robinson's strengths and forces him to become a pocket passer, he could struggle during the 2011 season.

If Hoke makes the smart decision and allows Robinson to be himself, it will be another assault on the Michigan Record books.

Derrick Stacy is the owner, founder and lead content editor of Sports-at-Work, http://www.sports-at-work.com, and is a columnist at http://www.southernpigskin.com