2009 Heisman Trophy discussion

[BB73]

Who can win it besides the returning top-3 of Bradford, McCoy and Tebow?

The other leading choices seem to be Jahvid Best of Cal, the USC QB Derby winner, Terrelle Pryor, and Pickles Clausen.

I don't understand how Fiu says that BQ wasn't a threat to win the award. If Troy hadn't played well and won the TSUN game, it could have happened.

cfn

Tim Tebow might be the odds on favorite to give his current Heisman a friend, Colt McCoy might be the winner if he can lead Texas to the national title game, and Sam Bradford will likely be a finalist, even if it'll take something extraordinary to win his second straight award. However, there's a great chance someone else will crash the party in New York in early December and be in the finalist mix. Here are the top Heisman candidates besides the Big Three.

Dez Bryant, WR Oklahoma State
Jahvid Best, RB California
Daryll Clark, QB Penn State

Jimmy Clausen, QB Notre Dame - Brady Quinn was a fringe Heisman candidate, but he was never really a threat to win the award even after all the team's success.

Max Hall, QB BYU

Mitch Mustain/Aaron Corp/Matt Berkeley, QB USC - John David Booty and Mark Sanchez were never in the Heisman hunt during their years, so it might not be a lock to assume the USC starting quarterback, whomever it is, will be an automatic candidate. That could all change on September 12th when the Trojans go to Columbus to play Ohio State. It?ll be a tough road to get to New York with back-to-back road games against Cal and Notre Dame, and another road date against Oregon, but the Trojans will almost certainly be the favorite in every game. Big stats would be nice, but just leading the way to an unbeaten season will likely mean a spot in New York for ? - That'll be the big question at USC this off-season with Mustain, Corp and top-recruit Berkeley all fighting for the job.

Terrelle Pryor, QB Ohio State - There's a reason the guy was the subject of all the scrutiny of the 2008 recruiting season. Pryor doesn?t have his top receivers (Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline) to throw to and he doesn't have Beanie Wells to hand off to, but that should only mean he gets the chances to do more on his own. He'll get more room to free-lance, even for a Jim Tressel team, and he'll get to run even more. Expect plenty of highlight moments and plenty of face time on SportsCenter, but as it is with all Heisman candidates, it's all about what he'll do in the big moments. If he's great against USC on September 12th and leads the way to a win, then it's Heisman spotlight time. He'll have one other huge national spotlight moment in early November at Penn State.

Todd Reesing, QB Kansas
Jevan Snead, QB Ole Miss
C.J. Spiller, RB Clemson


Cont'd ...

cfn.Other.Heisman.top-3

Q: Give your top three Heisman candidates other than the Big 3 (Tebow, Bradford, and McCoy).


Richard Cirminiello


A: 3. Terrelle Pryor, QB Ohio State or the USC starting quarterback ? Forgive me for being wishy-washy here, but the winning quarterback in the Trojan-Buckeye showdown in early September will instantly be in the Heisman hunt. It's late March and I could change my mind, but I think USC will win meaning Mitch Mustain, Aaron Corp, or Matt Berkeley, will likely become the household name. Even so, if Ohio State wins, it'll be because Pryor came up with a huge, career-defining game.

2. Dez Bryant, WR Oklahoma State - I'm predicting a huge year for the Cowboys with Bryant being the brightest star of the bunch. While wide receivers don't win the Heisman, Bryant could be a finalist if he comes up with 20+ touchdowns and rocks in the big games against Oklahoma and Texas.

1. Jimmy Clausen, QB Notre Dame - Yeah, I have fully chugged the Kool-Aid. With that receiving corps and that favorable schedule, Clausen could make a huge jump up in his consistency and overall production. If he can pull out a win against USC in the middle of the season, watch how fast everyone jumps on the bandwagon.


Matthew Zemek


A: This is an exercise akin to picking the three No. 10 seeds who will reach the Final Four. At any rate...

3) Jeremiah Masoli, Oregon. Clearly, the West Coast's top Heisman candidate. If his whole 2009 is similar to his Holiday Bowl performance against Oklahoma State, look out.

2) Julio Jones, Alabama. The young man simply makes plays, and he's only going to get wiser as he goes along.

1) Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State. If he doesn't run out of bounds two yards short of the sticks in open space, he'll be fine. This is the one "non-Big Three" Heisman candidate who can't be compared to a 10-seed. More like a 3-seed...

[Buckeye86]

There are two people who I won't be rooting for, that's for damn sure.

[808 Buck]

Just my opinion, but McKnight is a bigger threat than any of the SC QB candidates. With a veteran O-line returning and a new QB, I would expect a heavy dose of the run game, at least early in the year. Might also see screens and some short stuff to get the ball in his hands. There was also mention of McKnight running some wildcat (check Methomps post in the SC game thread). Either way, the showdown in Columbus could push someone (Pryor, any SC QB, McKnight) into the Heisman race.

[OregonBuckeye]

Originally Posted by 808 Buck

Just my opinion, but McKnight is a bigger threat than any of the SC QB candidates. With a veteran O-line returning and a new QB, I would expect a heavy dose of the run game, at least early in the year. Might also see screens and some short stuff to get the ball in his hands. There was also mention of McKnight running some wildcat (check Methomps post in the SC game thread). Either way, the showdown in Columbus could push someone (Pryor, any SC QB, McKnight) into the Heisman race.

Unless something changes, McKnight will be lucky to break 1,000 yards. SC is still loaded at RB and I don't see why they wouldn't still do the RB by committee approach.

[Oneshot]

McKnight? The guy is a poor man's Jahvid Best. No way he smells the Heisman.

[Buckeneye]

Pretty sure Sanchez was being pimped pretty hard for the Heisman last year after we faced them, not sure why he's saying Booty or Sanchez were'nt in the hunt, because they legitmately were.


Unless Pryor has a stellar year, hands down my vote goes to McCoy, he carries that team like no other.

[OregonBuckeye]

Originally Posted by Buckeneye

Pretty sure Sanchez was being pimped pretty hard for the Heisman last year after we faced them, not sure why he's saying Booty or Sanchez were'nt in the hunt, because they legitmately were.


Unless Pryor has a stellar year, hands down my vote goes to McCoy, he carries that team like no other.

McCoy was robbed last year, IMO. Bradford wasn't much different than a system QB like at Texas Tech. It should've come down to Tebow and McCoy.

Originally Posted by Oneshot

McKnight? The guy is a poor man's Jahvid Best. No way he smells the Heisman.

I like Best but you're being a bit of a homer. Jahvid piled up a lot of his stats against the bad teams(300 yards against the worst team in the nation and 200 against the second worst, Washington and Washington State) and he got shut down by USC and Maryland. McKnight has had some big games in big time games(Rose Bowl, Ohio State).

[southcampus]

Originally Posted by OregonBuckeye

McCoy was robbed last year, IMO. Bradford wasn't much different than a system QB like at Texas Tech. It should've come down to Tebow and McCoy.

My thoughts exactly. That was the most shocked I have even been from Heisman results.

[powerlifter]

Originally Posted by OregonBuckeye

McCoy was robbed last year, IMO. Bradford wasn't much different than a system QB like at Texas Tech. It should've come down to Tebow and McCoy.



I like Best but you're being a bit of a homer. Jahvid piled up a lot of his stats against the bad teams(300 yards against the worst team in the nation and 200 against the second worst, Washington and Washington State) and he got shut down by USC and Maryland. McKnight has had some big games in big time games(Rose Bowl, Ohio State).

There is more then a small difference,between Harrell and Bradford. I think any qb coming from Oklahoma generally has the "system qb" label regardless of any accomplishment he could ever achieve. He will be a very high pick in next year's draft..That's something you can't say for Harrell.

I agree about Mcknight. Although,he won't be in the heisman race,he is a stud.

[OregonBuckeye]

Originally Posted by powerlifter

There is more then a small difference,between Harrell and Bradford. I think any qb coming from Oklahoma generally has the "system qb" label regardless of any accomplishment he could ever achieve. He will be a very high pick in next year's draft..That's something you can't say for Harrell.

Bradford has the better physical tools and is a better QB than Harrell, IMO, but my point is he played in a very QB-friendly offense behind an NFL OL and with NFL receivers and backs. I think jwinslow made the point that Colt McCoy could've done what Bradford did at OU but Bradford likely couldn't have done what McCoy did at UT and I completely agree.

McCoy had a better year and is a better player. Maybe not as an NFL prospect, but as a college QB.

[powerlifter]

Originally Posted by OregonBuckeye

Bradford has the better physical tools and is a better QB than Harrell, IMO, but my point is he played in a very QB-friendly offense behind an NFL OL and with NFL receivers and backs. I think jwinslow made the point that Colt McCoy could've done what Bradford did at OU but Bradford likely couldn't have done what McCoy did at UT and I completely agree.

McCoy had a better year and is a better player. Maybe not as an NFL prospect, but as a college QB.

Possibly so...At the end of the year Colt could be the better nfl prospect as well..hard to tell right now though.

[TheIronColonel]

Honestly, it's hard to give a fair shake to either guy. That whole conference had such terrible defense that the stats were ridiculously inflated. I think I like McCoy better, though, due to the disparity in talent that surrounds them. However, I think Tebow, despite the 2-time Heisman bias, is the pre-season favorite.

[Buckeneye]

I actually think its McCoy as the pre-season favorite myself...

[HailToMichigan]

If I took a snap under center for USC, is that enough to make me a top-five Heisman candidate? Or do I have to throw a pass first?

[NFBuck]

Originally Posted by 808 Buck

Just my opinion, but McKnight is a bigger threat than any of the SC QB candidates. With a veteran O-line returning and a new QB, I would expect a heavy dose of the run game, at least early in the year. Might also see screens and some short stuff to get the ball in his hands. There was also mention of McKnight running some wildcat (check Methomps post in the SC game thread). Either way, the showdown in Columbus could push someone (Pryor, any SC QB, McKnight) into the Heisman race.

I thought McKnight was on the precipice of being the next great USC back early last year, but health issues and their depth held him back.

Originally Posted by OregonBuckeye

Unless something changes, McKnight will be lucky to break 1,000 yards. SC is still loaded at RB and I don't see why they wouldn't still do the RB by committee approach.

Agreed. Their depth is McKnight's biggest obstacle.

Originally Posted by Buckeneye

Pretty sure Sanchez was being pimped pretty hard for the Heisman last year after we faced them, not sure why he's saying Booty or Sanchez were'nt in the hunt, because they legitmately were.

Unless Pryor has a stellar year, hands down my vote goes to McCoy, he carries that team like no other.

I remember Booty getting preseason hype in '06, but that died down pretty early on. He never approached the level that Palmer or Leinart reached before him.


Going in, I say it's Bradford, McCoy, Tebow then the field. I know he's a bit of a punchline, but don't overlook Clausen. ND is stacked at WR and should have solid OL play. If they play decent enough ball and Jimmah puts up Quinn-like numbers, the media will be fellating him.

I'm waiting for the USC game to enter TP into the discussion. If he has a big game and tOSU pulls that off, or it's a tightly contested game because of TP's heroics, he'll be thrust into the discussion.