Wisconsin's Montee Ball for Heisman: 2011 Highlight Video

For the first few weeks of the 2011 season, there was a strong Heisman buzz flowing around Madison, Wisconsin, after the Badgers got off to a hot 6-0 start and rose to the No. 4 ranking in the country.

At that time, all of the Heisman talk was swirling around star senior quarterback Russell Wilson, who had become one of the most intriguing stories in college football after transferring to Wisconsin in the offseason and then seemingly carrying the Badgers into national title contention.

That Heisman chatter quickly subsided after Wisconsin lost consecutive heartbreaking games to Michigan State and Ohio State in late October. However, now it’s been Wilson’s teammate, running back Montee Ball, who has reignited the fire and earned himself a trip to New York City for the Heisman ceremonies.

Ball’s rise to fame was a steady one, as his Heisman campaign slowly started gaining momentum as the season wore on, before really picking up steam in the final few weeks of the season.

The junior back’s four-touchdown performance in the Big Ten championship game against Michigan State is probably what ultimately sealed the deal and earned him enough votes to be one of the five finalists for the award.

Ball’s big-time season totals—1,759 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns—probably helped his case a little bit too.

It hasn't been all that long since Wisconsin produced a Heisman-winning running back. Former Badger Ron Dayne won the award back in 1999.

While his odds of beating out guys like Baylor QB Robert Griffin III, Alabama RB Trent Richardson and Stanford QB Andrew Luck aren’t all that great, Ball has to be pleased and honored just to make it to New York City and be in the running for college football’s most prestigious award.

If you saw some of his highlight-reel runs this year, you know that his invitation was certainly deserved.

Ball may not win the 2011 Heisman, but Wisconsin fans are thankful for all the great runs he gave them this season, and they know that without him, the Badgers probably wouldn't be playing in the Rose Bowl right now.

It's been a memorable campaign for Ball, and if you've heard him speak in interviews since the announcement, you can truly tell that he's a humble young man who is fully appreciative of the honors and accolades that have been bestowed upon him this year.

He's certainly earned them.