A look at another unpredictable Heisman Trophy race

FEATURE STORY 3KRWR7UDYLV%HOO6LGHOLQH&DUROLQD South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore has been an early favorite for the Heisman.

A look at another unpredictable Heisman Trophy race lthough it’s always fun to try to predict the winner of the Heisman Trophy, it’s a much more difficult task than most realize. And with good reason. First, the trophy is usually awarded to a quarterback or running back. In college football, often the defense starts the season ahead of the offense, especially if a team Ais working with a young quarterback. What this means is that an athlete may start the year with good numbers, but towards the end of the year when his team begins to really jell, he may put up spectacular numbers that get the attention of the Heisman Trophy voters.

Another factor is that performance in big games tends NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011 Case Keenum, to weigh heavier in the voting, and teams starting quarusually like to schedule their toughest games terback for the later in the year. This makes good financial University of Houston, has a sense. A matchup between two 5-0 teams legitimate shot will attract more fans and possibly earn a at breaking the television broadcast compared to two teams all-time NCAA that are 0-1. One year we thought a specific passing record. Keenum’s team athlete was a sure bet for the Heisman after started the his performance during the first half of the season 6-0.

season, but a few days before the magazine went to press his team lost by over 50 points and we had to put in a last-minute replacement who was chosen for not only our cover but also the Heisman presentation later that year at the Downtown Athletic Club of New York City. But then, there are always the surprises. In 2009 Mark Ingram was off the radar of many Heisman voters, as he was only a sophomore, coming off a freshman year in which he rushed for 728 yards, 54 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. His eventual NFL combine numbers were not exceptional – a 4.62 forty and a 31.5 vertical – compared to that year’s overall combine best of 4.34 and 41.5 inches.

So who could have predicted that the following year Ingram would more than double those numbers, setting Alabama’s single-season rushing record with 1,658 yards and 334 receiving yards – and along the way score 20 touchdowns! Such accomplishments played a key role in helping Alabama win its 13th national title. Of course, Ingram was at the top of just about every sportswriter’s preseason list for the 2010 Trophy, but a knee injury in the off-season saw him finish the season with 875 rushing yards and 282 receiving yards. Likewise, in 2000 we predicted Adrian Peterson of Oklahoma would run away with the title, but he was injured early on. Who will win the Heisman this year?

At the time of this writing Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck is the frontrunner, along with Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore and South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore. Two interesting contenders are Denard RobinMichigan quarterback Denard Robinson, who son, the speedy quarterback was on the cover of BFS in December 2010, from Michigan, and Houston quarterback Case Keenum, who made the cover of our Novemwas on our December 2009 cover. This is an interesting contrast, as Robinson is a speedster ber/December 2010 issue and with a 4.32 forty, and Keenum is a passing has a shot at the Heisman. machine who is on the verge of breaking the Robinson’s all-time NCAA career passing record.

With team also such contenders only one thing is for certain – started the season 6-0. this season will be fun to watch!

FEATURE STORY ne of the most coveted awards in college sports is the Heisman Memorial Trophy Award. The Heisman, which was first awarded in 1935, is given at the end of the regular season to the young man considered the best player in college football. The award is presented at the end of the year by the Downtown Athletic Club of New York City. The Heisman is named for John OW. Heisman, the first athletic director of the Downtown Athletic Club of New York City. As for the voting process, the nation is split into six sections (Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, South, Midwest, Southwest, and Far West), each consisting of 175 media voters culled from the print, radio and television ranks.

Every past Heisman winner casts a vote as well. Each elector casts a ballot listing their top three choices, with the top choice receiving three points, the second receiving two points and the third receiving one. This method was adopted with the idea of eliminating regional favoritism, and the player receiving the highest number of points across all six sections is the winner. Here are the past recipients of all Heisman Trophies. Many names you will recognize as athletes who have gone on to successful careers in the NFL.

2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 Cam Newton Mark Ingram, Jr.

Sam Bradford Tim Tebow Troy Smith Vacated Matt Leinnart Jason White Carson Palmer Eric Crouch Chris Weinke Ron Dayne Ricky Williams Charles Woodson Danny Wuerffel Eddie George Rashaan Salaam Charlie Ward Gino Torretta Desmond Howard Ty Detmer Andre Ware Barry Sanders Tim Brown Vinny Testaverde Bo Jackson Doug Flutie Mike Rozier Herschel Walker Marcus Allen George Rogers Charles White Billy Sims Earl Campbell Tony Dorsett Archie Griffin Archie Griffin John Cappelletti Auburn Alabama Oklahoma Florida Ohio State 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 Johnny Rodgers Pat Sullivan Jim Plunkett Steve Owens O.J.

Simpson Gary Beban Steve Spurrier Mike Garrett John Huarte Roger Staubach Terry Baker Ernie Davis Joe Bellino Billy Cannon Pete Dawkins John David Crow Paul Hornung Howard Cassady Alan Ameche John Lattner Billy Vessels Dick Kazmaier Vic Janowicz Leon Hart Doak Walker John Lujack Glenn Davis Doc Blanchard Les Horvath Angelo Bertelli Frank Sinkwich Bruce Smith Tom Harmon Nile Kinnick Davey O’Brien Clint Frank Larry Kelley Jay Berwanger Nebraska WR Auburn QB Stanford QB Oklahoma HB Southern Cal. HB UCLA QB Florida QB Southern Cal.

HB Notre Dame QB Navy QB Oregon State QB Syracuse HB Navy HB Louisiana State RB Army RB Texas A&M RB Notre Dame QB Ohio State RB Wisconsin FB Notre Dame RB Oklahoma RB Princeton RB Ohio State RB Notre Dame END Southern Methodist RB Notre Dame QB Army RB Army FB Ohio State QB Notre Dame QB Georgia RB Minnesota RB Michigan RB Iowa RB TCU QB Yale QB Yale END Chicago RB Southern Cal QB Oklahoma QB Southern Cal QB Nebraska QB Florida State QB Wisconsin RB Texas RB Michigan DB/WR Florida QB Ohio State RB Colorado RB Florida State QB Miami QB Michigan WR Brigham Young QB Houston QB Oklahoma State RB Notre Dame WR Miami QB Auburn RB Boston College QB Nebraska RB Georgia RB Southern Cal.

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From BFS Magazine — November/December 2011. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).