Front-runners:

Rex Grossman
junior quarterback, Florida

Grossman and the Gators begin the post-Steve Spurrier era Saturday when they host Alabama-Birmingham in the Swamp. Questions abound over whether the junior signal caller can repeat last year’s numbers - 3,896 passing yards, 34 touchdowns and a 65.6 completion percentage - without Spurrier calling the shots. No one questions Grossman’s talent, but without the fun-and-gun mastermind, the mighty Gators could lose their bite. Until that happens, though, last year’s Heisman runner-up deserves to be the leading man. If Florida loses its swagger, it won’t be against the UAB Blazers. Look for Grossman to kick start his Heisman campaign with 300-plus passing yards and a couple of TDs.

Ken Dorsey
senior quarterback, Miami

Dorsey and the defending national champs open their title defense Saturday against Florida A&M. Yeah, not much of a contest but it will help the Heisman hopeful pad his stats to keep him on par with his in-state counterpart. The senior is 26-1 as a starter for the Hurricanes and that’s all that matters. Sure, he’ll put up a handful of 300-plus yard performances and he won’t throw many interceptions (16 in 760 career attempts), but the bottom line is Heisman voters only care about one thing, winning, and no quarterback in the country wins like Dorsey. Miami has its sights set on its sixth NCAA National Championship and, if that happens, Dorsey will be a runaway for college football’s most coveted trophy.

Byron Leftwich
senior quarterback, Marshall

Yes, another quarterback. But at 6-6, 240 pounds, Leftwich isn’t your average signal caller. Being hyped as “The Magnificent 7,” Leftwich reminds many of Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper. As the Thundering Herd’s front man, Leftwich threw for 4,132 yards and 38 touchdowns last season with just seven picks. Duplicating those numbers won’t be enough to take home the prize, though. As previously stated, Heisman voters only care about winning. For Leftwich to have a legitimate shot, Marshall may need to go 11-0.

MSU’s hope:

Charles Rogers
junior wide receiver, MSU

The Spartans have never had a player earn the trophy, and the last candidate was linebacker Percy Snow in 1989 (8th). But in 2001, his first year of action, Rogers set four MSU single-season records, finishing with 67 receptions, 1,470 receiving yards, 14 touchdowns and six 100-yard receiving games. And his 21.9 yards per catch is just the kind of gaudy statistic Heisman voters love. But, like Leftwich, the Spartans have to win more games and maybe even a Big Ten title before Rogers gets legitimate consideration.

Dark horse:

Maurice Clarett
freshman tailback, Ohio State

Just the thought of giving the Heisman to a freshman seems unthinkable. But after putting up 175 yards and three touchdowns on just 21 carries last Saturday, it suddenly makes sense. Playing for the Buckeyes, Clarett will be in the hunt for a conference championship. If he keeps up this pace, it’ll be impossible for the voters to overlook him.