This year’s Heisman Trophy race has become a strange one.
Every time someone is labeled the front-runner he seems to fall on his face that very weekend. Take last weekend for example, when Iowa State’s Seneca Wallace jumped to the top of most people’s list. He proceeded to take the field against No. 2 Oklahoma and lay an egg as his Cyclones were crushed 49-3 on national television.
With no single candidate separating himself from the lead pack, the winner may actually be the best athlete in the nation for the first time since Michigan’s Charles Woodson took home the hardware in 1998.
Front-runners:
Maurice Clarett
freshman tailback, Ohio State
He’s simply the best running back in the nation and his team still is in the hunt for a national title.
In the Buckeye’s 19-14 win at Wisconsin last Saturday, Clarett did fail to reach the end zone. But his work-horse mentality and 30 carries for 133 yards provided Ohio State the stability needed to remain a perfect 8-0.
His 140 rushing yards per game ranks fourth in the nation and his 13 touchdowns speak for themselves.
Byron Leftwich
senior quarterback, Marshall
Leftwich had fallen off this list when the Thundering Herd failed to provide their Heisman hopeful with top-25 support.
But with no one else pulling away from the pack, the nation’s best overall athlete has to be present in the final grouping.
Marshall as a program doesn’t strike fear into anybody, but the thought of playing Leftwich scares every defensive coordinator in the country.
Why? Simple, he’s completed 168-of-254 passes (66.1 percent) for 2,314 yards and 17 touchdowns despite the fact that every team he’s faced has schemed specifically for him.
Dark horse:
Kliff Kingsburry
senior quarterback, Texas Tech
The Red Raiders have flirted with a top-25 ranking all season and Kingsburry is the reason why.
He leads the nation in passing yards and touchdown passes with 2,916 yards and 28 touchdowns. And that he’s connecting on 68.2 percent of his attempts is amazing.
But since Texas Tech hasn’t lived in the national spotlight this season and Leftwich is still getting all the inches, Kingsburry will probably be left on the outside looking in.
MSU’s hope:
Charles Rogers
junior wide receiver
As if the Spartans downward spiral wasn’t hurting his chances enough, talk has started among the national media that Rogers is starting to take plays off.
And that’s the last thing a Heisman hopeful needs, especially if he’s trying to make a move without his team’s help.
Rogers will need to have the best five-game stretch of his collegiate career if he hopes to be a finalist.
