As far ahead as Chase Daniel was just a few short weeks ago, that's how far ahead Colt McCoy is now, and more. The fact that McCoy has head-to-head wins against the #2 and #3 candidates basically gives him a "cushion" to hold the lead even if Texas loses a game. His performance last week against Missouri was simply astonishing: 29 of 32 passing. Let's stop there, because that's all you need to see. To have over 90% completions against a top 25 team when throwing more than 30 attempts is phenomenal. As is having an 81% completion rate past the mid-season mark. Even Tim Tebow has endorsed Colt McCoy's candidacy, which is as significant as Colin Powell endorsing Barack Obama.
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The next three guys are playing for second place. Sam Bradford has great numbers and it's questionable whether his sophomore status hurts him much, but he looks like a solid #2 right now—anyone who deposes McCoy somehow will draft right past Bradford in all likelihood. And clearly Chase Daniel has two "strikes" against him now, referring to last week's baseball analogy, but like Bradford, the loss to McCoy's team makes it hard to pass him under normal circumstances. Many are counting Daniel out completely, but the Heisman crowd is fickle like that. Even in the two losses he threw 75% completions and over 300 yards. I'm certain you'll see Daniel in New York barring a collapse by the Tigers. Add Tim Tebow, and this week's top four may be the entire New York lineup. If he finishes strong as expected, Tebow will be in the top five, and not inviting him to the ceremony would be unthinkable. However strong he does finish, he won't win it again. He's currently on track to have about half as many touchdowns as he did last season.
Normally five players are invited to New York, sometimes four, give or take, but assuming it's five then we're at a loss right now as to who else currently belongs. #5 Mark Sanchez and #6 Knowshon Moreno move up a spot each to fill the void left by Max Hall's stumble. Not that Sanchez and Moreno didn't play great games last week: Sanchez threw five touchdown passes (against Washington State, okay) and Moreno rushed for 172 yards. But neither has been consistent, and while one of them could end up in the top five it's not likely without a spectacular finish.
Max Hall, as mentioned, falls from #5 to #7. After being just on the verge of joining the big boys' club, Hall's BYU lost, which shattered his candidacy. Throwing zero touchdowns and 2 interceptions on barely 50% completions didn't help his case. His odds of winning fell to near zero, and to get back in good graces he would need to load up on the stats the next few weeks, then lead his team to an upset of undefeated Utah in the final game. Short of that, he likely slides out of the top ten.
- (4) Colt McCoy, Texas
24-29 83% 222yd 3TD 0int;12rsh 103yd 8.6av 1TD 0fmb (FLAtl 52-10)
20-29 69% 282yd 4TD 1int; 5rsh 8yd 1.6av 0TD 0fmb (@UTEP 42-13)
19-23 83% 329yd 4TD 0int; 8rsh 83yd 10av 1TD 0fmb (Rice 52-10)
17-19 90% 185yd 3TD 0int; 9rsh 84yd 9.3av 2TD 0fmb (Ark 52-10)
23-30 77% 262yd 2TD 2int;11rsh 39yd 3.5av 0TD 0fmb (@Colo 38-14)
28-35 80% 277yd 1TD 0int;14rsh 31yd 2.2av 0TD 0fmb (=OK 45-35)
29-32 91% 337yd 2TD 0int;11rsh 23yd 2.0av 2TD 0fmb (Mizzou56-31)
160-197 81% 1894yd 19TD 3int;70rsh 371yd 5.3av 6TD 0fmb - (2) Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
17-22 77% 183yd 2TD 0int; 0rsh 0yd 0av 0TD 0fmb (Chatt 57-2)
29-38 76% 395yd 5TD 2int; 3rsh 3yd 1av 0TD 0fmb (Cincy 52-26)
18-21 86% 304yd 5TD 0int; 1rsh 1yd 1av 1TD 0fmb (@Wash 55-14)
19-34 56% 411yd 4TD 0int; 4rsh -31yd -8av 0TD 0fmb (TCU 35-10)
23-31 74% 372yd 2TD 1int; 2rsh 4yd 2av 1TD 0fmb (@Bayl 49-17)
28-39 72% 387yd 5TD 2int; 8rsh -5yd -.6av 0TD 0fmb (L=Tex 45-35)
36-53 68% 468yd 3TD 0int; 4rsh 14yd 3.5av 0TD 0fmb (wKU 45-31)
170-238 71% 2520yd 26TD 5int;22rsh -14yd -.6av 2TD 0fmb - (1) Chase Daniel, Missouri
26-45 58% 359yd 3TD 1int; 9rsh 46yd 5.1av 0TD 0fmb (=ILL 52-42)
16-17 94% 245yd 3TD 0int; 0rsh 0yd 0.0av 0TD 0fmb (SEMoSt 52-3)
23-28 82% 405yd 4TD 0int; 1rsh 12yd 12 av 0TD 0fmb (Nev 69-17)
36-43 84% 439yd 2TD 0int; 4rsh 16yd 4.0av 0TD 0fmb (Buff. 42-21)
18-23 78% 253yd 3TD 0int; 1rsh 0yd 0.0av 0TD 0fmb (@Neb 52-17)
39-52 75% 390yd 1TD 3int; 7rsh 46yd 6.6av 0TD 0fmb (L OKst28-23)
31-41 76% 318yd 2TD 1int; 4rsh -8yd -2av 1TD 0fmb (L Tex 56-31)
189-249 76% 2373yd 18TD 5int;26rsh 112yd 4.3av 1TD 0fmb - (3) Tim Tebow, Florida - idle last week
9-14 64% 137yd 1TD 0int; 9rsh 37yd 4.1av 0TD 0fmb (Haw 56-10)
21-35 60% 256yd 2TD 0int;13rsh 55yd 4.2av 0TD 0fmb (Miami 26-3)
8-15 53% 96yd 2TD 0int;12rsh 26yd 2.2av 0TD 0fmb (@Tenn 30-6)
24-38 63% 319yd 1TD 0int;15rsh 7yd 0.5av 2TD 1fmb (L Miss31-30)
17-26 65% 217yd 2TD 1int;12rsh 32yd 2.7av 0TD 0fmb (@Ark 38-7)
14-21 67% 210yd 2TD 0int;12rsh 22yd 1.8av 1TD 1fmb (LSU 51-31)
93-149 62% 1235yd 10TD 1int;73rsg 179yd 2.5av 3TD 2fmb
- (6) Mark Sanchez, USC
26-35 74% 338yd 3TD 1int; 1rsh 6yd 6.0av 0TD 0fmb (@VA 52-7)
17-28 61% 172yd 4TD 1int; 2rsh -10yd -10av 0TD 0fmb (OSU 35-3)
18-29 62% 227yd 3TD 1int; 4rsh 7yd 1.8av 0TD 0fmb (L@OreSt27-21)
19-28 68% 332yd 3TD 0int; 4rsh -4yd -1av 0TD 1fmb (Ore 44-10)
13-26 50% 179yd 1TD 3int; 5rsh -4yd -.8av 1TD 1fmb (@ASU 28-0)
15-20 75% 253yd 5TD 0int; 1rsh 3yd 3.0av 0TD 0fmb (@WashSt 69-0)
108-166 65% 1501yd 19TD 6int;17rsh -10yd -.6av 1TD 2fmb - (7) Knowshon Moreno, Georgia
8rsh 59yd 7.4av 3TD 0fmb; 2rec 53yd 0TD; 0 rtYd (Ga.S 45-21)
18rsh 168yd 9.3av 3TD 0fmb; 3rec 30yd 0TD; 0 rtYd (C Mich 56-17)
20rsh 79yd 4.0av 1TD 0fmb; 2rec 13yd 0TD;32 rtYd (@SCaro 14-7)
23rsh 149yd 6.5av 2TD 0fmb; 0rec 0yd 0TD;-2 rtYd (@ASU 27-10)
9rsh 34yd 3.8av 1TD 0fmb; 3rec 14yd 0TD; 0 rtYd (L Ala41-30)
27rsh 101yd 3.7av 0TD 0fmb; 1rec 14yd 0TD; 0 rtYd (Tenn 26-14)
23rsh 172yd 7.5av 1TD 0fmb; 1rec 10yd 0TD; 0 rtYd (Vandy 24-14)
128rsh 762yd 6.0av 11TD 0fmb;12rec 134yd 0TD;30 rtYd - (5) Max Hall, BYU
34-41 83% 486yd 2TD 0int; 3rsh 4yd 0.8av 1TD 2fmb (UNI 41-17)
30-41 73% 338yd 3TD 1int; 0rsh 0yd 0.0av 0TD 0fmb (@Wash 28-27)
27-35 77% 271yd 7TD 1int; 3rsh 12yd 4.0av 0TD 0fmb (UCLA 59-0)
16-27 59% 189yd 3TD 0int; 0rsh 0yd 0.0av 0TD 0fmb (Wy 44-0)
23-37 62% 303yd 2TD 2int; 4rsh 1yd 0.3av 0TD 0fmb (@UTst 34-14)
22-34 65% 258yd 3TD 0int; 4rsh 14yd 5.0av 0TD 0fmb (NNex 21-3)
22-42 52% 274yd 0TD 2int;10rsh-24yd -2av 1TD 2fmb (L@TCU 32-7)
174-257 68% 2119yd 20TD 6int;23rsh 8yd 0.3av 2TD 4fmb - (10) Graham Harrell, T. Tech
43-58 74% 536yd 2TD 1int; 2rsh 2yd 0.8av 1TD 0fmb (EWash49-24)
19-46 41% 297yd 1TD 2int; 2rsh -2yd -1av 0TD 0fmb (@Nev 35-19)
31-48 65% 418yd 5TD 0int; 3rsh -7yd -2av 0TD 0fmb (SMU 43-7)
27-34 79% 322yd 4TD 0int; 1rsh 1yd 1.0av 0TD 0fmb (Mass 56-14)
38-51 75% 454yd 6TD 0int; 1rsh 1yd 1.0av 1TD 0fmb (@KSt 58-28)
20-25 80% 284yd 2TD 0int; 1rsh 1yd 1.0av 1TD 0fmb (Neb 37-31ot)
44-56 79% 450yd 3TD 2int; 3rsh 4yd 1.3av 2TD 0fmb (@TexAM43-25)
222-318 70% 2761yd 23TD 5int;13rsh 0yd 0.0av 5TD 0fmb
- (8) Javon Ringer, MichSt: 16rsh 67yd 4.2ave 0TD 0fmb; 6rec 19yd 0TD (L OSU 45-7)
season: 263rsh 1179yd 4.5av 14TD 2fmb; 15rec 95yd 0TD;224 rtYd - (9) Chris Wells, Ohio State: 31rsh 140yd 4.5av 2TD 0fmb; 0rec 0yd 0TD (Mich St. 45-7)
season: 102rsh 638yd 6.3av 4TD 2fmb; 6rec 13yd 0TD - (11) Pat White, WVA: 75-103 73% 590yd 9TD 1int; 70rsh 428yd 6.1av 2TD 1fmb
- (14) Daryll Clark, Penn St: 114-180 63% 1531yd 11TD 2int;47rsh 190yd 4.0av 8TD 2fmb
- (13) M. Crabtree, T. Tech: 51rec 724yd 12TD 0fmb; 1rsh 3yd 3.0av 0TD; 50 rtYD
- (12) Jeremy Maclin, MO: 47rec 666yd 5TD 1fmb; 15rsh 63yd 4.2av 1TD; 625rtYd 1TD
- (15) Donald Brown, UConn: 179rsh 1067yd 6.0av 12TD 1fmb; 9rec 50yd 0TD
- (24) Dez Bryant, OkSt: 45rec 809yd 11TD 1fmb; 372rtYd 2TD
- (17) Juice Williams, Ill: 123-205 60% 1948yd 16TD 7int; 109rsh 475yd 4.4ave 5TD 2fmb
- (16) Charles Scott, LSU: 99rsh 631yd 6.3av 8TD 1fmb; 5rec 45yd 0TD
- (19) Zac Robinson, OkSt: 94-134 70% 1488yd 14TD 4int;73rsh 249yd 5TD 3fmb
- (25) David Johnson, Tulsa: 138-200 69% 2487yd 31TD 8int;38rsh 90yd 2.4av 1TD 0fmb
- (new) Shonn Greene, Iowa: 177rsh 1154yd 6.5av 10TD 2fmb; 6rec 20yd 0TD
- (18) P.J. Hill, Wisconsin: 131rsh 604yds 4.6av 5TD 1fmb; 3rec 38yd 0TD
- (20) Jahvid Best, Cal: 75rsh 528yd 7.0av 5TD 1fmb; 18rec 190yd 0TD; 284 rtYd
- (21) Percy Harvin, Florida: 27rsh 177yd 6.6av 2TD 1fmb; 19rec 284yd 3TD
- (22) James Laurinaitis, Ohio State: 78 tackles (33 solo, 2 for loss, 2 sacks); 1 INT
Others: Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State; MiQuale Lewis, Ball State; Nate Davis, Ball State; John Parker Wilson, Alabama, LeShon McCoy, Pitt.
out: (23) Matt Stafford, Georgia: 124-203 61% 1697yd 10TD 5int; 29rsh 54yd 1.9av 0TD 0fmb
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The player with the most upside potential may be Graham Harrell, who has quietly been hanging on in the top ten waiting for the big games to come. He's got his stats whipped into shape, and could be one of the few players able to unseat Colt McCoy. Doing so would probably require going undefeated and beating Texas, of course. Harrell had five touchdowns (3 passing, 2 rushing) against Tech's last marginal foe before the minefield they have to run the next month: Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma. Come out of that unscathed and Harrell is probably on top.
He'd certainly be in the top five, which is where Javon Ringer hoped he'd be this week. Instead, Ringer falls a spot after having a dismal game in Michigan State's loss to Ohio State. On the verge of becoming far and away the #1 back in the hunt, now it's a toss-up as to whether he can catch Knowshon Moreno for even that consolation prize. He's well ahead of #10 Chris Wells (who missed several games), with nearly twice as many yards, but Wells outplayed him on Saturday.
#12 Daryll Clark shined against Michigan and has a big opportunity to jump into the big leagues if Penn State can beat Ohio State Saturday. His passing stats aren't up to Harrell's, but his eight rushing TDs are an edge as the two will vie to possibly become McCoy's main challenger. Harrell's prime receiver Michael Crabtree holds at #13; lacking a breakthrough performance that wakes people up, he'll remain there. So, too, #14 Jeremy Maclin, whose highlight reel shut down in Missouri's losses. The nation's leading rusher, ever-consistent Donald Brown of UConn, is also stalled. He had his seventh straight 100 yard game, but the Huskies had their 2nd loss.
Dez Bryant leaps to #16 after a strong multi-TD performance against Baylor. For a receiver to get strong consideration, he needs double-digit catches, triple-digit yardage, and two touchdowns per game. To win, returning kicks for touchdowns is almost a requirement, and Bryant has two of those so far. If Oklahoma State keeps winning, though, quarterback Zac Robinson (currently #19) will start to get more attention. Between the two are Juice Williams, who was solid against Indiana but whose overall stats don't overcome Illinois' three losses; and LSU's Charles Scott, who is fading and has one more chance against Georgia to turn that around.
Tulsa's David Johnson jumps back up to #20 this week, as he now has over 30 touchdown passes to go with his #1 efficiency rating. He's pretty much this year's Colt Brennan: massive yardage, lots of TD passes, a few too many interceptions, leading an undefeated team in a non-major conference against a light schedule, with suggestions that his success is due to the system he plays in. All of this means Johnson could potentially reach the top five as others falter, but he can't win the trophy.
Iowa's Shonn Greene is the only debut at #21. Greene has been racking up the 100+ yard games since the beginning of the year, but the Hawks dropped three straight which kept attention off them. With Iowa on a two-game blowout streak, Greene's 217 yards against Wisconsin put him on the map. He's now the #3 rusher in America. The problem is that he'll need to repeat the 200+ yard performances to keep the spotlight on him, and if he dips below 100 just once, the "buzz" about him dims considerably. There's no doubt he outplayed P.J. Hill, whose season is slipping away along with Wisconsin's. Jahvid Best, Percy Harvin, and James Laurinaitis hang on to the last slots. Best's best performances may be behind him, Harvin never quite got going consistently, and Laurinaitis has good stats but no one is saying the cliché "if they'd just consider a defensive player for the Heisman, he would win it!" about him. Maybe he can impress during the Penn State game.
Matt Stafford finally drops from the list altogether. In the pre-season he was hyped as "the best pro-style quarterback" in the country despite not playing all that impressively last season. This year was more of the same: 10 touchdowns and five interceptions? His bland completion stats look exactly like Juice Williams', but he doesn't have the rushing touchdowns and yardage to complement them. Now watch him have a great game against LSU and have everyone raving about him...
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