The window of opportunity is closing for these Heisman candidates to show what they are really made of. Season is coming to a close and these exciting games could be the defining factor on the person winning the Heisman. So these last couple weeks are more important than ever for Heisman candidates trying to get a chance to hoist the Heisman.1. Vince Young, QB, Texas, Jr.
Vince has proven to me that he can do it all and is determined to silence all critics. The ones who said Young can’t throw the ball well are quieted. Vince is putting up consistent numbers every week which to me is very important. I think to win the Heisman you have to be consistent on a week to week basis. I think it’s one of the most important factors in winning the Heisman. Last Week, Vince threw for 281 yards and 4 TD’s. People are quick to put Bush at number one without looking at the season as a whole.
2. Reggie Bush, RB, USC, Jr.
Reggie is atop many Heisman boards right now but I think unrightfully so. I think after Reggie’s ridiculous game, people of completely forgotten what he’s done the past few games; diddly. All though he did a great job last week, I think if he really wants to get to the top and stay there, he is going to have to have these kinds of games consistently. It’s a little too late for that though. As I have said before, Reggie had an unbelievable game last week. He rushed for 294 yards, caught three balls for 68 yards, and returned kicks for 151 yards for a total of 2 TD’s.
3. Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame, Jr.
Brady has broken another Notre Dame passing record. Last week he broke the record for career passing yards having a career total of 7,618 yards. Brady has broken a bunch of Notre Dame passing records and could become one of the notorious passers in Notre Dame history. Last week, he passed for 270 yards 2 TD’s and no picks. I put him over Matt Leinart because he has passed the ball better and been more efficient. Just look at the stats. Brady Quinn could be leading his team to a BCS bowl for the first time and a long time and I think that should be taken into account when you determine what Brady has done for the Fighting Irish.
4. Matt Leinart, QB, USC, Sr.
Matt has had an up and down season this year in pursuing the Heisman. One week he will look like the Heisman winner and the next week he will play like a nervous freshman. Last week, Matt Leinart played solidly throwing for 200 yards and 1 TD while being overshadowed by his teammate Reggie Bush. This next game against UCLA could make or break USC’s threepeat dreams along with Matt Leinart’s Heisman dreams. He is going to have to play amazing if he wants to get past the Reggie Bush hype and still be a Heisman contender. Everything is riding on this next game and I’m sure it’s going to be very fun to watch.
5. Jerome Harrison, RB, Washington State, Sr.
I was really stuck on who I should pick for the number 5 spot in this watch. It came down to Jerome Harrison and Michael Robinson and sorry Penn State fans, I picked Harrison. In the latter part of the season, Harrison just burst onto the scene and really made a name for himself. Between him and M-Rob, it really could go either way but I picked Jerome Harrison because of what he has done for an otherwise sub-par Washington State team. Last week, he closed out his season with 207 yards on 36 rushes for one TD and 5 passes for 40 yards. Jerome has made himself and elite running back in the NCAA. Jerome may end out his season with a trip to New York and a chance at winning the Heisman Trophy.
Outside looking in:
Michael Robinson, QB, Penn State, Sr.
Michael Robinson showed his true Heisman colors last week but I’m afraid it’s a little too late for that. He passed for 105 yards for 1 TD and rushed 13 times for 90 yards and 1 TD to beat Michigan State and clinch a BCS berth. Michael Robinson has led a young offense throughout the season and it could all pay off in the BCS bowl they could play in. Penn State fans should pray every night that Robinson gets a few votes and get a trip to the athletic center in NYC.
10 replies on “Heisman Watch 10th Edition”
Not impressed.. Vince Young certainly didn’t do much to impress the voters against Texas A&M (153 yards passing). This is of course the same Texas A&M team that came in ranked 117th in Division I in pass defense. Texas won becuase of their run game, just like they have all year.
the fact that he was sulking on the sidelines about his individual performance and shot at the heisman despite the fact that Texas was winning didn’t do him any good with the voters either.
Rivalry games bring out the best in both teams. Yes they may have been 117 against the pass but that almost all goes away in a rivalry game. And about him sulking, I don’t think it was his Heisman chances he was sulking about, I think it was just the fact he was playing not at the level he wanted to be. He’s a good kid and I don’t think he was being selfish in that situation.
Still not impressed… Texas wins games because they run the ball, period. They are second in the country in rushing, only behind Navy, a team woh isn’t exactly familiar with the forward pass. Here are some stats for you. A&M was giving up 318 yards a game in passing, yet your Heisman frontrunner could only pass for 162 yards? Last week the best player in college football ran for 294 yards against a team that was only giving up 117 a game. Fresno State was a top 30 team in run defense before that game, and they dropped all the way to number 43 because of it. Of course stats don’t matter as much as what my eyes tell me. Today I watched Vince Young get dominated by a sub par defense.
Sorry …but I’m back on the Bush bandwagon…500 TOTAL YARDS ARE YOU KIDDIN ME!??!!! Just hand him the award now.
Where is… Fresno State’s defense ranked in the country? Yea that’s what I thought. And guys, keep in mind that this article is for last week’s performance not this week.
Fresno State’s run defense… is ranked 43rd in the country. They were around number 30 before the USC game, as I said. That’s a lot better than DEAD LAST. What does it matter if you wrote the article about last week? We aren’t arguing with you, we are just stating why we think Reggie Bush should win.
It’s not… dead last. 119 would be dead last.
Inflated numbers Young’s numbers are seriously inflated this season — mostly b/c Texas runs up the score any chance it gets. Yes, USC can be accused of the same thing sometimes, especially against their first three opponents (Hawaii, 63-17; Arkansas, 70-17; and Oregon, 45-13) — but the Trojans haven’t been knuckleheads about it.
At least Pete Carroll knows when to sit Leinart and limit Bush when his team’s ahead and he might, to paraphrase TMQ, offend the football gods by keeping his best players in while running up the score. Beating Stanford 44-7, Carroll pulled Leinart after one series in the second half and sent in back up J.D. Booty (fab last name) to get some quality snaps under center. Also, Bush has been sharing the backfield with LenDale White, who’s had his second 1,000-yard season.
While it seems clear that without Young, the ‘Horns wouldn’t be in the running for the Rose Bowl, that doesn’t mean he should get the voters’ nod for the Heisman. Leinart’s numbers are better, and just because he’s one a Heisman already doesn’t mean he should be overlooked this year. But it’s Bush who’s the man this season — WAY better numbers than last season, when he almost upset his QB in the Heisman voting.
Inflated? — Vince usually sits out the last quarter and a half. If anything the opposite argument is pertinent here: USC needs Reggie Bush to win games (ie he has to stay in and be superman just to beat Fresno State, ND, etc.)