Trent Richardson Moves to Top of Heisman List

The list of Heisman contenders is very good and very long this year. I've gone back and forth several times between a few players, but this week I'm going with Trent Richardson as my Heisman winner.

Robert Griffin, Case Keenum, and Montee Ball will get another shot this week to make one last run at the award but will it be enough to catch Richardson and Luck?

Luck has probably been the front-runner all year due to being one of the best quarterback prospects ever to come out of college football. But Richardson has slowly been rising up the list every week and is now on top of a lot of experts' Heisman polls.

No. 1 Trent Richardson, RB Alabama

Alabama's Trent Richardson is up to No. 1 on my Heisman list after his performance against Auburn. Richardson only had one touchdown but he also rushed for 203 yards in the victory.

On the year, Richardson has rushed for 1,583 yards and ranks No. 4 in the country. He has rushed for 20 touchdowns and also has very good hands out of the back field. He has 27 catches for 327 yards and three touchdowns.

Richardson is one of the most impressive running backs I've seen in the last several years. Defenses know they have to stop him to stop Alabama's offense and they still can't get it done. He has helped lead Bama to an 11-1 record and most likely a trip to the BCS Championship game.

No. 2 Andrew Luck, QB Stanford

Andrew Luck had another solid game Saturday against Notre Dame. In the win he set the career touchdown record at Stanford and the season touchdown record. Both were held by John Elway.

Luck completed 67 percent of his passes for 233 yards and four touchdowns in the victory against Notre Dame. Luck ranks No. 5 in the country in quarterback rating at 167.5. He's also completed 70 percent of his passes for 3,170 yards and 35 touchdowns. Luck has two rushing touchdowns which gives him 37 total touchdowns for the year.

Luck might not have the big time numbers as some of the other quarterbacks in the country, but he runs a different offense and has led Stanford to 11-1 and a No. 4 ranking in the BCS. If Luck ended up winning the Heisman, I would be perfectly fine with it.

No. 3 Robert Griffin III, QB Baylor

Griffin left the game against Texas Tech in the first half with a concussion but was still able to get three touchdowns in the victory.

Griffin ranks No. 2 in the country with a quarterback rating at 191.1. He's completed 72.6 percent of his passes for 3,678 yards and 34 touchdowns. Griffin has also rushed for 612 yards and has 41 total touchdowns.

Baylor is 8-3 and ranks No. 17 in the BCS Rankings. There is no doubt Baylor would not be this good without Griffin at quarterback. This week Baylor will take on Texas. If Griffin can put up good numbers against a solid Texas defense then he has a decent chance of winning the Heisman.

No. 4 Case Keenum, QB Houston

Keenum continued his great season Saturday against Tulsa. He completed 71 percent of his passes for 457 yards and five touchdowns. Houston is now ranked No. 6 in the BCS Rankings and is 12-0 on the year thanks to Keenum's play at quarterback.

Keenum has completed 73.2 percent of his passes for 4,726 yards and 43 touchdowns. He has also rushed for three touchdowns which brings his total to 46 touchdowns which leads the country.

There is no doubt in my mind that Keenum should get an invite to New York for the Heisman Ceremony. Last year Keenum was injured and Houston was 5-7, this year with him they are now 12-0 and will get a BCS bowl if they win the Conference USA Championship this week.

No. 5 Matt Barkley, QB USC

Nobody has been as hot as Matt Barkley over the last couple weeks. Barkley dominated UCLA on Saturday completing 83 percent of his passes for 424 yards and six touchdowns. Barkley led the Trojans to a 10-2 record and No. 9 ranking in the AP Poll.

Barkley has completed 69.1 percent of his passes for 3,528 yards and 39 touchdowns. Barkley's 39 passing touchdowns ranks second in the country behind only Keenum.

No. 6 Montee Ball, RB Wisconsin

Montee Ball had another big game this week rushing for 156 yards and four touchdowns against Penn State. Ball ranks No. 2 in the country in rushing yards with 1,622 and leads the country with 29 rushing touchdowns.

Ball has helped lead No. 15 Wisconsin to a 10-2 record and is very deserving of an invite to New York.