11 Bowl Games Featuring 2012 Heisman Front-Runners

With the 2011 Heisman Trophy hype and presentation in the books, it’s high time to look into our pigskin-shaped crystal ball and determine who might be the next athlete to join to elite ranks of the H-Club.

It’s highly probable that the next guy to hold the coveted bronze statuette aloft is playing his final game of the 2011 season over the next three weeks in the form of a bowl contest.

And this gives us a prime opportunity to identify “who to watch” in the ’11 bowl season in terms of way too early Heisman front-runners for 2012.

The following slideshow pinpoints 11 postseason games worth watching, if nothing else, to get an early bead on who’s who in next year’s race to the hardware.

Some of these blockbuster contests have only one player to examine, while others offer a heaping helping of Heisman-caliber talent.

At the end of the day, we all know that the guy who actually ascends the steps to the stage next December in New York to meet his fate will have to score some big wins, garner the proper amount of media attention, stay healthy and not be tempted by the short skirts of the NFL.

The Sugar Bowl, Michigan vs. Virginia Tech

The Sugar Bowl will likely be decided by who can win the battle in the trenches that either allows or shuts down the ground game but regardless, watch out for these four competitors who, if they stick around for 2012, could definitely be part of the Heisman conversation.

Denard Robinson, QB, Jr., Michigan: Robinson was mentioned as a Heisman candidate early in each of the last two seasons, but ultimately fizzled each time. Working in Robinson’s favor in 2012 is experience, stability at coaching and the fact that Michigan could win enough games to be a part of a championship conversation.

Fitzgerald Toussaint, RB, So., Michigan: As an RB, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle when your QB is your leading rusher. The youthful Toussaint was Michigan’s No. 2 back in 2011 with 1,011 yards and nine TDs. If the Wolverines continue to storm to the top of the charts, Toussaint could be a front runner in quick order.

David Wilson, RB, Jr., Virginia Tech: Wilson was one of the most exciting performers of the 2011 season, and his 1,627 yards and nine scores this season helped the Hokies reach 11 wins despite turnover at QB. If Wilson opts to stay for his senior season he is a definite frontrunner.

Logan Thomas, QB, So., Virginia Tech: As a sophomore, Thomas did unbelievably well in leading the Hokies to another BCS appearance by going 215-of-363 for 2,799 yards for 19 TDs and only nine picks. It’s fairly logical to think Thomas will only improve as he matures, and if Virginia Tech can continue to win, the sky is the limit for the kid from Lynchburg, Va.

The Capital One Bowl, Nebraska vs. South Carolina

In what should be one of the better bowl games of the 2011 season, the Huskers and Cocks will feature two successful rushing attacks against two stingy defenses.

From a Heisman potential standpoint, there will be at least two guys on the field (and South Carolina’s Marcus Lattimore on the sidelines) in Orlando who will have their name thrown around in 2012.

Taylor Martinez, QB, So., Nebraska: If Nebraska can take the big step from contender to champion, then it’s easy to argue that one of the Huskers offensive leaders will be in the Heisman mix. Martinez has shown flashes of brilliance in his first two seasons, and if a Big Ten title were combined with continued maturity, then he could be in New York next December.

Rex Burkhead, RB, Jr., Nebraska: Burkhead was Nebraska’s leading rusher in 2011 (1,268 yards and 15 TDs on 261 carries).  If Burkhead opts to stay for his senior season and the Cornhuskers win big, then suddenly, he’s one of the top candidates.

The Gator Bowl, Ohio State vs. Florida

The Gator Bowl will be far more than Urban Meyer’s future pitted against his victorious past…it’s a clash of two struggling 6-6 teams who are used to better postseason spots and more wins.

Yes, one team will walk away with their first losing season in decades, while the other will try to forget the 7-6 finish that upset their otherwise shiny apple cart.

You have to figure that with the rich talent pool between Florida and Ohio State that future candidates for a wide array of honors will be all over the field, but in terms of a 2012 Heisman hopeful, we’ll stick with just one guy.

Braxton Miller, QB, Fr., Ohio State: Young Miller and Coach Meyer might wind up being one of the most perfect coach/QB combinations in history. Yes, combine the athletic ability and shades of brilliance of Miller, the experience and offensive approach of Meyer and a heap of Buckeye victories, and you’ve got a Heisman cocktail.

And if the bartender doesn’t serve this concoction up in 2012, check the menu again in 2013.

The Insight Bowl, Iowa vs. Oklahoma

Preseason No. 1 Oklahoma will clash with rebuilding Iowa in what should be an Insight Bowl battle decided by who can slash whose patchy pass defense.

Here’s who to check out in terms of Heisman aspirants.

James Vandenberg, QB, Jr., Iowa: Vandenberg might be a long shot in ’12, but remember that this is a guy who threw for 2,806 yards, 23 TDs and only six picks in 2011. If Iowa can put itself back in to position to eclipse the 10-win mark in 2012 and other candidates tank (especially late), look for Vandenberg to make a move.

Marcus Coker, RB, So., Iowa:  Coker’s case is similar to that of Vandenberg, only he’s younger. Coker ran for 1,384 yards and 15 scores in 2011 and is promising enough to watch for the next two seasons.

Blake Bell, QB, Fr., Oklahoma: The heir apparent to the Sooner QB fortune, Bell may not see the field in the Insight Bowl, but if Landry Jones opts to go pro, then look for Bell to be the next best thing since Josh Heupel. Bell’s a double threat beast who, if stays healthy, will be sitting in the front row in New York within the next three years.

The TicketCity Bowl, Penn State vs. Houston

Back when the TicketCity Bowl was conceived (in love) as a postseason game to fill the historic confines of the Cotton Bowl, it would have been hard to imagine a more intriguing matchup than 2011 offers.

Yes, it’s emotionally beleaguered Penn State, who has withstood an unfathomable amount of  off-field drama, vs. Houston, who was one game away from taking the C-USA to its first ever BCS bid.

When you pull the obvious cover off this game, it’s the History Channel (Penn State’s scanty offense and stingy defense) vs. the Sci-Fi Channel (Houston’s all-out offensive attack).

And, at the end of the day it’s nice to talk about football and mention an up-and-coming Penn State guy who gets it done on the field.

Silas Redd, RB, So., Penn State: Regardless of the ultimate direction of Penn State football, Redd led the Nittany Lions in rushing in 2011 as a sophomore, and his 1,188 yards and seven scores were the highlight of an otherwise lackluster offensive attack.

If PSU can bounce back and continue to play high-caliber football, then look for Redd to be a candidate for a slew of awards and a long shot for a Heisman.

The Rose Bowl, Wisconsin vs. Oregon

The “Granddaddy of them all” is never short on star power, and the 2012 edition will be no exception, as talent packs the fields while football enthusiasts pack the grandstands.

Both Wisconsin and Oregon are “run centric” squads, so it’s no surprise that the Rose Bowl’s Heisman hopefuls are both rushing prodigies.

James White RB, So., Wisconsin: The second half of the dynamic Badger rushing duo of Montee Ball and James White, White ran for over 1,000 yards in his freshman season and racked up over 600 yards in 2011. If Wisconsin can continue its dominance in the Big Ten and White gets handed the pill a few more times in 2012, then look for him to be in the mix.

De’Anthony Thomas, RB, Fr. Oregon: Thomas looks to carry the mantle of the next jack of all trades on a speedy, winning Oregon football team. Thomas is explosive on the ground, on returns and as a receiver; if he can stay healthy, he may be the first Duck to win the Heisman.

The Chick-fil-a Bowl, Auburn vs. Virginia

In what might become a battle in the trenches for the ages, the 2011 Chick-fil-a Bowl could be a sleeper in terms of great bowl matchups.

Though Virginia is as “up and comer” as it gets, the legitimate ’12 Heisman candidates will be on Auburn’s side of the ball.

Michael Dyer, RB, So., Auburn: Though reports currently indicate that Dyer’s indefinite suspension will prevent him from playing in the Chick-fil-a Bowl, if Dyer can get out and then stay out of trouble, he has all the right stuff to make a Heisman run. 

In 2011, Dyer tacked on 1,243 yards and 10 scores to his 1,093-yard, five TD performance in 2010, which makes you believe that if he can find his way back to the field, he will only get better, especially as Auburn matures once again.

Kiehl Frazier, QB, Fr., Auburn: Frazier has all the components necessary to make a stunning charge out of the gates in 2012. It is unknown how Auburn OC Gus Malzhan’s departure (to Arkansas State) will affect the offensive fortunes of Auburn and Frazier, but if the Tigers are back in the SEC mix next season, the very talented and oh-so-young QB will be a frontrunner.

The Orange Bowl, West Virginia vs. Clemson

In a matchup of two eerily similar teams, the 2012 Orange Bowl could simply erupt from an offensive standpoint.

And so it’s no surprise that the two Heisman applicants in balmy Miami this blessed January are from the respective Tiger and Mountaineer offenses.

Sammy Watkins, WR, Fr. Clemson: The speedy Sammy Watkins did it all in his freshman season. He caught 77 passes for 1,153 yards and 11 TDs, rushed for 229 yards and racked up 695 yards on returns.

Watkins' potential Heisman candidacy will be all about staying healthy and keeping Clemson in the winning mode.

Geno Smith, QB, Jr. West Virginia: Geno Smith threw for 3,978 yards, 25 TDs and only seven picks in his first year in coach Dana Holgorsen’s offense, and given another year to air it out, Smith is one of the most realistic hopefuls on our list.

Bonus points go to Smith if West Virginia is forced to stick around for another season in the Big East.

If this scenario plays out, look for Smith’s fortunes to be improved with a bag full of wins, a plausible conference championship and the exposure that only an impending trip to the BCS can bring.

In plain English, the Heisman is easier to win when you’re not playing Oklahoma, Texas and Oklahoma State (and I’ll add Texas Tech to satisfy the homer that lives deep in my heart).

The Cotton Bowl, Kansas State vs. Arkansas

The 2012 Cotton Bowl serves up one of the more fascinating matchups in the current bowl-a-rama, pitting the rushing Wildcats against the air attack of the Hogs in what will no doubt come down to who can stop who.

These are two great football teams who, minus one 2011 loss, would have been in, at minimum, a BCS bowl.

Collin Klein, QB, Jr., Kansas State: Perhaps the leading candidate for the “unsung hero” award for 2011, Klein went to the air and then the ground to lead the Wildcats to a shocking 10-2 mark and second-place finish in the stacked Big 12.

Klein’s prospects to be a legitimate Heisman contender mirror those of Baylor’s Robert Griffin III in 2010; you’ve just got to keep winning, lots.

Knile Davis, RB, Jr. Arkansas: Davis may well be the best player on the sidelines of this year’s Cotton Bowl, and if he can come back healthy in 2012, the sky is literally the limit.  The Razorbacks are in a position to help Davis out with more wins, and if he is 100 percent next season, a Heisman run is very possible.

The Outback Bowl, Michigan State vs. Georgia

In perhaps the best bowl game (at least on paper) in the entire slew of 2011-12 contests, Michigan State and Georgia will square off featuring two of the best defenses in the country.

Yes, it’s the No. 9 defense in the land (MSU) clashing with the No. 17 “D” (Georgia).

And so, in the spirit of shutting the opponent down, let’s mention the Bulldog QB because we all know the Heisman is not a defensive award.

Aaron Murray, QB, So. Georgia: After Georgia dropped the first two games of 2011 and Mark Richt almost lost his job, Murray lost some momentum in terms of national hype.

But, after reeling off 10 straight victories and looking down the barrel of a 2012 season with a boat load of returning talent, Murray may be the QB to watch in next season’s race to the coveted bronze statuette.

Murray was 218-of-371 for 2,861 yards, 33 TDs and 12 picks in 2011, making 2012 look pretty darn tasty.

The BCS National Championship, LSU vs. Alabama

There will no doubt be an overabundance of NFL-caliber talent on the field for the 2011-12 BCS National Championship in New Orleans on Jan. 9, but really, only one guy is presently in the 2012 Heisman conversation.

Tyrann Mathieu, CB, So., LSU: The Honey Badger is the first guy in years that made us all believe that a defensive guy could be a realistic Heisman candidate. 

For this daydream to actually become a reality, two key things must happen in 2012.

First, LSU MUST be part of, at minimum, the SEC title conversation, and then secondly, Mathieu has to steal balls and return kicks at such an alarming rate that he is ultimately impossible to ignore.