Last week was a crazy one for college football. But it helped Heisman voters sort through the contenders and pretenders.
Dark horses such as N.C. State quarterback Philip Rivers were eliminated with the Wolfpack finally going down. Plenty of other hopefuls also fell off the wagon.
That leaves only the likes of Marshall’s Byron Leftwich and the studs on the few remaining undefeated teams.
Front-runners:
Byron Leftwich
senior quarterback, Marshall
The Thundering Herd fell 34-20 to Akron last Saturday, which hurts Leftwich’s stock.
Sure, some say he got hurt and that’s why. But those same people forget he threw the ball 38 times (26 completions) for 307 yards with one pick and zero touchdowns.
But the 6-foot-6, 240-pounder is still the best athlete in the nation, hands down. And his numbers - 66.8 completion percentage, 2,995 yards and 19 touchdowns - prove he’s the best athlete strapping on the pads.
Maurice Clarett
freshman tailback, Ohio State
With only four carries in the last two games because of a shoulder injury, Clarett is barely hanging around. But his numbers - specifically the 6.2 yard average and 13 touchdowns - are just too much to ignore.
And let’s face it, Ohio State wouldn’t be sitting at No. 2 in the latest Bowl Championship Series poll if it wasn’t for Clarett. Yes, the Buckeyes steamrolled Minnesota 34-3 without the freshman. But at times, the youngster has carried the offense.
Whether Clarett plays this week or not doesn’t matter. But he’ll need a good showing against Michigan to ensure the Buckeyes play for a national title. And if he shines in the Fiesta Bowl, the hardware will be his.
Willis McGahee
sophomore tailback, Miami
That’s right, McGahee, not Dorsey.
The Hurricanes wouldn’t even be within striking distance of back-to-back perfect seasons if it wasn’t for McGahee. His 160 carries for 1,034 yards (6.5 per carry) and 16 touchdowns have kept Miami on par for its second national championship in as many years.
And let’s be frank, it wasn’t Dorsey’s 16-of-31 performance that got Miami past Rutgers. It was McGahee’s 187 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries that helped the Hurricanes to a 42-17 victory.
Dark horse:
Seneca Wallace
senior quarterback, Iowa State
With Wallace taking the snaps, the Cyclones (7-3) have become one of the most feared teams in the nation. As long as the 5-10, 193-pound senior is on the field, Iowa State is capable of beating anybody.
Last week’s opponent, Missouri, wasn’t an especially challenging foe, but Wallace threw for 425 yards and one touchdown and added 68 yards and another touchdown on the ground.
With no one taking control of the race it could come down to who’s the best athlete. And Wallace definitely deserves to be among the finalists if that’s the case.
