Maybe Jacory Harris would have a better shot at the Heisman if he bought a shirt with two sleeves.
I’ll go ahead and warn you now… This list contains seven quarterbacks. Mark Ingram may have bucked the recent trend by snatching the award back from the only guy that used to touch the ball every offensive play (before the wildcat formation spread like swine flu — thanks Razorbacks), but as you’ll see, he’ll have a hell of a time trying to win it again. Still, his position is the only other position on the list, and the wide receivers of the world might as well start campaigning for the Biletnikoff. There’s just no chance of winning this thing anymore unless you play under center or at least somewhere behind him.
So here we go. These 10 guys should be the only 10 with a shot at the stiff-arm this season. As always, if you disagree, give your fingers an extra pump and head on over to our NEW and IMPROVED FORUM by clicking the blue letters to the left of the end of this sentence, and tell us about it.
10. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
Why: He’s already won it, so you know he’s got the goods. When he’s healthy, he’s a slicked-up wrecking ball with legs that won’t quit
and a demeanor that eats the dreams of opposing tacklers. Great inside vision, great power, great burst and great goal-line ability. Alabama should run the ball with the best of them again, and they’re sure to be in the title conversation, so if he’s the face of the Elephants for the second year in a row, he’ll get the necessary attention.
Why not: Trent Richardson. I’m getting a little sick of all the “Mark Ingram may not be the best back in his own backfield” talk, but Richardson will steal carries. There’s no reason for Bama to lean on just one guy when they can lean on two. Then there’s Greg McElroy and Julio Jones. I don’t expect the Tide to suddenly channel Mike Leach and spray the ball all over the field like a virgin at a Jessica Simpson concert, but I’d be surprised if there isn’t more of an effort to get the ball into Jones’ hands. And of course, there’s this whole knee scope issue. Ingram could miss the first few games, and it’s not like Alabama will need him early on. Richardson can carry the load through week two (sorry, Penn State, you have no shot in Bryant Denny with a freshman QB at the helm). That’s a lot to overcome for the reigning trophy holder.
09. Jacory Harris, QB, Miami
Why: Because he’s the quarterback at a program with enough national attention to put him on the map, hard. Believe it or not, there are actually people spread all over this country who bleed orange and green (and they don’t even see a doctor about it… shameful). Harris has the weapons on offense to put up great stats, and he made a name for himself a season ago with some great plays in a win over Oklahoma, a program not known to be in deep dung at the time. He’ll get another chance to chalk up a marquee win and a “Heisman moment” when the Canes travel to Columbus in week two to take on Ohio State. Win that one, and he can wear his one sleeve from the stiff-arm driver’s seat.
Why not: Ohio State. Sorry to all those in South Beach, but it could get ugly. Harris has a pillow case and a few matadors playing up front on the offensive line, and the Buckeyes front seven is about as bullish as they come. If the blocking unit doesn’t gel in a hurry, he’ll be beaten into an afterthought. I know it’s only one game, and it’s early enough to overcome, but on a national stage that should rival the BCS title, a poor performance could equal a monstrous black mark on his resume. Plus, he wasn’t as good last year as everyone made him out to be. Guys that throw 17 interceptions usually have a hard time getting an invite to the ceremony, and Harris won’t have the time to be smart in the pocket if his O-line doesn’t suddenly become impenetrable.
08. Dion Lewis, RB, Pittsburgh
Why: Because Pittsburgh might be scary good. This defense is one of the most underrated units in the nation, and they’ll have the
Panthers in every game they play. If Pitt can shock their way onto the national stage as a team, he’ll get the nods as the spotlight player. Plus, he did run for 1799 yards and 17 TDs a year ago. That’s better than the guy that won it. With Jonathan Baldwin stretching opposing defenses, the running lanes should stay open, and this team figures to be in quite a few “run out the clock” situations. Then there’s the fact that the stop units in the Big East generally don’t scare anyone other than their own offenses, and Jason Pinkston is one of the best run blockers in the country.
Why not: Well, there’s a chance that Pitt won’t be that good. The quarterback situation could be better, and whoever ends up taking the majority of the snaps this season will be a fresh face. Defenses do have to worry about Baldwin, but they’ll be loading the box until Tino Sunseri or Pat Bostick proves that they don’t have to. Plus, he’s a little guy. I’m not knocking him for his lack of size, but that jockey’s body might not hold up to another year of pounding his way through the insides of the East Coast like John Mayer on a Viagra binge. If the Panthers aren’t in the discussion for a BCS berth at the very least, then Lewis will have to take solace in the fact that he’s got two more years to convince the Heisman voters that he’s tall enough to ride the bronze ride.
07. Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State
Why: He’s offense in a can… even if it’s a small can. The guy would be a College Fantasy Football PPR dream if such a thing existed. He grabbed 78 passes last season and scored 21 rushing touchdowns. Plus, Oregon State has a legitimate shot at winning the conference, especially now that Pete Carroll has jumped a sinking ship in Southern Cal. With the world’s best cheaters out of the way, a seat in the Rose Bowl might have opened up for the Corvallis crew. People are starting to take enough notice of Mike Riley’s program to bump the Beavers right out of the “no one respects us” football tax bracket, and while that might clear the fog that’s hidden Oregon State just enough to surprise people, the added attention could be exactly what Rodgers needs to earn an invite to the ceremony.
Why not: Well, this is still Oregon State. And, like Lewis, Rodgers will be dealing with defenses sporting raging desires to shut him down. He’ll face a loaded box more often than Lindsay Lohan’s boyfriend. And, again like Lewis, he could have some trouble staying healthy with a small frame. Oregon State’s breaking in a new QB, too. What if the offense doesn’t hum? What if the defense is so bad that the offense has to switch gears and throw downfield to his brother, James? Despite the bounds the Beavers have taken when it comes to national respect, they won’t be in the spotlight all that often after their games against Boise State and TCU are in the books. There’s a lot of season left after that, and sometimes it’s easy to get lost when you’re little.
06. Case Keenum, QB, Houston
Why: How do 5671 passing yards and 44 TDs through the air sound? Pretty good right. That’s worth two careers for a Colorado QB.
But Keenum posted those numbers in just one season, and with nearly all of his top weapons back, he’ll likely best them as a senior. That’s important, too. He’s got the on-paper pre-reqs: 4th year quarterback. I think that’s it. Of course, the fact that he’ll likely break Timmy Chang’s record for career passing yards and Graham Harrell’s record for career passing touchdowns doesn’t hurt. Well, it doesn’t hurt Keenum. It’ll hurt those other two guys; it’s all they’ve got. I don’t even know what happened to Chang.
Why not: Because he plays for freaking Houston. Come on. If Colt Brennan had no real shot, then Keenum will have to somehow hit Joe Francis in the nuts with one of his touchdown passes to earn a realistic shot at the Heisman. That might not even be enough playing from Conference USA. The best teams he could possibly beat during the regular season are UCLA and Mississippi State, and although I’ll give him some major love for silencing those damn cowbells, the voters won’t give two turds. I’m listing him sixth because I like the guy and think he deserves some hype, but Kellen Moore just threw 39 TDs against only three picks and led his team to an undefeated season capped with a BCS bowl win over another undefeated team, and he only finished seventh. Good luck, Case. Get coach Sumlin to rub your back.
