As Spring Football concludes and summer workouts begin, the Heisman buzz is soon to follow. College FootBlog takes a look at some of the early candidates that are on the watch list, along with a few things to look for this coming fall.
Splitting carries with teammate Trent Richardson will make winning a second Heisman Trophy difficult for Mark Ingram (google images)
1. Mark Ingram (Running Back/Alabama): Only one player in college football history has won two Heisman Trophies, but that is not the only thing Ingram has going against him. Expect Ingram to be even better in 2010 than he was last season, but his teammate Trent Richardson will also be bigger, stronger and faster as well. Although the tandem will likely be the best in all of college football and should put ‘Bama in the driver’s seat for a second straight BCS title, it will have a negative impact on the numbers for each talented back. An increased role for quarterback Greg McElroy and future first round wideout Julio Jones will also take precious yards away from last season’s Heisman winner.
3. Dion Lewis (Running Back/Pittsburgh): Lewis burst onto the scene as a freshman last season, racking up just under 1,800 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns. The talented back will have the benefit of running behind an offensive line which sports two fifth-year seniors and three juniors this fall, but the front five should expect opposing defenses to stack the box and make the new quarterback (sophomore Tino Sunseri or junior Pat Bostick) beat them through the air. Wideouts John Baldwin and Mike Shanahan are both 6’5″ and could help the passing game, which could, in turn, help open some running lanes for Lewis.
4. Terrelle Pryor (Quarterback/Ohio State): Ever since his highly publicized recruitment out of Jeannette High School in Pennsylvania, the athletic quarterback has generated huge expectations. After a slow start last season, Pryor finished strong and capped his season off as the Rose Bowl MVP. If he can continue to build from that and keep his Buckeyes in the National Title hunt, Pryor will get plenty of looks from Heisman voters this fall.
5. Jacquizz Rodgers (Running Back/Oregon State): Rodgers blew up last year, accounting for 1,440 yards rushing with 21 touchdowns, and he added another 522 yards receiving. It also helps that Oregon State has consistently been in the thick of the Pac 10 title the past couple of years. 2010 should be no different, and Rodgers will be a key reason why. Expect another huge year from the versatile running back, and he will have several opportunities to shine on national television, with games against TCU, Boise State, USC and the Civil War game against rival Oregon to finish the season.
6. John Clay (Running Back/Wisconsin): Unless you follow the Big Ten, there is a good chance you have overlooked the big back for the Badgers. Last season, Clay rushed for over 1,500 yards and an astounding 18 touchdowns, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Quarterback Scott Tolzien showed a much better command of the offense at season’s end, which will only help Clay in 2010. If Clay can stay healthy and produce in big games against Ohio State and Iowa this season, he could be the first Badger since Ron Dayne to make the trip to New York.
Others to keep an eye on include: Ryan Mallett (QB/Arkansas); Christian Ponder (QB/Florida State); Noel Devine(RB/West Virginia); Jacory Harris (QB/Miami); Jake Locker (QB/Washington)
Ryan Williams (Running Back-Virginia Tech)
Williams is a stud, and I think he will have another great year, but I think he’s going to be splitting carries with Darren Evans, and that could negatively impact his stats. If he can show out against Boise State, then people outside the ACC will take notice, and his name will definitely start showing up in the Heisman race.
i’ll agree to that.. VT needs to show why Boise State doesn’t deserve to be in a national final because tech this year has its best chance at a national title run since the vick and vick era’s
yes, they do. I also think that ‘Bama is getting all the hype for having their one-two punch at running back, but if Darren Evans looks as good as he did a couple years ago, VT will be right there with them. Teams stacked the box against Williams and dared T. Taylor to beat them, but Williams still got his yardage. That running game, an improved Taylor and Bud Foster coaching up the defense could put Va Tech in the thick of things in BCS season.
I’m not saying either will win, but not having OU HB DeMarco Murray or OU WR Ryan Broyles on your preseason list a little peculiar, especially Murray.
If Murray can stay healthy for a complete season, the sky is the limit for him. But that has been his issue throughout his career. I also agree with you that Broyles is a great receiver, but it is very difficult for wideouts to get into the Heisman race. The one thing he has going for him, though, is that Stoops uses him as a returner sometimes, too. If he can get a couple big returns, that will help him, but as solid as Jordan Shipley was last year both as a WR and returner, he never even got a sniff of the Heisman race last year. Thanks for the comment.
Wait, how many games has Murray actually missed due to injuries? I don’t get the whole “injury prone” thing with certain OU players. People said the same thing about Bradford last year, although he simply re-injured the same area…but that was the only time(s) he had been injured in his college career. Murray missed the last game of 07 after a knee injury, missed the last 2 of 08 and missed one last year. That’s not exactly missing lots of games due to injuries. Important ones? Sure, but that’s about it.
the important or big games are what determine the Heisman…just ask Mark Ingram. If he doesn’t go off in the SEC Championship, he probably finishes 3rd or 4th in the Heisman voting because he was nowhere in the Iron Bowl. The thing OU has going for them this year is that they have a couple non-conference games that should get some national TV time (FSU and Cincy). If they can beat Texas, that would give them the Big 12 Championship Game as well. I hate this time of year…can’t wait until two-a-days get going.
I think Landry Jones and Murray will be up for the Heisman when all is said and done. I also think Broyles will be up for the Biletnikoff award, but probably not the Heisman. Let’s not forget Ronnell Lewis up for the Butkus and various other awards
OU homer, are we? All joking aside, I agree that Jones and Murray will be solid, but Heisman may be a little much (although who would have thought that Bradford would have had the season he had as a freshman and sophomore?). If Murray could stay healthy, he would be one of the best backs in the country…the kid has another gear that even Big 12 DBs don’t have. The problem he’s run into is injuries, really since he stepped on campus. As for Ronnell Lewis, the kid is a man-child. I’m looking forward to watching him in person when I go to Norman for the FSU-OU game in September. Thanks for the comment.
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This may seem like a stretch to many, but a serious look should be taken at Jerrod Johnson from Texas A&M. He’s big, strong, and fast. He’s accurate and doesn’t turn the ball over. On top of all of that, he has as a bevy of offensive weapons and plays in the high-flying Big 12. Sounds like a Heisman winner in the making if you ask me.
It really depends on their record this season. I’m far from a Jimmy Clausen fan, but he should have at least made the trip to New York last year, but his team’s record is what kept him from that. If A&M can compete with Texas and OU for the Big 12 South title, people will have to consider him. Thanks for the response.
The Quizz Show will be a household term for all of college football this year. If Quizz and his brother James help the Beavers with a big win or two early there will be big hype for his campaign. The home schedule for the Beavs also helps and Reser Stadium looks to be a sellout this year as USC and Oregon come to town late. Have my tickets and am already pumped for the year!
I’m jealous of your tickets…those two games will be great games to watch, and the stadium will be rockin’ for each one. Thanks for the comment.
What about fsu’s christian ponder he threw for 2717 yards and didn’t even play the last three games of the season he’s an animal
Ponder is listed at the bottom with a few others to watch. I am also doing five different articles of Heisman Darkhorse candidates, and Ponder was the first one I featured. Check it out at http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwp.me%2FpC5Ih-6U&h=f5535 if you’re interested. If you take a look at that, you’ll see that not only do I agree with your point, but if a few things go his way, everyone will have to consider him a serious candidate. Thanks for the comment.
JACORY Harris Don’t sleep on him.If he takes care or the football.
taking care of the football is the big variable with Harris. But he was only a sophomore last season. If he improves his decision-maiking this season, look out.