The Heisman race is still wide open.
My ranking, based on performance to date (not a projection of who will win, or go to New York)
1. Graham Harrell
2. Dennis Dixon
3. Tim Tebow
4. Andre Woodson
5. Mike Hart
Still Alive: Darren McFadden, Sam Bradford, Matt Ryan, Chase Daniel, Brian Brohm, Pat White, Michael Crabtree, Rashard Mendenhall, Justin Forsett, Jonathan Stewart
New on the radar: Rudy Carpenter (Az St), Todd Reesing (Kansas), Javon Ringer
Mentioned earlier, but no chance: Colt Brennan, John David Booty, DeSean Jackson, Glenn Dorsey, P.J. Hill, Ray Rice, Steve Slaton, Kevin Smith, Tashard Choice, DeSean Jackson
QB candidates:
Graham Harrell, Texas Tech - 3151 yards passing, 31 TDs with only 3 interceptions. -31 yards rushing with 2 TDs. 2nd in the nation in passing efficiency. Those who like huge statistics need to ignore Colt Brennan and look at Harrell.
Dennis Dixon, Oregon - 1525 yards passing, 15 TDs 2 picks, 3rd in passing efficiency. 324 yards rushing (5.1 ypc) with 6 TDs.
Tim Tebow, Florida - 1455 yards passing, 13 TDs with 3 picks. 500 yards rushing (4.8 ypc) with 9 TDs.
Andre Woodson, Kentucky - 1786 yards passing, 21 TDs with 4 picks, 15th in passing efficiency. -85 yards rushing with 2 TDs. Hit a huge TD in 3rd OT against LSU. Also had 2 fumbles that went for defensive TDs in the loss to S. Carolina.
Sam Bradford, Oklahoma - 1689 yards passing, 20 TDs with 4 picks, 1st in passing efficiency. 11 yards rushing with no TDs. Like Todd Boeckman, he usually has all day to throw the ball. Only has 112 yards passing and 2 picks in loss to Colorado.
Chase Daniel, Missouri - 2073 yards passing, 16 TDs with 6 picks, 16th in efficiency. 187 yards rushing (3.6 ypc) with 3 TDs. Threw for 361 yards and 2 picks vs. Oklahoma, and was part of a dropped handoff that gave Oklahoma a defensive TD to go up 2 scores in the 4th quarter.
Matt Ryan, B. C. - 2148 yards passing, 17 TDs with 6 picks, 40th in passing efficiency. 38 yards rushing (1.9 ypc) with 1 TD. B.C. is now in the top-3, but Ryan was mediocre against N.C. State and UMass, and average against ND. He's just behind John David Booty in passing efficiency.
Brian Brohm, Louisville - 2765 yards passing, 23 TDs with 4 picks, 6th in efficency. -14 yards rushing with 1 TD. Louisville's 3 losses lower his profile, and Harrell has bigger numbers.
Pat White, W. Virginia - 865 yards passing, 7 TDs with 1 pick, 9th in efficiency. 411 yards rushing (6.0 ypc) with 7 TDs. Ineffective and then injured in loss at South Florida; and Tebow and Dixon are getting more attention as dual-threat QBs.
Rudy Carpenter, Arizona St. - 1730 yards passing, 16 TDs with 7 picks, 12th in efficiency. -80 yards rushing with 0 TDs. He's been consistently good, but not great. With the reduced number of undefeated teams, he'll start to get talked about.
Todd Reesing, Kansas - 1652 yards passing, 16 TDs with picks, 14th in efficiency. 135 yards rushing (2.9 ypc) with 1 TD. 3 picks were against Kansas State, the only good opponent so far, but his team won.
Colt Brennan - All you need to know is 9 interceptions combined against Idaho and San Jose State.
RB candidates:
Mike Hart, Michigan - 1078 yards (154/game, 5.4 ypc) with 12 TDs. Has caught 7 passes for 43 yards and 0 TDs. Has over 100 yards rushing in every game.
Darren McFadden, Arkansas - 822 yards (137/game, 5.6 ypc) with 7 TDs. Has caught 8 passes for 61 yards and 0 TDs. For the last two weeks, he had 122 yards and two fumbles against UT-Chattanooga and only had 43 yards against Auburn. Has just 1 pass completion this year (it went for a TD). And Felix Jones is getting 10.2 ypc in the same backfield. He's an excellent player, but at this point the Heisman hype is based on last year's production.
P.J. Hill, Wisconsin - 825 yards (118/game, 4.6 ypc) with 11 TDs. Has caught 12 passes for 85 yards and 1 TD. He has 3 games of less than 100 yards, and a mediocre ypc.
Javon Ringer, Michigan State - 932 yards (133/game 7.1 ypc) with 6 TDs. Has caught 23 passes for 216 yards and 0 TDs. His first 3 games were less than 100 yards rushing, but he's coming on.
Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois - 839 yards (120/game 6.5 ypc) with 10 TDs. Has caught 21 passes for 200 yards and 2 TDs. Also has 3 games below 100 yards rushing.
Kevin Smith, UCF - 915 yards (153/game, 5.6 ypc) with 11 TDs. Has caught 11 passes for 122 yards. Held to 55 yards in loss to USF.
Ray Rice, Rutgers - 818 yards ( 136/game, 5.0 ypc) with 13 TDs. Has caught 17 passes for 175 yards and 1 TD. Also has 3 games with under 100 yards rushing.
Justin Forsett, Cal - 735 yards (123/game, 5.4 ypc) with 10 TDs. Has caught 6 passes for 65 yards and 0 TDs.
Jonathan Stewart, Oregon - 689 yards (115/game, 7.0 ypc) with 5 TDs. Has caught 9 passes for 31 yards and 0 TDs.
Steve Slaton, W. Virginia - 625 yards (104/game, 5.6 ypc) with 9 TDs. Has caught 12 passes for 179 yards and 1 TD. Had costly fumbles in their loss to USF.
Tashard Choice, Ga. Tech - 840 yards (120/game 5.6 ypc) with 6 TDs. Has caught 1 passes for 104 yards and 0 TDs. Only had 50 rushing yards combined in back-to-back losses to B.C. and Virginia.
Other candidates:
Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech - 1244 receiving yards (178/game, 15.9 per catch) with 17 TDs. Off-that-chart numbers, but had a game-winning pass bounce off his shoulder very late against Oklahoma State.
DeSean Jackson, Cal - 317 receiving yards (53/game 9.9 per catch) with 2 TDs. Has also rushed 6 times for 109 yards and 1 TD, and 1 punt return TD. Had only 4 catches for 5 yards, an 8-yard rush, and a 12-yard punt return in loss to Oregon State. He's a threat, but like Ted Ginn, Jr. last year, he doesn't have the numbers to be a viable candidate.
Glenn Dorsey, LSU - Kentucky scored 43 points, even if it was triple-OT, so the LSU defense was exposed somewhat, and the game plan limited his effectiveness. As a defensive player, only an undefeated LSU that dominated everybody on defense gave him a chance.
considering Woodson is 15th and Tebow is 4th in the nation.
