Over the years the Heisman Trophy has come to symbolize the most dynamic offensive player in college football. Six of the past seven Heisman Trophy winners have gone to quarterbacks, and in this week’s Heisman watch, the nation’s two most electrifying quarterbacks take over the top two spots.
Tim Tebow
QB, Florida
Last week: 256 passing yards, 78 rushing yards, 5 total TDs
Season: Passing — 1,711 yards, 17 TDs, 3 INTs; Rushing — 578 yards, 10 TDs
He can pass, he can run and we here at the Heisman watch think he’d make one heck of a middle linebacker too. While the defending national champion Gators sit at 5-2, the two losses this year were by no fault of Tebow. In Florida’s 20-17 loss to Auburn, Tebow rushed and passed for a touchdown, and he also threw for two scores and rushed for another in the 28-24 loss to LSU. Tebow says he’s fine after suffering a contusion in his non-throwing shoulder in last Saturday’s win over Kentucky, and if someone nicknamed “The Hammer” says he’s fine, we believe him.
Dennis Dixon
QB, Oregon
Last week: 295 total yards, 2 total TDs, 1 INT
Season: Passing — 1,728 yards, 16 TDs, 3 INTs; Rushing — 416 rushing, 7 TDs
From off the list to the number two slot, you ask? We’ll admit a little bit of an east coast bias regarding the exclusion of Dixon on previous Heisman watches, but when comparing the numbers of Dixon and Tebow, the dual-threat quarterbacks are eerily similar. Other than California, Oregon have feasted on the bottom half of Pac-10. But with a stretch that begins Saturday against USC, Dixon can propel the Ducks into a real chance for the national championship.
Mike Hart
RB, Michigan
Last week: Did not play
Season: 1,078 yards, 12 TDs
Hart sat out last week, but it’s easy to believe that the 27-17 victory over Illinois would have been much more convincing with him in the backfield. After an 0-2 start, the Wolverines are back atop the Big Ten with Ohio State, and there’s no safer statement to make than the following: If Michigan runs the table the rest of the way the Heisman belongs to Mike Hart. No questions asked.
Matt Ryan
QB, Boston College
Last week: 291 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Season: 2,148 yards, 17 TDs, 6 INTs
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Like Oregon, Boston College has the meat of the schedule coming up, beginning with No. 8 Virgina Tech. Matt Ryan is on this list because he’s the quarterback of the second ranked team in the country, and it’s games like this that prove a quarterback’s worth.
Andre’ Woodson
QB, Kentucky
Last week: 415 yards, 5 TDs
Season: 2,201 yards, 26 TDs, 4 INTs
His numbers are still solid and a No. 14 ranking and 6-2 record at a school better known for basketball is nothing to be ashamed of, but the next race for Woodson to chase is between him and Louisville’s Brian Brohm for the right to be the first quarterback chosen in the 2008 NFL Draft.
Darren McFadden
RB, Arkansas
Last week: 110 yards
Season: 932 yards, 8 TDs
We decided it was too illogical to move McFadden from the number one slot to off the list completely, so we bumped him out of the top five for a start. Unless he gets his act together, this will be the last time McFadden’s name is writing in this space.
Compiled by Cash Kruth
