Author: Tyler Stearns


In what was supposed to be the year of the quarterback, this year’s Heisman race is evolving into something that few people expected. Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow were supposed to battle to join Archie Griffin as the only two-time winners of the Stiff-Arming statue; while Colt McCoy looked to win his first in his record setting career. Surprisingly, Toby Gerhart who was supposed to lead the upstart Cardinal to another solid season has wowed America with his power running style on his way to the top of the Heisman shortlist. Sam Bradford went down against BYU in Week 1, condemning both the Sooners’ and his season to historical afterthoughts. The Golden Child Tebow, has shown that Florida is not a one trick pony by putting up decent offensive numbers, but allowing the defense to secure the victories. Unfortunately, it also nixed any chance of a Heisman repeat. Thus, without the presence of two of the primary contenders, the door has opened for Mark Ingram, Gerhart and Ndamukong Suh to steal the spotlight. Heisman voters are now faced with the task of choosing a winner without a clear frontrunner in mind. I have broken down my top 5 with a nod to some of the overlooked players who were not invited to Times Square.

 

Toby Gerhart
From start to finish, the Stanford running back has shown that he is the best player in college football. The most telling statistic about Toby is that he averaged 155 yards and accounted for 10 touchdowns against ranked opponents. If you stretch that to include the contests against Cal and Notre Dame he averaged 160 and 18 touchdowns in his six most difficult contests. Of my top 3 finalists, he is the only player to play against more than 2 ranked opponents during the regular season. Pundits argue that in the Pac-10, Gerhart did not play the same type of defenses that Mark Ingram contended with every week, a claim that I won’t support. Understood that the SEC plays a much different style of defense that has stifled many an offense, but this should not count against Gerhart. A player can only perform up to the competition he faces and week and week out Gerhart dominated his opponents. Ingram should receive votes for playing the SEC, but Gerhart should not have votes taken away because he doesn’t. Gerhart has been the most consistent player in college football and because of that he deserves the Heisman trophy.

Mark Ingram
The Alabama sophomore has had a fantastic season for the #1 team in the country. He put up over 100 yards and 3 touchdowns in the SEC Championship game against then #1 and reigning national champion Florida. He has rushed for 1500 yards and has 18 total touchdowns. But at the end of the season in a rivalry game at Auburn he only went for 30 yards in a close win. Ingram is not as critical to his team’s success as Gerhart has been. He plays on one of the; if not the best defense in the country. I think that Ingram has been great and very impressive, but Gerhart is the most outstanding player in football this year.

Ndamukong Suh
If ever there was a year for a defensive lineman to win the Heisman Award, this is the year. Suh has dominated lines this year and is nearly unblockable. He sacked fellow Heisman contender Colt McCoy 4 ½ times and had 12 tackles in the Big 12 Championship. Suh has an impressive 23 TFL, 83 tackles, 12 sacks, 3 Blocked Kicks, 1 INT, and 10 Passes Deflected. He has been a huge part of Nebraska’s success, but I don’t seem him getting the votes to take down a Gerhart.

Colt McCoy
McCoy had a good season for the #2 team in the nation, but he owes much of the team’s success to his defense. He played poorly against his best competition and is lucky to have won the Big 12. Against Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout he had 127 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT; and in the Big 12 Championship, he had 184 yards and 3 INTs. That is not the mark of a Heisman winner in my mind.

Tim Tebow
Tebow is an impressive young man who has future outside of his football career, but being a finalist is a formality out of respect when other more deserving candidates are there. He has been much like McCoy this season where he had is worst games against the best competition. Part of his performance against LSU could be attributed to the concussion, and had he beaten Alabama maybe he moves up, but right now his statistics and performance are not worthy of a Heisman winner.

Honorable Mention:

Kellen Moore
3,325 Yards, 39 TDs, 3 INTs is hard to argue with, but with his only real competition coming in a victory against Oregon, strength of schedule keeps him out of contention.

Golden Tate
Tate has been the most exciting player in college football this season with almost 1500 receiving yards, 15 receiving TDs, and 18 total. However, with Notre Dame’s overall performance he is out of the contention.

C.J. Spiller
Over 2400 yards of total offense and 20 TDs are fantastic numbers, which I believe merit a spot as finalist. Probably the 3rd best offensive player in the nation after Gerhart and Ingram.