The Heisman race is starting to take form as the conference schedules separate the pretenders from the contenders.
The season started with everyone thinking a quarterback would take home the hardware, but Marshall’s Byron Leftwich hasn’t been enough to keep the Thundering Herd in the national spotlight and Florida’s Rex Grossman has played himself and the once-mighty Gators out of just about everything.
Only one signal caller remains, Iowa State’s Seneca Wallace, who nobody considered a candidate in the preseason.
Joining Wallace in pulling away from the rest of the field is a pair of tailbacks, Ohio State’s Maurice Clarett and Miami’s Willis McGahee.
Front-runners:
Seneca Wallace
senior quarterback, Iowa State
Following a bye week that allowed his hype to cool, Wallace led the Cyclones to a 31-17 victory over Texas Tech.
Iowa State entered the third quarter tied 3-3, but a 12-yard TD run by the senior signal caller ignited a 21 point third quarter for the Cyclones. Wallace finished the game 15-of-22 for 148 yards and one touchdown. He rushed eight times for 37 yards and another tally.
Wallace is arguably the best run-pass threat in the nation, and heading into Norman, Okla., Saturday he’ll need all his skills. But a win over No. 2 Oklahoma would all but win him the Heisman.
Maurice Clarett
freshman tailback, Ohio State
The No. 4 Buckeyes are a perfect 7-0 and Clarett is the reason why.
The freshman sensation hasn’t showed any signs that he can be stopped and his 13 touchdowns to date is just sick. But so is his 847 yards on 131 carries (6.5 per carry).
Ohio State destroyed San Jose State 50-7 in Columbus last Saturday, and Clarett’s 18 carries for 132 yards and two touchdowns led the way. He also caught one pass, which was a 7-yard touchdown.
It just seems like every time this kid carries the ball something special happens.
The Buckeyes travel to Madison, Wisc., Saturday for a Big Ten showdown with the struggling Badgers.
Willis McGahee
sophomore tailback, Miami
The top-ranked Hurricanes almost were knocked off their perch last Saturday as No. 12 Florida State pushed them to the limit. But Miami escaped with a 28-27 win.
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McGahee carried the ball 26 times for 92 yards and a touchdown. He also snagged three passes for 68 yards.
His numbers weren’t spectacular, but McGahee’s season statistics are just as impressive as Clarett’s. McGahee has carried the ball 105 times for 735 yards (7.0 yards per carry) with 11 touchdowns.
Miami has a bye this week, but return to action Oct. 26 at West Virginia.
MSU’s hope
Charles Rogers
junior wide receiver
Mimicking the Spartans’ free fall, Rogers has fallen from the lead pack of the Heisman race.
His last spectacular game came in MSU’s 21-17 loss to No. 7 Notre Dame, but that was also the same game he bruised his ribs.
Rogers insists his ribs are fine, but he’s only averaging four catches and 65.5 yards per game since the Spartans lost to the Fighting Irish.
Those numbers, combined with a 3-3 football team, definitely puts Rogers on the outside looking in.
