Heisman Watch: Who's the favorite?

By Matt Smith

The College Football season is now through October and still, a clear cut favorite to win the Heisman Trophy has yet to emerge. It seems like the experts change their picks daily and this appears to be a race that is going to come down to the wire. I think people are playing themselves out of it, instead of stepping up and winning and I feel that the person that plays the not worst (as opposed to the best) will win the thing.
Here’s a look at the players that I feel are in the running heading into November:

Quarterbacks

Dennis Dixon, Oregon: Dixon hasn’t put up huge numbers, but he hasn’t had to. He manages the game perfectly and ranks sixth in the country in passing efficiency. He is completing nearly 70 percent of his passes, and though he has just 1,885 yards and 16 touchdowns, he has only thrown three interceptions and has also rushed for 492 yards and eight touchdowns.

Matt Ryan, Boston College: Even though he played his worst game of the season, Ryan is still going to come out of it smelling like roses. If you look at just the stats, 25-for-52 for 285 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions it seems very pedestrian. People are only going to remember that he was 11-for-19 for 184 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter as he led BC to a 14-10 win over Virginia Tech with two touchdowns late in the game. His stats overall are good with 2,433 yards, 19 TDs and 61 percent completions, but the 8-0 record is what is working best for his cause.

Colt Brennan, Hawaii: Had Brennan not missed a game with an injury, his stats would be somewhere around 3,200 yards and 30 touchdowns which would definitely strengthen his candidacy. He is still fourth in yards, tied for third in touchdown passes and seventh in efficiency. I think if Hawaii runs the table and Brennan puts up huge numbers they won’t have any chance but to invite him.

Andre Woodson, Kentucky: This was the media darling early in the year, but now that Kentucky has proven to be a middle of the pack top 25 team and not an elite top 10 team, people have fallen off the bandwagon. His stats are very good as he has 2,431 yards and 28 touchdowns but it would take Kentucky winning out and him playing well for him to get invited to the ceremony in New York.

Tim Tebow, Florida: Tebow’s chances are hurt by two things; the fact that he is a sophomore and Florida has three losses. Tebow has good stats and is a horse, throwing for nearly 2,000 yards and rushing for close to 600 more. He has 30 combined touchdowns and only three interceptions.

Brian Brohm, Louisville: Brohm has absolutely no chance because Louisville sucks, but it’s too bad. The senior is second in the NCAA in yards, tied for third in touchdowns and fifth in quarterback efficiency. If a couple of those close losses were wins, he would be in the discussion.

Graham Harrell, Texas Tech: He is regarded as a pure system quarterback, but I would be stupid not to at least mention him. He leads the nation in yards (3,979), TDs (35), completion percentage (72.8) and is fourth in efficiency.

Running Backs

Mike Hart, Michigan: Missing the second half of the Purdue game and then not playing at all against Illinois and Minnesota probably ruined his chances, but he is still a possibility if he plays huge down the stretch and if the Wolverines win the Big Ten.

Ray Rice, Rutgers: Rice is fourth in the NCAA with 1,141 yards and has scored 13 touchdowns. What’s most impressive about the junior is the fact that he totes the rock like a trooper, carrying the ball 234 times in eight games.

Matt Forte, Tulane: Forte has no chance, because he plays for the Green Wave, but I figured he should at least be in the discussion. He leads the NCAA with 1,539 yards and has not rushed for less than 200 yards in a game since September 29 against LSU. He had 73 yards in the game, averaging over four yards a carry but the Wave had to abandon the run to try and come back. He has rushed for over 300 yards twice.

Darren McFadden, Arkansas: He has just 993 yards and 11 touchdowns, but it’s hard to count him out because of what he is capable of. If Arkansas closes strong and he has a big game in the finale against LSU on the national stage, he has a chance.

Jonathan Stewart, Oregon: Maybe the most underrated running back in major college football. He is averaging nearly seven yards a carry and is well over 1,000 yards on only 156 carries.

Receivers

Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech: This guy’s stats are ridiculous. He has 100 catches and 1,451 yards to go with 18 touchdowns. Did I mention he’s a freshman? Did I mention he’s on pace for 133 catches, nearly 2,000 yards and 24 touchdowns? If he breaks Manny Hazard’s single-season of 142 catches, he has to be considered.

Jordy Nelson, Kansas State: You guys are probably thinking who? But Nelson is pretty legit, grabbing 76 balls for 1,008 yards and seven touchdowns.

The invitees: Dixon, Brennan and Ryan will all be invited and I think that Crabtree’s numbers are too much to ignore if he stays on pace, but being a freshman he is likely to be snubbed. I am not sure if a running back (or a fourth candidate) will be invited or is even in order, but whichever of the big three (Hart, Rice, McFadden) have a huge finish have a chance at getting the nod. A fourth quarterback could be invited and if so it will be Tebow or Woodson.