In this week’s Heisman watch, preseason favorite Darren McFadden is sandwiched between two quarterbacks who can do it all and a couple of newcomers from the Big 12.
Dennis Dixon
Heisman watch
Tebow a strong candidate to take home prestigious trophy
QB, Oregon
Last week: Idle
Season: Passing — 2,074 yards, 20 TDs, 3 INTs; Rushing — 549 yards, 8 TDs
I don’t foresee Dixon and the Ducks losing for the rest of the season, and as long as the dual-threat quarterback guides his team to the BCS National Championship game, he stands as the favorite to take home the bronze trophy.
Tim Tebow
QB, Florida
Last week: Passing — 304 yards, 2 TDs, INT; Rushing — 120 yards, 5 TDs
Season: Passing — 2,532 yards, 23 TDs, 5 INTs; Rushing — 718 yards, 19 TDs
Suppose Dixon and the Ducks go 11-1 and finish No. 2 in the polls. Is it possible Tebow will edge Dixon for the Heisman while quarterbacking a (potential) 9-3 football team?
After last week’s performance, in which he gained more than 400 yards and seven touchdowns, Tebow’s overall stats are far better than Dixon’s — and anyone else’s in the country for that matter. The Gators play Florida Atlantic (5-4) and Florida State (6-4) the next two weeks, and it’s entirely possible that Tebow could finish with 50 total touchdowns. Someone with those numbers can’t possibly be denied the Heisman Trophy — could he?
Darren McFadden
RB, Arkansas
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Last week: 117 yards
Season: 1,431 yards, 12 TDs
After exploding back onto the Heisman scene two weeks ago with his 321-yard effort, McFadden provided a solid but not spectacular performance last week against Tennessee. Aside from a few hiccups against Auburn and Florida International, McFadden has topped the century mark in every game this season. While he hasn’t dominated as expected, McFadden is still the most explosive back in the nation.
Chase Daniel
QB, Missouri
Last week: 352 yards, 3 TDs
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Season: 3,306 yards, 26 TDs, 9 INTs
The next two guys on our watch are first timers from the Big 12 Conference. Chase Daniel has been getting a lot of hype, and rightfully so. The junior quarterback sits in the top five nationally in many passing categories, and has led the Tigers to a 9-1 record and No. 5 ranking. While he may be on the bubble for a trip to New York, a win over No. 3 Kansas on Nov. 24 would solidify him as a top-five contender.
Sam Bradford
QB, Oklahoma
Last week: 353 yards, 3 TDs, INT
Season: 2,509, 28 TDs, 6 INTs
Michigan’s Mike Hart hasn’t played enough to be listed in the top five, and Hawaii’s Colt Brennan has a couple of tough matchups in the coming weeks if he wants to keep that undefeated record.
Enter Bradford, the freshman quarterback of the No. 4-ranked Sooners, who has completed 70 percent of his passes and thrown just six interceptions all season. ‘
After losing to Colorado on Sept. 29, Bradford rallied the Sooners to defeat Texas and Missouri in back-to-back weeks.
Oklahoma has a tough test Saturday against an explosive Texas Tech offense, and if the Sooner defense can’t stop the Red Raiders, it will be on Bradford to keep up with them.
Keep winning
Colt Brennan
Actually play a game
Mike Hart
—Compiled by Cash Kruth
