After current Packer and former Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson’s dominant performance against the Cowboys on Sunday, I began to wonder who would win College Football’s Most Recognizable Individual Award, otherwise known as the Heisman Trophy.
With dominant, former run-first programs such as Michigan and Nebraska switching to the spread offense, no defense is safe with quarterbacks slinging it around 50+ times a game. That has proved to be the case this decade as 8 out of the past 9 Heisman winners have been quarterbacks. That was a trend expected to continue this season as two former Heisman Trophy-winning QBs (Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford) returned, as well as the NCAA’s all-time leading winner, Colt McCoy of Texas.
However, the chances of a QB winning the Heisman are questionable as both Tebow and Bradford have battled injuries and McCoy has seen his numbers, while still good, slide a bit.
Mark. Ingram. Spells Underrated
Alabama sophomore RB Mark Ingram and Houston QB Case Keenum have both carried their respective offenses while Stanford RB Toby Gerhart has led a very dangerous Cardinal offense. Clemson’s senior RB C.J. Spiller has had big games against some tough defenses, including over 100 yards against #4 TCU in a 14-10 loss.
It is clear that this season has become more about defense and the running game as the majority of the best teams in the country (Florida, Alabama, TCU, Georgia Tech, Pitt, OSU) have used this as a road to prominence in 2009.
Lets take a closer look at the top 5 candidates (in order 1-5) for this season’s award:
RB MARK INGRAM, ALABAMA – 194 car 1297 yds 6.7 ypc 10 td, 25 rec 225 yds 3 td
• carried offense with little passing game, SEC title game (FLA) looms large, 5th in rushing in NCAA
RB TOBY GERHART, STANFORD – 262 car 1395 yds 5.3 ypc 19 td, 8 rec 87 yds 0 td
• big bruising back, huge games against USC and Oregon, 3rd in nation in rush yds, 2nd in TDs
QB TIM TEBOW, FLORIDA - 128 comp 198 att 64.6 pct 1730 yds 12 td 4 int, 171 rush 604 yds 10 td
• became SEC all-time TD leader, everyone knows what he can do
QB COLT MCCOY, TEXAS – 254 comp 351 att 72.4 pct 2628 yds 19 td 9 int, 81 rush 164 yds 1 td
• most wins by QB in FBS (D-1A) history, run/pass threat, extremely accurate, leads NCAA #2 off
RB C.J. SPILLER, CLEMSON - 153 car 836 yds 5.5 ypc 6 td, 24 rec 382 yds 4 td
• versatile and explosive-big play guy, lacks consistency but has had big games for ACC leader
Spiller runs smoother than a baby's ass
DARKHORSES: Kellen Moore, QB Boise St; Jordan Shipley, WR Texas; Case Keenum, QB Houston
