Heisman Trophy Watch: Last-Minute Pros and Cons for Each Heisman Hopeful

In less than 12 hours the Heisman Trophy will be awarded to one of five standout college studs whose exceptional play over the course of the 2010-2011 season has earned them a trip to New York at the grandest individual honors stage of them all.

Between Wisconsin's TD machine Montee Ball, Stanford's prototypical quarterback Andrew Luck, LSU's Honey Badger Tyrann Mathieu, Baylor's dual-threat quarterback Robert Griffin III, and Alabama's heart-and-soul Trent Richardson, each finalist undeniably has the stats and facts to back them up in their campaign for college football immortality.

But, at the same time, each player has certain chips on their shoulders that may make some voters weary before the final decision.

Either way, it's one of the most open Heisman races we've seen in awhile, so just about anything can happen. Let's explore the pluses and minuses of each Heisman hopeful.

Montee Ball (RB, Wisconsin)

Stat Line: 275 rushes, 1759 rushing yards, 32 rushing TDs, 20 receptions, 126 receiving yards, 6 receiving touchdowns.

Pros:

I said it earlier and I'll say it again: MONTEE BALL IS A MACHINE

With 38 total touchdowns, not only does he (by a landslide) lead all players—and some teams—in combined rushing, receiving and return scores, but Ball is second in college football history behind Barry Sanders in the same category.

Montee Ball has torched defenses left and right, reaching the end zone two or more times in all but two games this year.

Cons:

So why wouldn't you vote for Ball?

As dominant of a runner as he is, Ball got off to a relatively slow start, rushing for only 65 yards in the season opener versus UNLV, and an average of 90 yards through the first four games of the season.

Also, towards the beginning of the season, the focal point of Wisconsin's offense was not on the ground, but in the air with their then-Heisman hopeful QB Russell Wilson.

It wasn't until several weeks later that Ball exploded as the primary offensive weapon.

Andrew Luck (QB, Stanford Cardinal)

Stat Line: 70.0 completion percentage, 3,170 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 167.5 QB rating

Pros:

Pretty much set in stone as the first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, Andrew Luck has continued his Heisman campaign from last year. After falling just short of Auburn's Cam Newton, Luck came out firing better than ever.

Essentially the prototypical QB, Luck is recognized as one of the top talents in college football. With his razor-sharp accuracy and rocket-arm strength, the Stanford QB is just about the perfect pocket passer.

Cons:

Though he's had an outstanding season, there was just one blemish on his star-studded season: 

The game vs. rival Oregon.

In arguably the most important game of the season against their Pac-12 rival Oregon Ducks, Luck had an uncharacteristically off game.

Though he put up decent numbers, passing for 256 yards and three touchdowns, he didn't dominate the game like he should have and threw two picks—two preventable picks—that ultimately gave the game away, thus keeping Stanford out of the Pac-12 Championship Game.

Tyrann Mathieu (CB, LSU Tigers)

Stat Line: 71 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions, 2 punt return touchdowns

Pros:

Easily the hardest hitting D-back in college football, Tyrann Mathieu does one thing and he does it well:

HE MAKES PLAYS.

Mathieu has scored three of his touchdowns when the Tigers were down and in desperate need of a score. Whether it's forcing a fumble and running it in for a touchdown, picking off the opposing QB, or taking a punt return the distance, Mathieu has, time and time again, put LSU in a position to win.

Cons:

The only thing in the Honey Badger's way, unfortunately, is the fact that he plays on defense.

The last player on defense to win the Heisman was Charles Woodson in 1997 with the Michigan Wolverines. However, Woodson was seen on every side of the ball.

Not only was he a premier shutdown cornerback, but the future NFL Hall of Famer also lined up on offense as a WR—a pretty decent one by the way—and also served as a punt returner.

Though Mathieu is one of the SEC's better punt returners, his accomplishments are primarily on the defensive end of the ball.

The odds are against him, but maybe the Honey Badger can pull an "upset"?

Robert Griffin III (QB, Baylor)

Passing Stat Line: 72.4 completion percentage, 3998 yards, 36 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 192.3 QB rating
Rushing Stat Line: 161 touches, 644 yards, 4 yards per carry, 9 touchdowns

387 total yards per game

Pros:

THE STATS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES!

Nearly 4,000 passing yards, an FBS-best 192.3 passer rating, and a total of 45 touchdowns on the season, Robert Griffin III blows Andrew Luck's numbers out of the water.

My personal favorite for the Heisman trophy (and yes, I was a fan before the band-wagoners came), RG3 brings domination to both the air and ground game to the Baylor offense. 

RG3 has top-of-the-line speed and incredible accuracy, but don't pigeon-hole him just because of the wheels. This is not a Pat White or Mike Vick we're dealing with—this is a guy the likes of which the NFL has never seen before. I wouldn't even dare to make a comparison

Cons:

If there is a con to RG3's Heisman campaign, it would have to be the fact that he plays for a relatively small-market team/school in the Baylor Bears. They were unranked all the way until Week 11 after their win over Mizzou, so many people probably didn't know who he was until then.

Still, like the show on ESPN, "Numbers Never Lie," and Griffin's stats more than speak for themselves.

Trent Richardson (RB, Alabama)

Rushing Stat Line: 263 attempts, 1583 yards, 6 yards per carry, 20 touchdowns
Receiving Stat Line: 27 receptions, 327 yards, 12.1 yards per catch, 3 touchdowns

Pros:

The centerpiece of the Alabama Crimson Tide ground-n'-pound offense, Trent Richardson seems to be the front-runner—if there is one—in this year's Heisman candidacy. 

Arguably the most dominant running back in college football, Richardson never shied away from contact, but embraced it. In fact, an incredible 59.2 percent of his rushing yards have come after the first hit, marking him the hardest working, most resilient RB in the game.

It's pretty difficult to describe his running style, only because he does so many things well:

• He's strong like a Mack truck.
• He's got ridiculous speed for his size.
• He's got the shifty moves to make defender crumble.
• He's only fumbled ONCE in his three seasons with Alabama...once!

So, would you agree with a Fred Jackson-BenJarvus Green-Ellis hybrid kind of player?

Cons:

I almost cried trying to find something wrong with this guy's game. I mean, he's a beast—there's no other way to put it. So, for a fresh idea, I tuned in to ESPN, and they said something rather profound.

There's a lot of haters out there who would hate to see yet another SEC powerhouse Alabama RB take home the gold. Two years ago (2009 for those who couldn't count), Mark Ingram hoisted the trophy, Now, Richardson is on pace to do the same.

It's a weak argument, I know, but it's true.

So... Who's Got Your Vote?

So, who's got your vote this year?

Is it the electrifying cornerback Tyrann Mathieu? Or maybe it's that touchdown machine, Montee Ball? Or it could be one of the other three outstanding players vying for college football immortality?

Comment below!