It’s getting down to it. Just four college football weekends left for teams to make their case for the national title game and for players to show their best for the Heisman voters.
It’s been a wild Heisman ride so far, with few of the brightest preseason stars living up to billing, and an ever-changing list getting ready for more potential jolts this weekend.
Let’s take a look at our favorites.
1. Kansas State QB Collin Klein — He’s everyone’s favorite. He has the stats — he is the national leader in passing efficiency (174.39 rating), and has accounted for 29 touchdowns — and the undefeated team to go with it. The tough-as-nails leader also has a wrist injury that calls his availability (or effectiveness) for this week’s game at TCU into question. A loss, or a subpar performance, opens the door for a wide-range of Heisman challengers.
2. USC WR Marqise Lee — Yeah, USC has lost two games in row. Don’t care. Lee has 877 all-purpose yards in the past two games and makes the kind of ridiculous plays that should have Heisman voters overlooking the Trojans’ disappointing season. Lee leads the nation in all-purpose yards with 223.0 per game and picked up this fabulous endorsement from Stanford coach David Shaw: “Marqise Lee is the best college receiver I’ve seen since I scouted Randy Moss.” Don’t rule out Lee from the Heisman. If he goes crazy again Notre Dame in a couple of weeks, watch out.
3. Oregon RB Kenjon Barner — He vaulted into the discussion (and rightly so) with his 321-yard romp through the USC defense last week. So fast, with such good cuts, Barner is second nationally with 143.9 rushing yards per game and he’s tied for first with 20 overall touchdowns. The Ducks have games coming up against Stanford (No. 1 nationally vs. the run) and Oregon State (No. 5 in run defense). Those are huge opportunities for Heisman statements.
4. Notre Dame LB Manti Te’o — He’s not going to win it, but he has to be in New York City for the Heisman ceremonies. He’s the hammer in the middle of the stingy Notre Dame defense, with 9.7 tackles per game and five interceptions, an extraordinary number for a linebacker. Comparing defensive players is nearly impossible because of different schemes and roles, but everyone knows his ability and value.
5. Alabama QB AJ McCarron/Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel — McCarron is the ultimate game-manager, and that’s not a knock at all. He had a “Heisman moment” with the game-winning drive at LSU, and his 19-to-0 touchdown-to-interception ratio is crazy good. Manziel is way more flashier, of course, with 2,527 passing yards and 922 rushing yards. A redshirt freshman such as Johnny Football has to overcome some built-in biases when it comes to winning the Heisman, but he’ll knock down some barriers and change some minds if he leads the Aggies over the top-ranked Tide this week. If not, McCarron marches on.