Heisman Watch: 5 Heisman Candidates Who Are Totally out of the Race

Week 9 of the college football season is well under way, and now, we are beginning to get a clear view of what players are legitimate Heisman contenders.

Many of those names we had at the top of our list at the start of the season are no longer there and have faded out of Heisman relevance.

Let's take an inside look at five original Heisman candidates who are now totally out of the race.

Landry Jones

Landry Jones was considered to be a legitimate contender to bring home the Heisman Trophy, but that all went out the door when his Oklahoma team fell to Texas Tech last weekend.

Jones did not play awful in the game, which is made obvious by his 412 yards and five touchdowns. But he was just 30-of-55 passing, and that just isn't acceptable against a weak defense like Texas Tech.

If Jones and the Sooners finish the season unbeaten, maybe he can get back into the running. But he isn't winning it, that's for sure.

Robert Griffin III

Robert Griffin III is having an outstanding season, highlighted by his eye-popping 78 percent completion percentage.

But when Baylor lost to Kansas State, his Heisman chances began to fade. Then when they lost to Texas A&M, his chances were hanging on by a thread.

Now, today, Griffin's Baylor team is getting flat-out embarrassed by Oklahoma State, which makes his chances fly out the door.

He is a great player, but Griffin is totally out of this race.

LaMichael James

LaMichael James was a Heisman finalist last season and many believed that the race this year would come down to him and Andrew Luck.

But after an unimpressive season opener against LSU, followed by an arm injury against Cal, James' Heisman hopes went down the toilet altogether.

It also doesn't help his chances that Trent Richardson is having an All-American season and has clearly taken over the role as the country's most impressive running back in 2011.

Maybe next year?

Tyrann Mathieu

Tyrann Mathieu sure was receiving a lot of hype after he set the school record for the most fumble recoveries returned for touchdowns in school history.

Between his "honey badger" nickname and the comparisons to Charles Woodson, it seemed like everyone was on board for Mathieu's Heisman candidacy.

But after LSU's star defensive back missed last week's game against Auburn for failing a drug test, all that hype seemed to fade away fast.

He's still one of the top defensive players in the country, but that Heisman hype is long gone.

Denard Robinson

Denard Robinson has officially lived up to his nickname yet again: "The September Heisman."

In each of his past three seasons, Robinson has been sensational for the first month of the college football season. But then when he goes up against a solid defense, each and every year he has been shut down, and his Heisman chances fade.

People across the college football world love Robinson. How can you not considering how exciting he is? But they have to realize that he isn't a great passer, and when he plays against a good defense, like Michigan State, his glaring weaknesses get exposed.

Robinson might be able to beat anyone in a foot race, but he sure isn't winning this year's Heisman race.