2009 Heisman Hopefuls (Because It's Never Too Early)

It’s never too early to get ahead of ourselves, so below are nine candidates and three very long shots who might find their names on next year’s Heisman ballot.  

Obviously, if Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford, and Colt McCoy decide to play another season in the college ranks, they are immediately front-runners, with no reason necessary to give. 

This article works under the assumption that Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree and Georgia QB Matthew Stafford will be entering the NFL at the start of next season. 

Quarterbacks

Zach Robinson, Oklahoma State

Robinson has scored 63 total TDs in the last two seasons. Entering his senior year and his third season with WR Dez Bryant, he has the potential to see that TD number rise. He throws very few INTs, much to the delight of Heisman voters. 

Mark Sanchez, USC

If you’re a senior and the starting quarterback for the Trojans, you’re immediately considered a Heisman hopeful.  With only one WR graduating and only one WR under six-foot, Sanchez has the weapons to hit the 40 TD mark.

Terrell Pryor, Ohio State

Pryor didn’t do anything too spectacular in his freshman season, but he already comes with enough hype to make it onto the Heisman radar if he has even the smallest of successes on the field.

He should improve dramatically with a season under his belt, but the only way he makes it to New York next year is if he leads the Buckeyes to the BCS Championship Game. 

DARK HORSE

Case Keenum, Houston

Keenum’s season low for passing yards in a game was 317 this season. He threw at least two touchdowns in every game he played and threw more than four touchdowns in half of all his games. His weak schedule will do him in, but his outrageous numbers could start a buzz.

Running Backs

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia

As a Georgia running back, Moreno already has Heisman-hype built in. He makes highlight reel runs that tend to impress Heisman voters. If Stafford leaves for the NFL as expected, the workload, and subsequent statistics, for Moreno will increase.

Jahvid Best, Cal

Best caught 11 passes in his first three games and then went on to catch only 16 the rest of the season. If he can add some catches out of the backfield, does not disappear in big games, and returns at least two kicks for TDs, he can make into New York City next December. 

Bonzi Wells, Ohio State

After a 1,609 yard, 15 TD 2007 campaign, Wells stifled all preseason hype with an early injury and never fully got back on track until the Buckeyes eighth game of the season. A fully recovered Wells should be poised for an outstanding senior year, looking to impress both Heisman voters and NFL scouts. 

DARK HORSE

MiQuale Lewis, Ball State

There are few certainties in this world, but one of them is probably that a Ball State Cardinal will never win the Heisman Trophy. Regardless, Lewis’ numbers should put him as a very long shot to make it to the final vote. 

Wide Receivers

Percy Harvin, Florida

Harvin has increased both his receiving and rushing touchdowns every season and there seems to be no reason to think he won’t continue the trend going into his senior year. 

He lost two games this season to injury, including the win over then No. 1 Alabama. If he can piece together a rushing/receiving combination of at least 25 touchdowns, he might steal enough of the spotlight away from Tebow to catch Heisman voters’ eyes.

Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State plays just the right amount of cupcakes to let Bryant pad his stats while playing just enough competitive teams to give him some legitimacy. He has consistency in returning senior QB Zach Robinson and is coming off an 18 TD season. His return game will only help his chances. 

Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas

Briscoe had his coming out party in mid-October this season when he caught 12 passes for 269 yards and two TDs against Oklahoma.  He finished the season very strong with 24 receptions and 406 yards in his final three games, including a nine reception day against Texas.  Like Bryant, Briscoe benefits from having a returning senior (Todd Reesing) at QB next season. 

DARK HORSE

James Casey, Rice

See MiQuale Lewis and replace Ball State Cardinal with Rice Owl. Casey caught 12 TDs for touchdowns, rushed for six more and threw for another two. With Rice losing Jarrett Dillard, their leading receiver, Casey might surpass the 104 receptions he had this season.