As the weeks pass, the Heisman Trophy race is shaping up to be a two-man battle between teammates - Miami's tailback Willis McGahee and quarterback Ken Dorsey. But the other candidates are just waiting for the Hurricanes to lose so they can get into the thick of things.
Front-runners:
Willis McGahee
sophomore tailback, Miami
It's virtually impossible to distinguish which player on Miami's roster is most responsible for the Hurricanes' undefeated record. And neither McGahee or Dorsey help the situation much. Against Tennessee last week, McGahee was the workhorse as he rushed for 154 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries. This season, McGahee has 190 carries for 1,188 yards (6.3 yards per carry and 132 yards per game) and 17 touchdowns.
Ken Dorsey
senior quarterback, Miami
Miami still hasn't lost a game this season, which means Dorsey is still a candidate. He hasn't been spectacular this season, but his solid performances combined with collapses of other candidates has kept him near the top.
Last week against Tennessee, Dorsey wasn't great, however, the quarterback usually gets the glory in a win. He completed 18-of-35 passes for 245 yards and one touchdown with no picks. In nine games, Dorsey has completed 152-of-279 (54.5 percent) attempts for 2,265 yards with 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He has a 141.8 quarterback rating.
Byron Leftwich
senior quarterback, Marshall
Leftwich did not play Tuesday because of a sore left shin, forcing him to miss his first game of the season. The 6-6, 240-pounder hangs around because his numbers are so good, however, another game on the sidelines could end his Heisman hopes. Leftwich will have time to heal, though. The Thundering Herd's next game is against Ohio on Nov. 23. In eight games, Leftwich has passed for 2,995 yards (374.4 per game) and 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions, while completing 223-of-334 passes (66.8 percent). His 156.7 quarterback efficiency rating ranks second in the nation.
Dark horse:
Brad Banks
senior quarterback, Iowa
The main factor hurting Banks' chances at the Heisman is the fact that no one knew who he was before the season so he didn't get any hype. But he has a lot of other things going for him. He's the leader of a team that is 10-1 and on the verge of going undefeated in the Big Ten (7-0). And in a quarterbacks' race, Banks' 167.8 quarterback rating leads the nation.
Last week against Northwestern, he completed 10-of-10 passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns. He added 54 yards and two rushing touchdowns. This season, Banks has completed 146-of-241 (60.6 percent) for 2,269 yards with 23 touchdowns and four interceptions. His regular season ends this week against Minnesota, which could hurt him because most other candidates will continue to play at least another week.
