2009 Heisman Hopefuls XIII

Top 10

1. Tim Tebow (QB - Florida) - Tebow and the Gators toyed with Florida International. Tebow had 215 yards and 2 TDs via the air and 107 yards and a TD via the ground. His undefeated Gators face two tough challenges to finish the season against Florida St. and then Alabama.

2. Colt McCoy (QB - Texas) - As expected, McCoy led the Longhorns to a hefty defeat of Kansas. En route to a 51 to 20 win, McCoy threw for 396 yards and 4 touchdowns in addition to 29 yards on the ground and a completion percentage of 78%.

3. Mark Ingram (RB - Alabama) - Ingram had a showcase game against Chattanooga. He had 102 yards and 2 TDs on only 11 rushes. Alabama is about to hit the final stretch of the season as they face Auburn and then Florida. These two games, especially the final one, will define the Heisman campaign for Ingram.

4. Kellen Moore (QB - Boise St.) - Kellen Moore did not have the most impressive statistical performance against Utah St, but he kept his balanced Broncos undefeated as they turned to the running games against the Aggies.

5. Toby Gerhart (RB - Stanford) - Stanford did just fall to Cal by 6 points after an exciting game; however, Gerhart managed to record 136 yards and 4 TDs on the ground which included a big 61 yard TD run to start the game off. Gerhart will have the opportunity to put an exclamation mark on this incredible season against Notre Dame.

6. C.J. Spiller (RB - Clemson) - Spiller had 25 touches for 114 yards and a TD. Spiller has been a critical component in helping Clemson clinch the ACC Atlantic allowing Clemson one more game against Georgia Tech for the championship and the opportunity for a major bowl bid. With games against South Carolina and Georgia Tech left on National Television, Spiller will have the chance to showcase his skills in the final weeks on the season for a mass audience.

7. Case Keenum (QB - Houston) - Keenum has had only one game with less than 359 yards this season. He continued this video game like onslaught with 405 yards and 5 TDs against Memphis. With his system stats, Keenum could have been the Heisman front-runner at this point had the Houston Cougars not let up there guard for two upsets this season.

8. Jacquizz Rodgers (RB - Oregon St.) - Quizz took advantage of far-margined underdog Washington St. as he ran for 165 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also added 5 catches for 39 yards. Oregon St.'s next matchup will be against in-state foe Oregon for the Pac-10 championship and a seat in the Rose Bowl. Rodgers will have a chance to showcase his skills in comparison to LaMichael James - stand out running back and Heisman hopefuls for Oregon.

9. Ryan Williams (RB - Virginia Tech) - Williams has stupendous for Virginia Tech on the goal-line against North Carolina St. He had three TDs on the goal-line and added another just inside the red zone accumulating to 4 TDs on the ground. Williams also had 132 yards in the game.

10. Golden Tate (WR - Notre Dame) - Tate had his third consecutive game with 9 receptions, a TD catch, and over 100 yards. Unfortunately all three games have resulted in Notre Dame loses. Tate also had a TD pass this past game. Tate has been critical in the absence of Michael Flyod allowing the Irish at every least to be bowl eligible.

Honorable Mention 

QBs: Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame) and Max Hall (BYU) 

RBs: Jonathan Dwyer (Georgia Tech), LaMichael James (Oregon), and Dion Lewis (Pittsburgh)

WRs: Dezmon Briscoe (Kansas) and Jordan Shipley (Texas)

High Tide & Deep Water 

Arrelious Benn (WR - Illinois), Jahvid Best (RB - California), Ralph Bolden (RB - Purdue), Sam Bradford (QB - Oklahoma), Dez Bryant (WR - Oklahoma St.), Daryll Clark (QB - Penn St.), Graig Cooper (RB - Miami-FL), Eric Decker (WR - Minnesota), Noel Devine (RB - WVU), Marshawn Gilliard (WR - Cincinnati), A.J. Green (WR- Georgia), Jacory Harris (QB - Miami-FL), Kendall Hunter (RB - Oklahoma St.), Julio Jones (WR - Alabama), Dan LeFevour (QB - Central Michigan), Ryan Mathews (RB - Fresno St.), Joe McKnight (RB - USC), Tony Pike (QB - Cincinnati), Taylor Potts (QB - Texas Tech), Terrelle Pryor (QB - Ohio State), Todd Reesing (QB - Kansas) Zac Robinson (QB - Oklahoma St.), Evan Royster (RB - Penn St.), Charles Scott (RB - LSU), Jevan Snead (QB - Ole Miss), Ricky Stanzi (QB - Iowa), Ben Tate (RB - Auburn), Joe Webb (QB - UAB), and Juice Williams (QB - Illinois) 

Spotlight Players

Freddie Barnes (WR - BGSU) - Barnes had another impressive game as he caught 12 passes for 197 yards and 2 TDs. Barnes is the nation's leading receiver and has gone under the radar for most of the season, so I'd like to commend him with well earned respect for this great game and his impressive season.

Danario Alexander (WR - Mizz) - Like Barnes, Alexander has been on a tear, especially of lately. In his last 4 games Alexander has accumulated 710 yards and 7 touchdowns and his Missouri Tigers have gone 3 and 1 in that stretch. He recently opened up for 173 yards and a TD against Iowa State.

Connecticut Huskies - Congratulations on the thrilling win against Notre Dame and being able to rise above such a tragedy. After only 7 years in the FBS, the University of Connecticut has become legitimate contender in college football.

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Tags: college football, deep water, heisman candidates, heisman hopefuls, high tide, honorable mention, ncaa, spotlight players, week 12

2009 Heisman Hopefuls XII

Top 5 (Winnowed Standings) 

1. Tim Tebow (QB - Florida) - Tebow kept the Gators undefeated with 198 passing yards, a passing TD, 27 rushing yards, and a rushing TD. Tebow has led a balanced offense as his 22 total touchdowns on the season are split betweens 12 passing TDs and 10 rushing TDs. Impressively, he has also run for 605 yards this year.

2. Colt McCoy (QB - Texas) - McCoy threw for only 180 yards and two touchdowns (both to Jordan Shipley) against Baylor. Baylor has the best passing defense of any of the final four opponents for Texas during the regular season. McCoy does not have the as impressive statistics as last year (about 20 less yards and 1 less touchdown per game), but the Longhorns are undefeated and en route to the BCS Championship Game.

3. Mark Ingram (RB - Alabama) - Ingram rushed for 147 yards and 2 touchdowns against Mississippi St. He did that on only 18 carries which means that he averaged 8.2 yards per carry. He grit truly showed against Mississippi St. as he was bleeding from the mouth and was cut just above the eye, but Ingram managed to stay in the game. True Warrior.

4. Kellen Moore (QB - Boise St.) - Moore tore apart the Idaho secondary with 298 yards and 5 touchdowns. He also posted a completion percentage of 71%.

5. Toby Gerhart (RB - Stanford) -  Monstrous effort by Gerhart and the Stanford offensive line which helped Stanford pull off the upset of USC. Gerhart has officially stapled his name into the debate for Heisman with the 178 yard and 3 touchdown showcase against USC. 

Note: This week's standings have been winnowed to the top five candidates. Keenum's loss dropped him out of the top five. In similar company Keenum and Clausen were demoted to Honorable Mention since neither is on the same echelon as the players in the top five; however, the two are on the next tier. The next tier is all of the runnings backs. Devine, Dwyer, Lewis, Rodgers, and Williams are putting up similar numbers on solid teams. Mathews leads the nation in running on Fresno St., and Spiller has been one of the nation's most versatile players. 

Honorable Mention 

QBs: Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame), Case Keenum (Houston), and Max Hall (BYU) 

RBs: Noel Devine (WVU), Jonathan Dwyer (Georgia Tech), Dion Lewis (Pittsburgh), Ryan Mathews (Fresno St.), Jacquizz Rodgers (Oregon St.), C.J. Spiller (Clemson), and Ryan Williams (Virginia Tech) 

WRs: Dezmon Briscoe (Kansas), Marshawn Gilliard (Cincinnati), Jordan Shipley (Texas), and Golden Tate (Notre Dame) 

High Tide & Deep Water 

Arrelious Benn (WR - Illinois), Jahvid Best (RB - California), Ralph Bolden (RB - Purdue), Sam Bradford (QB - Oklahoma), Dez Bryant (WR - Oklahoma St.), Daryll Clark (QB - Penn St.), Graig Cooper (RB - Miami-FL), Eric Decker (WR - Minnesota), A.J. Green (WR- Georgia), Jacory Harris (QB - Miami-FL), Kendall Hunter (RB - Oklahoma St.), Julio Jones (WR - Alabama), Dan LeFevour (QB - Central Michigan), Joe McKnight (RB - USC), Tony Pike (QB - Cincinnati), Taylor Potts (QB - Texas Tech), Terrelle Pryor (QB - Ohio State), Todd Reesing (QB - Kansas) Zac Robinson (QB - Oklahoma St.), Evan Royster (RB - Penn St.), Charles Scott (RB - LSU), Jevan Snead (QB - Ole Miss), Ricky Stanzi (QB - Iowa), Ben Tate (RB - Auburn), Joe Webb (QB - UAB), and Juice Williams (QB - Illinois) 

Spotlight Players

Dexter McCluster (RB/WR - Ole Miss) - McCluster definitely improved his draft stock with 4 catches for  38 yards in the air along with an impressive 287 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns on the ground against Tennessee. McCluster was absolutely incredible in the open-field as he shook off tacklers one after another. 

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Tags: college football, deep water, heisman candidates, heisman hopefuls, high tide, honorable mention, ncaa, spotlight players, week 11

2009 Heisman Hopefuls XI

Top 10

1. Tim Tebow (QB - Florida) -Tebow led the Gators to a 27-3 victory over Vanderbilt after a controversy endeavored week. Tebow threw and ran for a touchdown bringing his season total to twenty. 

2. Colt McCoy (QB - Texas) - McCoy reminded critics of the spectacular statistics he is capable showcasing by throwing for 470 yards a two touchdowns - most of to roommate Jordan Shipley - against UCF. Like I stated last week, McCoy is facing favorable passing defenses which should return some owed respect in terms of statistics for McCoy.

3. Mark Ingram (RB - Alabama) -Winning is a big part of the Heisman campaign. The Crimson Tide's undefeated campaign has begun to rest upon the effectiveness of Ingram with the inconsistencies of McElroy and Jones. Everyone knows Ingram is a do-it-all back, but what is most impressive about Ingram - which definitely showed against LSU - is that he has his biggest games against the biggest opponents.

4. Case Keenum (QB - Houston) - Another 500 yard passing game for Keenum; however, this game came extremely close to ending Keenum's Heisman campaign as a second loss would have crushed any hope. Keenum led the Cougars down the field and and threw his third touchdown of the game which brought Houston within 2 points of Tulsa with under a minute left. The Cougars 2 point conversion was unsuccessful. After a miraculous onside kick, Keenum went on to throw another completion which set up a 51 yard field. Freshman kicker Matt Hogan hit the 51 yarder to save the game for the Cougars.

5. Kellen Moore (QB - Boise St.) - Boise St. played in a relatively closer game then most expected of the Broncos to play against Louisiana Tech. Moore threw for 354 yards and 3 touchdowns. He still has the highest passer rating in the FBS.

6. Toby Gerhart (RB - Stanford) - Gerhart was BIG in the upset against Oregon. 3 rushing touchdowns on 223 yards and 38 carries. He averaged 5.9 yards per carry. Gerhart now has the second most rushing yards and touchdowns in the FBS.

7. Jimmy Clausen (QB - Notre Dame) - Clausen had a solid statistical performance against Navy with 452 yards and two touchdowns - not that anyone expected otherwise; however, Clausen made his season on big victories and game winning drives and this was not evident against Navy. The Fighting Irish lost and Clausen was sacked for a safety on the final drive of the game.

8.  Ryan Mathews (RB - Fresno St.) - Mathews has yet to be inhibited for rushing for at least 100 yards in any game this season. He continued this streak against Idaho with 148 yards and three TDs. This improbable feat faces its toughest obstacle in the remaining schedule against Nevada which only allows 114 yards per game - the 30th best running defense in FBS.

9. Jonathan Dwyer (Georgia Tech) / Dion Lewis (RB - Pittsburgh) / Ryan Williams (RB - Virginia Tech) - All are 1000 yard and 9 TD backs playing for teams for successful teams (especially Dwyer and Lewis who are on one lose teams). Dwyer, Lewis, and Williams had impressive running performances this week as each ran for 189, 110, and 179 yards respectively. 

Honorable Mention 

QBs: Max Hall (BYU), Jacory Harris (Miami-FL), and Todd Reesing (Kansas) 

RBs: Noel Devine (WVU), C.J. Spiller (Clemson), Jacquizz Rodgers (Oregon St.), and Ben Tate (Auburn)

WRs: Dezmon Briscoe (Kansas), A.J. Green (Georgia), Marshawn Gilliard (Cincinnati), Jordan Shipley (Texas), and Golden Tate (Notre Dame)

High Tide & Deep Water

Arrelious Benn (WR - Illinois), Jahvid Best (RB - California), Ralph Bolden (RB - Purdue), Sam Bradford (QB - Oklahoma), Dez Bryant (WR - Oklahoma St.), Daryll Clark (QB - Penn St.), Graig Cooper (RB - Miami-FL), Eric Decker (WR - Minnesota), Kendall Hunter (RB - Oklahoma St.), Julio Jones (WR - Alabama), Dan LeFevour (QB - Central Michigan), Joe McKnight (RB - USC), Tony Pike (QB - Cincinnati), Taylor Potts (QB - Texas Tech), Terrelle Pryor (QB - Ohio State), Zac Robinson (QB - Oklahoma St.), Evan Royster (RB - Penn St.), Charles Scott (RB - LSU), Jevan Snead (QB - Ole Miss), Ricky Stanzi (QB - Iowa), Joe Webb (QB - UAB), and Juice Williams (QB - Illinois)

Spotlight Players 

Jordan Shipley (WR - Texas) - 273 yards and a TD. Yes it was against UCF, but that is both a University of Texas receiving record and the second most yards this season outside of Freddie Barnes' ridiculous 278 yard and 3 TD game.

C.J. Spiller (RB - Clemson) - 312 All-purpose yards is Spiller's career high and a new Clemson record as the Tigers defeated Florida St. Spiller ran for 165 yards and a TD, caught 67 yards and a TD, and returned 80 yards in order to set the mark.

Matt Hogan (K - Houston) - The freshman kicker was absolutely incredible for the Cougars on Saturday. He hit all four field goals and four extra points, helped successful convert a onside kick with seconds left in the game, and finally hit a 51 yard field goal to win the game for Houston as time expired. 

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Tags: college football, deep water, heisman candidates, heisman hopefuls, high tide, honorable mention, ncaa, spotlight players, week 10