Heisman Trophy 2011: Candidates, TV Info, Predictions and More

Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Trent Richardson, Montee Ball and Tyrann Mathieu are the five finalists traveling to Manhattan in hopes of claiming the 2011 Heisman Trophy. Ballots from the more than 900 voters were due Monday night and the winner will be announced on Saturday.

Current Carolina Panthers phenom Cam Newton took home the award last season and past winners include Roger Staubach, Barry Sanders and Marcus Allen. The last defensive player to walk away with the Heisman was Charles Woodson in 1997.

Where: Best Buy Theater in New York City

When: Saturday, Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. ET

Watch: ESPN

Live Streaming: WatchESPN.com

QB Andrew Luck – Stanford

Luck completed 70 percent of his passes for the second straight season in leading the Cardinal to an 11-1 record. He was the driving force behind Stanford's fifth-ranked offense and continued to amaze NFL scouts with his pinpoint accuracy.

The Houston native was the runner-up to Newton last season and entered 2011 as the clear favorite. He appeared to be cruising to victory until Stanford lost its first game against Oregon, which opened up the race to include several other hopefuls.

After passing up an opportunity to enter last April's NFL Draft, Luck will turn his focus to the pros following Stanford's Fiesta Bowl clash with Oklahoma State. He's the projected top pick in a quarterback-rich class.

QB Robert Griffin III – Baylor

Griffin wasn't firmly on the Heisman radar when the season began, but that changed quickly as the Baylor quarterback began to post eye-popping numbers in the Bears' high-powered offense. He finished the regular season with nearly 4,000 passing yards and 45 total touchdowns.

He led the nation in QB rating at 192.3, which was 25 points higher than Luck's (fifth). His marked improvement from last season allowed Baylor to finish 9-3, with all three losses coming against formidable opponents on the road.

One thing he has on his side is momentum. After Luck's team dropped its first game, analysts began to seek out other viable candidates and Griffin pushed his way to the forefront.

RB Trent Richardson – Alabama

After spending last season in the shadow of 2009 Heisman winner Mark Ingram, Richardson broke out in a big way in 2011. The junior gained over 1,900 total yards and scored 23 times while helping to lead the Crimson Tide to the BCS National Championship Game.

Playing in SEC will either be a blessing or a curse for Richardson, depending on if the voters give him credit for playing in the nation's premier conference. He gained 169 yards against LSU's vaunted defense when the powers played for the first time.

Richardson's dynamic playmaking ability paired with Alabama's top-ranked defense has been a deadly combo. He made a late charge, rushing for 378 yards in the team's final two games.

RB Montee Ball – Wisconsin

Ball rushed for 32 touchdowns this season, which was six more than anybody else, and he added six more in the passing game. He found paydirt at least twice in every contest and, on four occasions, he reached the end zone four times.

He was able to gain more than six yards per carry despite being among the most heavily-utilized backs in the country. His consistent dominance allowed the Badgers to fight back from a deficit in the Big Ten to eventually claim the conference's automatic BCS bid.

It took a while for him to gain the national recognition he deserved, which could end up affecting his chances, but there's no doubt he belongs in the final five.

CB Tyrann Mathieu – LSU

Mathieu was clearly the nation's best defensive player in 2011. He led a stout LSU defense in tackles with 70. The sophomore also added seven pass breakups, six forced fumbles and two interceptions, further helping to assert his spot on the Heisman stage.

He also played a key role on special teams as LSU's main punt returner. He averaged an astonishing 16 yards per return and twice took punts back to the house, including a momentum-changing return against Georgia in the SEC Championship Game.

Even though Mathieu should be garnering more hype because he made an impact on two of the three phases, defensive players have always faced an uphill battle to claim the coveted award.

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Robert Griffin III

2. Trent Richardson

3. Andrew Luck

4. Montee Ball

5. Tyrann Mathieu