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MistriBuck
aka MartyrBuck
and for those that weren't aware of this FIASCO, his list of top college football venues included TWENTY-FIVE venues, and he said "oops, i guess i just over-looked it"...............the guy is an absolute joke
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BuckPride
Junior
True freshman usually don't produce their first year. Ginn conquers this typical learning curve faster than any freshman I have seen. Yet the writer states that Tressel finally uses him. What do some of these writers use for brains? When Ginn first started out he was tentative and looked lost in running his patterns which is typical of a freshman. When Ginn see's the light its Tressel finally using this great talent! LOL!
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luckobucko
Robust T
Don't you guys realize he does this stuff just to get a rise out of us? I'm sure this guy early on in his career figured out that buckeye nation is an extremely passionate fanbase that doesn't appreciate negative press and will lash out at the source. From a sportswriter's point of view, this means negative press will get more mileage and feedback, i.e. more copy for the print media. I will venture to say he figured out that when he wrote bad things about us, he would get tons of hate mail in his inbox - which to Dennis means his piece got a lot of exposure, perhaps even more than normal. However, I can also appreciate that when you get enough hate mail from one fanbase, you will tend to hold it against them. Even if he were to write an article that was completely complimentary towards OSU, I imagine that wouldn't get a tenth of the emails in praise that the few jabs at our expense in his Heisman wathchlist got in angry flame emails. All I'm saying is just don't lash out at the guy, let him sit at his office and feel unimportant because he didn't get 500 emails in his inbox from crazy buckeye fans for his latest efforts...
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Hard to believe the heisman thread hasn't been touched in a month.
Here's a list from SI.com's Luke Winn:
Trojans duo, Peterson top first '05 Heisman list
For players whose names have appeared in the top five of a Heisman vote count -- and especially for those who happen to already own a trophy -- the 2005 edition of spring football was largely a spectator sport.
Last year's frontrunners, USC's Matt Leinart and Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson, spent the spring recovering from offseason surgeries while second-, third- and fourth-stringers battled for supremacy among the backups. So while we've gleaned little new information about the lead dogs, we do know this: the '05 Heisman race, save for Jason White, could look a lot like '04's. To fill the void until fall, here's an early top 10:
1. Matt Leinart, Sr., QB, USC
2004 Stats: 269-of-412 passing (65.3 percent) 3,322 yards, 33 TDs, 6 INTs
Prognosis: Leinart has one trophy in the bank, and there's no reason another can't be on the way. (Well, except that Norm Chow, the architect/guru of the offense in which Leinart flourished for the past two seasons, left for an NFL gig, and LenDale White, USC's workhorse running back, and Dominique Byrd, the top tight end, are in danger of being academically ineligible for the fall ... )
In the springtime: He was nursing his throwing elbow (after surgery), and hitting the books (quarterbacks coach Steve Sarkisian made Leinart break down the defenses of every NFL team, which, USC's BMOC told the Los Angeles Times, "Will make analyzing defenses [in college this season] look real easy").
2. Adrian Peterson, So., RB, Oklahoma
2004 Stats: 339 carries, 1,925 yards (148.1 ypg), 15 TDs
Prognosis: Leinart outshined Peterson in the Orange Bowl, but based on each player's regular season, Peterson should have won the trophy in '04. The question for '05 is, with OU's passing attack bound to be down post-White (three QBs are still competing for the starting job and the receivers are equally inexperienced), will AD's production drop as opposing defenses key on him? Peterson will have to use the summer to acquaint himself with the Sooners' revamped O-line -- which hasn't been stellar thus far -- and new quarterback, whoever that may be.
In the springtime: Peterson was resting after surgery on his left shoulder -- which meant running laps around Owen Field while his teammates practiced. His stats in OU's April 16 spring game were far from Heisman-like: 0 carries, 0 yards, 0 steps on the field.
3. Reggie Bush, Jr., RB, USC
2004 Stats: 179.2 all-purpose yards per game; (143 carries, 908 yards, 6 TDs; 43 catches, 509 yards, 7 TDs; 24 punt returns, 376 yards, 2 TDs; 21 kick returns, 537 yards; 1-for-1 passing, 52 yards, TD)
Prognosis: Bush is the most exciting player in the college game -- his personal highlight tape would trumps a compilation of every other player in the NCAA combined -- but he happens to share a backfield with the Heisman incumbent. If voters are still enamored with Leinart, then Bush's chances are slim; if voters feel compelled to spread the wealth among the Trojans, then Bush in '06 is a plausible scenario.
In the springtime: Amazingly, no surgery. Bush's doctor's note for missing USC's spring scrimmage said "jammed toe."
4. Vince Young, Jr., QB, Texas
2004 Stats: 167 carries, 1,079 yards, 14 TDs; 148-of-250 passing (59.2 percent), 12 TDs, 11 INTs
Prognosis: Following the Rose Bowl, the phrase "2005 Heisman candidate" was officially appended to Young's name. His performance in Pasadena is now legendary: 29 carries, 192 yards, four TDs; 16-of-28 passing, one TD as Texas won the most exciting bowl game in years, 38-37 over Michigan.
In the springtime: He played? What a concept. Young went 8-of-14 passing for 115 yards and carried seven times for 24 yards in Texas' spring game. The 'Horns found Young a backfield companion in running back Ramonce Taylor, and the receiver spots -- with the sizable Limas Sweed and Jordan Shipley -- are filling in nicely. "I'd give the receivers an A," Young told the Austin American-Statesman after UT's final scrimmage. Which is a good sign, seeing that the passing game has not been Young's strong point.
5. Omar Jacobs, Jr., QB, Bowling Green
2004 Stats: 309-of-462 passing (66.9 percent), 4,002 yards, 41 TDs, 4 INTs,
Prognosis: The man was robbed! How else to explain the lack of Heisman attention surrounding Jacobs' 41-TDs-against-just-four-INTs showing in '04? (Ed. Note: "Three losses" and "Plays in MAC" are also acceptable answers.) Jacobs is still far from a household name, but he'll begin 2005 on the radar as the top non-BCS-conference candidate. That should help.
In the springtime: Notice the "increased-participation" trend as we make our way down this list? Jacobs tore up the Falcons' spring game on April 16, completing 24 of 38 passes for 441 yards and a sextet of TDs. Nevermind that BGSU lost a trio of receivers to graduation -- freshman wideouts Corey Partridge and Luke Alexander combined for five TDs in the scrimmage. Jacobs' message to the younguns', as told to the Toledo Blade: "Just get open, and I'll find you."
6. Chris Leak, Jr., QB, Florida
2004 Stats: 238-of-399 passing (59.7 percent), 3,197 yards, 29 TDs, 12 INTs
Prognosis: This is a speculative pick (as if a Heisman Watch on April 27 is anything but), under the assumption that Leak will thrive in Urban Meyer's spread-option offense -- the system that turned Alex Smith, a relatively unknown QB before '04, into the No. 1 pick in the '05 NFL Draft. Now we'll see what it can do for the nation's biggest blue-chip QB in years, who passed for more than 3,000 yards last season but had too many INTs (12) and failed to complete 60 percent of his throws. Leak isn't a guaranteed contender, but all the right ingredients are present ...
In the springtime: Leak already has two years under his belt as a starter, but this was not a spring for fine-tuning. He had two substantial assignments: 1) Learn Meyer's offense (not an easy task -- the QB told SI that, "Meyer is a man who wants perfection") and 2) Learn a new definition of leadership -- Meyer's -- which required dishing out more verbal reinforcement (see: scolding) for his teammates, rather than simply guiding by example. Leak closed the camp with a four-TD, 221-yard afternoon in the Orange & Blue Game on April 9 -- which, by most indications, was a good start in the spread-option.
7. DeAngelo Williams, Sr., RB, Memphis
2004 Stats: 313 carries, 1,948 yards (162.3 ypg), 22 TDs; 18 catches, 210 yards, TD
Prognosis: Williams is the back -- along with OU's Peterson -- who has the best shot at rushing for 2,000 yards in '05 (Williams fell only 52 yards short of the mark in '04, when he was the nation's No. 3 rusher). Only two of his games this season are on national TV -- the season opener vs. Ole Miss and a Nov. 1 matchup with UAB -- but the fact that Williams is viewed as an '06 NFL first-rounder will ensure him a fair share of name recognition in the Heisman race ... or at least more than the average C-USA standout.
In the springtime: He took the field for just three plays in the Tigers' Blue-Gray Game -- and finished with a Peterson-esque double-zero (yards, carries). Coach Tommy West has good reason to protect his star, who broke his right fibula in the GMAC Bowl, seeing that Memphis' starting quarterback from '04, Danny Wimprine, and top receiver, Tavares Gideon, are now gone. "I understood where the coaches were coming from," Williams told The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal of his spring orders. "There were times when I'd walk up to coach [West] before a scrimmage and before I could say anything he'd say, 'No.' Then he'd call me back over and say, 'You know I still like you, don't you?'"
8. Michael Hart, So., RB, Michigan
2004 Stats: 282 carries, 1,455 yards (121.3 ypg), 9 TDs
Prognosis: Hart was the nation's 10th-leading rusher as a freshman, despite only carrying the ball eight times in his first two games. He averaged 27.4 carries in the 10 games after that (the last eight of which he started), including a 40-carry, 234-yard afternoon at Illinois on Oct. 16. Expect Hart to become even more of a workhorse back in '05 -- to the tune of at least 30 carries per game -- and carry the Big Ten banner as its No. 1 Heisman candidate (right ahead of Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr. and UM teammate Steve Breaston).
In the springtime: Hart was a participant in the Wolverines' notoriously secretive spring camp -- citing injuries as the reason, coach Lloyd Carr didn't even hold a traditional scrimmage for the final practice. Hart was not among the injured, and reportedly continued to impress in the backfield.
9. Ted Ginn Jr., Soph., WR/KR, Ohio State
2004 Stats: 13 rushes, 113 yards, 2 TDs; 25 catches, 359 yards, 2 TDs; 15 punt returns, 384 yards (25.6 ypr), 4 TDs; 2 kick returns, 40 yards
Prognosis: Ginn was the nation's No. 1 punt returner in '04, but this season coach Jim Tressel intends for the speedster to be all of the following: a cornerback (in man-to-man situations in the red zone); a wide receiver (he caught 25 balls in '04 but could see twice that in '05); a tailback (he's harder to cover out of the backfield); and finally, a shotgun quarterback (seriously). Should Ginn do everything -- or at least most of those things -- in standard, highlight-reel fashion, he will be in the thick of the Heisman hunt.
In the springtime: Ginn was a No. 1 draft pick. Not by the NFL -- he was the first wide receiver chosen by the Scarlet team for the Buckeyes' spring game. While he saw limited action -- just one catch and one carry -- he gave the nearly 23,000 fans on hand a taste of things to come by scampering for a 13-yard gain on a reverse on the team's first play.
10. Brian Brohm, Soph., QB, Louisville
2004 Stats: 66-of-98 passing (67.3 percent), 819 yards, 6 TDs, 2 INTs
Prognosis: No longer handicapped by the non-BCS label, Louisville's offensive stars are now prime candidates for major national awards. Brohm is not yet a star, nor is he even a returning starter -- but he was no normal reserve in '04, playing exceptionally in relief duty of the No. 1-rated QB in the nation, Stefan LeFors. The reins are entirely in Brohm's hands in '05, and the super-soph could post huge numbers as the high-powered Cards make a run at the BCS.
In the springtime: Brohm was laughing -- at the Cards' defense, while he completed 23-of-29 passes (that's 79.3 percent) for 390 yards and six TDs on them in the spring game. Be very afraid, Big East.
If only the list were bigger, it would include: Steve Breaston, Jr., WR/R, Michigan; Tyler Palko, QB, Jr., Pitt; the two-RB combo of Jamario Thomas and Patrick Cobbs, North Texas (if such a split were possible).
Here's a list from SI.com's Luke Winn:
Trojans duo, Peterson top first '05 Heisman list
For players whose names have appeared in the top five of a Heisman vote count -- and especially for those who happen to already own a trophy -- the 2005 edition of spring football was largely a spectator sport.
Last year's frontrunners, USC's Matt Leinart and Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson, spent the spring recovering from offseason surgeries while second-, third- and fourth-stringers battled for supremacy among the backups. So while we've gleaned little new information about the lead dogs, we do know this: the '05 Heisman race, save for Jason White, could look a lot like '04's. To fill the void until fall, here's an early top 10:
1. Matt Leinart, Sr., QB, USC
2004 Stats: 269-of-412 passing (65.3 percent) 3,322 yards, 33 TDs, 6 INTs
Prognosis: Leinart has one trophy in the bank, and there's no reason another can't be on the way. (Well, except that Norm Chow, the architect/guru of the offense in which Leinart flourished for the past two seasons, left for an NFL gig, and LenDale White, USC's workhorse running back, and Dominique Byrd, the top tight end, are in danger of being academically ineligible for the fall ... )
In the springtime: He was nursing his throwing elbow (after surgery), and hitting the books (quarterbacks coach Steve Sarkisian made Leinart break down the defenses of every NFL team, which, USC's BMOC told the Los Angeles Times, "Will make analyzing defenses [in college this season] look real easy").
2. Adrian Peterson, So., RB, Oklahoma
2004 Stats: 339 carries, 1,925 yards (148.1 ypg), 15 TDs
Prognosis: Leinart outshined Peterson in the Orange Bowl, but based on each player's regular season, Peterson should have won the trophy in '04. The question for '05 is, with OU's passing attack bound to be down post-White (three QBs are still competing for the starting job and the receivers are equally inexperienced), will AD's production drop as opposing defenses key on him? Peterson will have to use the summer to acquaint himself with the Sooners' revamped O-line -- which hasn't been stellar thus far -- and new quarterback, whoever that may be.
In the springtime: Peterson was resting after surgery on his left shoulder -- which meant running laps around Owen Field while his teammates practiced. His stats in OU's April 16 spring game were far from Heisman-like: 0 carries, 0 yards, 0 steps on the field.
3. Reggie Bush, Jr., RB, USC
2004 Stats: 179.2 all-purpose yards per game; (143 carries, 908 yards, 6 TDs; 43 catches, 509 yards, 7 TDs; 24 punt returns, 376 yards, 2 TDs; 21 kick returns, 537 yards; 1-for-1 passing, 52 yards, TD)
Prognosis: Bush is the most exciting player in the college game -- his personal highlight tape would trumps a compilation of every other player in the NCAA combined -- but he happens to share a backfield with the Heisman incumbent. If voters are still enamored with Leinart, then Bush's chances are slim; if voters feel compelled to spread the wealth among the Trojans, then Bush in '06 is a plausible scenario.
In the springtime: Amazingly, no surgery. Bush's doctor's note for missing USC's spring scrimmage said "jammed toe."
4. Vince Young, Jr., QB, Texas
2004 Stats: 167 carries, 1,079 yards, 14 TDs; 148-of-250 passing (59.2 percent), 12 TDs, 11 INTs
Prognosis: Following the Rose Bowl, the phrase "2005 Heisman candidate" was officially appended to Young's name. His performance in Pasadena is now legendary: 29 carries, 192 yards, four TDs; 16-of-28 passing, one TD as Texas won the most exciting bowl game in years, 38-37 over Michigan.
In the springtime: He played? What a concept. Young went 8-of-14 passing for 115 yards and carried seven times for 24 yards in Texas' spring game. The 'Horns found Young a backfield companion in running back Ramonce Taylor, and the receiver spots -- with the sizable Limas Sweed and Jordan Shipley -- are filling in nicely. "I'd give the receivers an A," Young told the Austin American-Statesman after UT's final scrimmage. Which is a good sign, seeing that the passing game has not been Young's strong point.
5. Omar Jacobs, Jr., QB, Bowling Green
2004 Stats: 309-of-462 passing (66.9 percent), 4,002 yards, 41 TDs, 4 INTs,
Prognosis: The man was robbed! How else to explain the lack of Heisman attention surrounding Jacobs' 41-TDs-against-just-four-INTs showing in '04? (Ed. Note: "Three losses" and "Plays in MAC" are also acceptable answers.) Jacobs is still far from a household name, but he'll begin 2005 on the radar as the top non-BCS-conference candidate. That should help.
In the springtime: Notice the "increased-participation" trend as we make our way down this list? Jacobs tore up the Falcons' spring game on April 16, completing 24 of 38 passes for 441 yards and a sextet of TDs. Nevermind that BGSU lost a trio of receivers to graduation -- freshman wideouts Corey Partridge and Luke Alexander combined for five TDs in the scrimmage. Jacobs' message to the younguns', as told to the Toledo Blade: "Just get open, and I'll find you."
6. Chris Leak, Jr., QB, Florida
2004 Stats: 238-of-399 passing (59.7 percent), 3,197 yards, 29 TDs, 12 INTs
Prognosis: This is a speculative pick (as if a Heisman Watch on April 27 is anything but), under the assumption that Leak will thrive in Urban Meyer's spread-option offense -- the system that turned Alex Smith, a relatively unknown QB before '04, into the No. 1 pick in the '05 NFL Draft. Now we'll see what it can do for the nation's biggest blue-chip QB in years, who passed for more than 3,000 yards last season but had too many INTs (12) and failed to complete 60 percent of his throws. Leak isn't a guaranteed contender, but all the right ingredients are present ...
In the springtime: Leak already has two years under his belt as a starter, but this was not a spring for fine-tuning. He had two substantial assignments: 1) Learn Meyer's offense (not an easy task -- the QB told SI that, "Meyer is a man who wants perfection") and 2) Learn a new definition of leadership -- Meyer's -- which required dishing out more verbal reinforcement (see: scolding) for his teammates, rather than simply guiding by example. Leak closed the camp with a four-TD, 221-yard afternoon in the Orange & Blue Game on April 9 -- which, by most indications, was a good start in the spread-option.
7. DeAngelo Williams, Sr., RB, Memphis
2004 Stats: 313 carries, 1,948 yards (162.3 ypg), 22 TDs; 18 catches, 210 yards, TD
Prognosis: Williams is the back -- along with OU's Peterson -- who has the best shot at rushing for 2,000 yards in '05 (Williams fell only 52 yards short of the mark in '04, when he was the nation's No. 3 rusher). Only two of his games this season are on national TV -- the season opener vs. Ole Miss and a Nov. 1 matchup with UAB -- but the fact that Williams is viewed as an '06 NFL first-rounder will ensure him a fair share of name recognition in the Heisman race ... or at least more than the average C-USA standout.
In the springtime: He took the field for just three plays in the Tigers' Blue-Gray Game -- and finished with a Peterson-esque double-zero (yards, carries). Coach Tommy West has good reason to protect his star, who broke his right fibula in the GMAC Bowl, seeing that Memphis' starting quarterback from '04, Danny Wimprine, and top receiver, Tavares Gideon, are now gone. "I understood where the coaches were coming from," Williams told The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal of his spring orders. "There were times when I'd walk up to coach [West] before a scrimmage and before I could say anything he'd say, 'No.' Then he'd call me back over and say, 'You know I still like you, don't you?'"
8. Michael Hart, So., RB, Michigan
2004 Stats: 282 carries, 1,455 yards (121.3 ypg), 9 TDs
Prognosis: Hart was the nation's 10th-leading rusher as a freshman, despite only carrying the ball eight times in his first two games. He averaged 27.4 carries in the 10 games after that (the last eight of which he started), including a 40-carry, 234-yard afternoon at Illinois on Oct. 16. Expect Hart to become even more of a workhorse back in '05 -- to the tune of at least 30 carries per game -- and carry the Big Ten banner as its No. 1 Heisman candidate (right ahead of Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr. and UM teammate Steve Breaston).
In the springtime: Hart was a participant in the Wolverines' notoriously secretive spring camp -- citing injuries as the reason, coach Lloyd Carr didn't even hold a traditional scrimmage for the final practice. Hart was not among the injured, and reportedly continued to impress in the backfield.
9. Ted Ginn Jr., Soph., WR/KR, Ohio State
2004 Stats: 13 rushes, 113 yards, 2 TDs; 25 catches, 359 yards, 2 TDs; 15 punt returns, 384 yards (25.6 ypr), 4 TDs; 2 kick returns, 40 yards
Prognosis: Ginn was the nation's No. 1 punt returner in '04, but this season coach Jim Tressel intends for the speedster to be all of the following: a cornerback (in man-to-man situations in the red zone); a wide receiver (he caught 25 balls in '04 but could see twice that in '05); a tailback (he's harder to cover out of the backfield); and finally, a shotgun quarterback (seriously). Should Ginn do everything -- or at least most of those things -- in standard, highlight-reel fashion, he will be in the thick of the Heisman hunt.
In the springtime: Ginn was a No. 1 draft pick. Not by the NFL -- he was the first wide receiver chosen by the Scarlet team for the Buckeyes' spring game. While he saw limited action -- just one catch and one carry -- he gave the nearly 23,000 fans on hand a taste of things to come by scampering for a 13-yard gain on a reverse on the team's first play.
10. Brian Brohm, Soph., QB, Louisville
2004 Stats: 66-of-98 passing (67.3 percent), 819 yards, 6 TDs, 2 INTs
Prognosis: No longer handicapped by the non-BCS label, Louisville's offensive stars are now prime candidates for major national awards. Brohm is not yet a star, nor is he even a returning starter -- but he was no normal reserve in '04, playing exceptionally in relief duty of the No. 1-rated QB in the nation, Stefan LeFors. The reins are entirely in Brohm's hands in '05, and the super-soph could post huge numbers as the high-powered Cards make a run at the BCS.
In the springtime: Brohm was laughing -- at the Cards' defense, while he completed 23-of-29 passes (that's 79.3 percent) for 390 yards and six TDs on them in the spring game. Be very afraid, Big East.
If only the list were bigger, it would include: Steve Breaston, Jr., WR/R, Michigan; Tyler Palko, QB, Jr., Pitt; the two-RB combo of Jamario Thomas and Patrick Cobbs, North Texas (if such a split were possible).
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rocketman
flying low
I know the crowd I'm speaking to wouldn't dare type the letters, E, S, P, and N consecutively in their address bar, but does anyone with an insider subscription get the entire list to this article:
http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=feldman_bruce&id=2047464&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncf%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dfeldman_bruce%26id%3d2047464
http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=feldman_bruce&id=2047464&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncf%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dfeldman_bruce%26id%3d2047464
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Luke Winn smokes crack:
Tressel has said repeatedly that Ginn will not play corner. Ginn got a couple token plays at corner in the spring game, his only snaps at that position since he's been at Ohio State. As for Bush's highlight tape being better than all others' combined, it's a shame that Winn hasn't seen Ginn play at all...
Tressel has said repeatedly that Ginn will not play corner. Ginn got a couple token plays at corner in the spring game, his only snaps at that position since he's been at Ohio State. As for Bush's highlight tape being better than all others' combined, it's a shame that Winn hasn't seen Ginn play at all...
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FookMichiganTGJ
RATT AND ROLL
i was gonna say.....shit theres a kid at my high school who ran a 4.3 going to msu to play reciever/safetyMililaniBuckeye said:
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How about this quote:
"Texas won the most exciting bowl game in years, 38-37 over Michigan."
How many years was that - couldn't have been more than 2!
"Texas won the most exciting bowl game in years, 38-37 over Michigan."
How many years was that - couldn't have been more than 2!
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Fiu's top20 Heisman contenders (and other tOSU players) from CFBNews.com.
Cirminiello's list (which I like better) follows.
1. QB Matt Leinart, USC
The national perception of Leinart is far different than the general feeling about former Oklahoma QB Jason White last year at this time. No one was all jacked up about making White the second two-time Heisman winner, but Leinart appears to be more worthy of the god-like status a second Heisman would bring. With two national championships (one according to LSU fans) and delaying being the first pick in the NFL draft for the chance at another title, Leinart has the legendary status and talent to go along with the production. It’s his Heisman for the taking.
2. RB Reggie Bush, USC
Get ready for the year-long debate: is Bush the better player than Leinart? Certainly he’s the most talented all-around player in America and will keep defensive coordinators up as many, if not more, nights as Mr. Heisman.
3. RB Laurence Maroney, Minnesota
Marion Barber III ran for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns. Maroney ran for 1,348 yards and 12 touchdowns turning into more of a home-run hitter. Move Barber’s 231 carries over to Maroney and … o.k., so Maroney isn’t going to carry the ball 448 times, but he’ll get more touches and will be a threat to roll for 2,000 yards behind a great offensive line.
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4. RB Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma
Peterson will be a marked man until the new starting quarterback can prove he can make plays like Jason White did. As good as Peterson is, 1,925 yards and 15 touchdowns is still a hard act to follow. Consider him the 2006 front-runner.
5. QB Erik Ainge, Tennessee
First, Ainge has to beat out Rick Clausen for the starting job. Next, he has to win at Florida and at LSU. If he does those three things, he’ll be the number two man behind Matt Leinart all year long.
6. QB Vince Young, Texas
Young would be much higher, but the Heisman campaign will likely end in Columbus before it can get going. If he beats Ohio State and Oklahoma, he’ll finish no worse than third. If he’s amazing in the two national spotlight wins, he’s the favorite.
7. RB Marshawn Lynch, California
J.J. Arrington ran for over 2,000 yards and didn’t come close to going to New York. Consider the publicity road paved for Lynch who averaged 8.8 yards per carry last year. The national media will be paying attention this time around.
8. QB Chris Leak, Florida
The eyes of the college football world will be on Leak to see if he can become the next Alex Smith. He’ll put up obscene passing numbers in Urban Meyer’s offense with a great receiving corps to throw to and a wonderful line to work behind. He'll be higher if/when the Gators beat Tennessee and Alabama early, but the road trip to LSU could be the downfall.
9. RB DeAngelo Williams, Memphis
The leg is fine, the campaign has started, and the preseason hype will be tremendous coming off a 1,948-yard, 22 touchdown season. For his career, the quick and powerful senior has rushed for 4,062 yards and 37 scores averaging 6.2 yards per carry. The problem might be with the rest of the offense; it’s not great and that includes the line.
10. QB Omar Jacobs, Bowling Green
It’s amazing how all it takes is a 41 touchdown, four interception, 4,002-yard season to get into the Heisman race. There are even whispers that he’s growing into a better pro prospect than Matt Leinart. Games at Wisconsin and Boise State will make or break his campaign within the first three weeks.
11. QB Reggie McNeal, Texas A&M
McNeal was amazing as a one-man gang at times, and now he has to maintain his consistency and blowout Clemson at Clemson right off the bat to generate a buzz. He then has to put up huge numbers before the finishing kick at Texas Tech, at Oklahoma and against Texas.
12. QB Brad Smith, Missouri
Jump back on the bandwagon. The coaching staff finally realized what the rest of the nation already knew: Brad Smith is scary-good when he’s on the move and is average when forced to stay in the pocket. Expect Smith to run more in the new spread attack and look for humongous numbers. The October 1<SUP>st</SUP> date with Vince Young and Texas should be circled on your calendar.
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13. QB Cody Hodges, Texas Tech
He’s the Texas Tech quarterback. What more reason do you need? Expect him to have over 1,400 passing yards and 15 touchdown tosses after three games against Florida International, Sam Houston State and Indiana State.
14. WR/KR Ted Ginn Jr., Ohio State
Here’s the problem, where will the numbers come from? He’s not the team’s best receiver (Santonio Holmes is), he won’t play much defensive back and he’ll only get a few carries here and there. Voters like numbers to look at, but an explosive performance against Texas will stick in everyone’s minds.
15. QB Sam Keller, Arizona State
Yeah, he wasn’t that great this spring, but he’ll come around. With Derek Hagan to throw to and a Heisman campaign-launching shot against USC, he’ll be an interesting candidate.
16. QB Marcus Vick, Virginia Tech
The offense around him is terrific and he’ll generate a national buzz by his last name alone. He’ll be a major storyline every week as an electrifying runner and after showing this spring that he's an improved passer.
17. WR Dwayne Jarrett, USC
He’s not Mike Williams, but he’ll put up roughly the same numbers. He’ll see some of his yards get taken away by Steve Smith and the other great Trojan receivers, but another 13 touchdown season will get everyone’s attention.
18. WR/KR Steve Breaston, Michigan
Never healthy last year, Breaston reminded everyone how good he is with a 221-yard kick return performance in the Rose Bowl to go along with three catches for 77 yards and a score. There’s something very Desmond Howardish about him.
19. QB Chad Henne, Michigan
While Matt Gutierrez isn’t out of the mix, Henne will likely be the starter. He’ll throw for big yards even with Braylon Edwards off to Cleveland and will be even sharper than he was in his surprising freshman campaign.
20. RB Leon Washington, Florida State
Washington was the best player in the ACC over the first half of last year, but he got hurt and wasn’t quite the same. A big game in the opener against Miami would put him on the map and put the focus on the rest of the way.
29. LB A.J. Hawk, Ohio State
Hawk will be this year’s cause célèbre among the media if he has a big primetime performance against Vince Young and Texas. He has already been handed the Butkus Award by most.
63. WR Santonio Holmes, Ohio State
Holmes will suffer from being the sidekick publicity-wise to Ted Ginn Jr., but he’ll probably lead the team in receiving. All he needs is a huge game against Texas to get the ball rolling.
Here's Cirminiello's list - I like this one better, but he should take Schaeffer off #18
1. QB Matt Leinart, USC – Unlike Jason White in 2004, Leinart will defend his Heisman crown with a full head of steam and the unanimous respect of the voters. The loss of offensive coordinator Norm Chow will be offset by a receiving corps that’s light years better than it was nine months ago.
2. QB Vince Young, Texas – Young’s Heisman campaign began in Pasadena three months ago, when he authored one of the great individual efforts in ‘Horn history. Early season encounters with Ohio State and Oklahoma afford him the platform to go toe-to-toe with Leinart.
3. RB Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma – Peterson is already the most complete back in the college game, but a reshuffled line and an inexperienced quarterback could make yards a wee bit tougher to come by this fall.
4. RB Reggie Bush, USC – If the Heisman championed college football’s Most Entertaining or Most Dangerous player, some ballots might already be cast. Bush is college football’s ultimate weapon, who can do everything, except, perhaps, convince Heisman voters he’s the most valuable player on his own team.
5. QB Chris Leak, Florida – Leak is not the letter-perfect quarterback to run Urban Meyer’s read-option attack, but the coach is wise enough to install a playbook that’ll get the most out of his junior’s deep reservoir of talent. Meyer was a starmaker for his last two quarterbacks, and Leak was already on the All-American doorstep.
6. WR Ted Ginn, Jr., Ohio State – The mercurial and multi-faceted Ginn is on the tarmac, and preparing for lift-off in 2005. He’ll challenge Bush as the most electrifying player in America.
7. QB Drew Tate, Iowa – Tate was thrust into an impossible situation in 2004, and he responded by being named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. With a running game to balance the offense and a Top 10 team to attract attention, the Hawkeyes could have their second Heisman finalist in four years. <TABLE cellSpacing=6 width=120 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%"><!--120x600 and 160x600 SkyScraper CODE for collegefootballnews.com --><SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://media.fastclick.net/w/get.media?sid=16942&m=3&tp=7&d=j&t=n"></SCRIPT><NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT><!-- 120x600 and 160x600 SkyScraper CODE for collegefootballnews.com --></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
8. QB Reggie McNeal, Texas A&M – To the dismay of the rest of the Big XII, McNeal keeps maturing into a complete quarterback. If he can continue honing his passing skills and engineer an upset of either Oklahoma or Texas in November, he’ll mount a stiff challenge.
9. RB DeAngelo Williams, Memphis – Assuming the broken leg he suffered in the GMAC Bowl heals fine, Williams should be a fixture in the Heisman race right through November. He’ll have the numbers and the national recognition, however, all bets are off if he sputters in Knoxville Nov. 12.
10. RB Laurence Maroney, Minnesota – Marion Barber’s early departure to the NFL opens the door for Maroney to make a push for All-American honors. He’s a tremendous combination of power and breakaway speed, who’ll put up Heisman caliber numbers in 2005.
11. QB Chad Henne, Michigan – Henne’s physically gifts were well-documented, but it was his uncommon poise as a true freshman starter, which already has him among the top quarterbacks in the nation. Even without Braylon Edwards, he has no shortage of quality pass-catchers.
12. RB Michael Hart, Michigan – Hart silenced the questions about Chris Perry’s successor last year, leading the Big Ten in rushing as a true freshman. Expect more of the same, but also expect heralded recruit Kevin Grady, who’s already in Ann Arbor, to steal some carries in September.
13. QB Tyler Palko, Pittsburgh – Even more is expected of Palko in 2005 after last year’s 24-touchdown, 3,067-yard opening act. He and Greg Lee form one of the most lethal pitch-and-catch combos in the country.
14. RB Gerald Riggs Jr., Tennessee – It’s taken four years, but now that he’s finally the workhorse, Riggs figures to have a monster season for a Vol team that’ll be contending for more than one title.
15. QB Omar Jacobs, Bowling Green – If 41 touchdowns to just four interceptions couldn’t get Jacobs on the radar, you kind of assume he’s fighting an uphill battle for national awards. At least this season, he won’t have to introduce himself to the major media before the start of the season.
16. QB Marcus Vick, Virginia Tech – Vick is the great unknown on a Hokie team that’s a consistent quarterback from being a bona fide Rose Bowl contender. His talent is unquestioned, but he still needs to prove he can get it done in a big spot.
17. CB Devin Hester, Miami – Hester’s one of those rare athletes that’s so explosive, he compels coaches to invent ways to get the ball in his hands. He played on offense, defense and special teams, picked off four passes and scored on a handoff, punt return, kickoff return and a blocked field goal.
18. QB Erik Ainge, Rick Clausen or Brent Schaeffer, Tennessee – Morph these three challengers into one uniform, and you’ve got a quarterback built at the XBox headquarters. Each offers something a little unique to the Vol offense, but all three have an opportunity to achieve some lofty individual goals in 2005.
19. RB Leon Washington, Florida State – The ‘Noles have big question marks on offense, but the running game isn’t one of them. Washington has first-round NFL talent, but as long as Lorenzo Booker is healthy, it’s doubtful he can accumulate Heisman-type numbers.
20. QB Brad Smith, Missouri – With expectations for him and his Tigers substantially more realistic than last year, Smith should bounce back with a season that’s more commensurate with his skills. The offense, which was roundly criticized in 2004, has been tinkered with to allow Smith more latitude to make plays.
45. QB Troy Smith or Justin Zwick, Ohio State – As if the chance to start isn’t enough incentive, the winner of this intriguing battle also gets to play catch with Teddy Ginn and Santonio Holmes on Saturdays. Smith has a dynamite upside, but was suspended for the Alamo Bowl and won’t dress for the opener after taking money from a booster.
82. WR Santonio Holmes, Ohio State – Holmes’ continued development as a big-play receiver will likely get overshadowed in 2005 by the presence of budding superstar, Ted Ginn Jr.
Cirminiello's list (which I like better) follows.
1. QB Matt Leinart, USC
The national perception of Leinart is far different than the general feeling about former Oklahoma QB Jason White last year at this time. No one was all jacked up about making White the second two-time Heisman winner, but Leinart appears to be more worthy of the god-like status a second Heisman would bring. With two national championships (one according to LSU fans) and delaying being the first pick in the NFL draft for the chance at another title, Leinart has the legendary status and talent to go along with the production. It’s his Heisman for the taking.
2. RB Reggie Bush, USC
Get ready for the year-long debate: is Bush the better player than Leinart? Certainly he’s the most talented all-around player in America and will keep defensive coordinators up as many, if not more, nights as Mr. Heisman.
3. RB Laurence Maroney, Minnesota
Marion Barber III ran for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns. Maroney ran for 1,348 yards and 12 touchdowns turning into more of a home-run hitter. Move Barber’s 231 carries over to Maroney and … o.k., so Maroney isn’t going to carry the ball 448 times, but he’ll get more touches and will be a threat to roll for 2,000 yards behind a great offensive line.
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4. RB Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma
Peterson will be a marked man until the new starting quarterback can prove he can make plays like Jason White did. As good as Peterson is, 1,925 yards and 15 touchdowns is still a hard act to follow. Consider him the 2006 front-runner.
5. QB Erik Ainge, Tennessee
First, Ainge has to beat out Rick Clausen for the starting job. Next, he has to win at Florida and at LSU. If he does those three things, he’ll be the number two man behind Matt Leinart all year long.
6. QB Vince Young, Texas
Young would be much higher, but the Heisman campaign will likely end in Columbus before it can get going. If he beats Ohio State and Oklahoma, he’ll finish no worse than third. If he’s amazing in the two national spotlight wins, he’s the favorite.
7. RB Marshawn Lynch, California
J.J. Arrington ran for over 2,000 yards and didn’t come close to going to New York. Consider the publicity road paved for Lynch who averaged 8.8 yards per carry last year. The national media will be paying attention this time around.
8. QB Chris Leak, Florida
The eyes of the college football world will be on Leak to see if he can become the next Alex Smith. He’ll put up obscene passing numbers in Urban Meyer’s offense with a great receiving corps to throw to and a wonderful line to work behind. He'll be higher if/when the Gators beat Tennessee and Alabama early, but the road trip to LSU could be the downfall.
9. RB DeAngelo Williams, Memphis
The leg is fine, the campaign has started, and the preseason hype will be tremendous coming off a 1,948-yard, 22 touchdown season. For his career, the quick and powerful senior has rushed for 4,062 yards and 37 scores averaging 6.2 yards per carry. The problem might be with the rest of the offense; it’s not great and that includes the line.
10. QB Omar Jacobs, Bowling Green
It’s amazing how all it takes is a 41 touchdown, four interception, 4,002-yard season to get into the Heisman race. There are even whispers that he’s growing into a better pro prospect than Matt Leinart. Games at Wisconsin and Boise State will make or break his campaign within the first three weeks.
11. QB Reggie McNeal, Texas A&M
McNeal was amazing as a one-man gang at times, and now he has to maintain his consistency and blowout Clemson at Clemson right off the bat to generate a buzz. He then has to put up huge numbers before the finishing kick at Texas Tech, at Oklahoma and against Texas.
12. QB Brad Smith, Missouri
Jump back on the bandwagon. The coaching staff finally realized what the rest of the nation already knew: Brad Smith is scary-good when he’s on the move and is average when forced to stay in the pocket. Expect Smith to run more in the new spread attack and look for humongous numbers. The October 1<SUP>st</SUP> date with Vince Young and Texas should be circled on your calendar.
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13. QB Cody Hodges, Texas Tech
He’s the Texas Tech quarterback. What more reason do you need? Expect him to have over 1,400 passing yards and 15 touchdown tosses after three games against Florida International, Sam Houston State and Indiana State.
14. WR/KR Ted Ginn Jr., Ohio State
Here’s the problem, where will the numbers come from? He’s not the team’s best receiver (Santonio Holmes is), he won’t play much defensive back and he’ll only get a few carries here and there. Voters like numbers to look at, but an explosive performance against Texas will stick in everyone’s minds.
15. QB Sam Keller, Arizona State
Yeah, he wasn’t that great this spring, but he’ll come around. With Derek Hagan to throw to and a Heisman campaign-launching shot against USC, he’ll be an interesting candidate.
16. QB Marcus Vick, Virginia Tech
The offense around him is terrific and he’ll generate a national buzz by his last name alone. He’ll be a major storyline every week as an electrifying runner and after showing this spring that he's an improved passer.
17. WR Dwayne Jarrett, USC
He’s not Mike Williams, but he’ll put up roughly the same numbers. He’ll see some of his yards get taken away by Steve Smith and the other great Trojan receivers, but another 13 touchdown season will get everyone’s attention.
18. WR/KR Steve Breaston, Michigan
Never healthy last year, Breaston reminded everyone how good he is with a 221-yard kick return performance in the Rose Bowl to go along with three catches for 77 yards and a score. There’s something very Desmond Howardish about him.
19. QB Chad Henne, Michigan
While Matt Gutierrez isn’t out of the mix, Henne will likely be the starter. He’ll throw for big yards even with Braylon Edwards off to Cleveland and will be even sharper than he was in his surprising freshman campaign.
20. RB Leon Washington, Florida State
Washington was the best player in the ACC over the first half of last year, but he got hurt and wasn’t quite the same. A big game in the opener against Miami would put him on the map and put the focus on the rest of the way.
29. LB A.J. Hawk, Ohio State
Hawk will be this year’s cause célèbre among the media if he has a big primetime performance against Vince Young and Texas. He has already been handed the Butkus Award by most.
63. WR Santonio Holmes, Ohio State
Holmes will suffer from being the sidekick publicity-wise to Ted Ginn Jr., but he’ll probably lead the team in receiving. All he needs is a huge game against Texas to get the ball rolling.
Here's Cirminiello's list - I like this one better, but he should take Schaeffer off #18
1. QB Matt Leinart, USC – Unlike Jason White in 2004, Leinart will defend his Heisman crown with a full head of steam and the unanimous respect of the voters. The loss of offensive coordinator Norm Chow will be offset by a receiving corps that’s light years better than it was nine months ago.
2. QB Vince Young, Texas – Young’s Heisman campaign began in Pasadena three months ago, when he authored one of the great individual efforts in ‘Horn history. Early season encounters with Ohio State and Oklahoma afford him the platform to go toe-to-toe with Leinart.
3. RB Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma – Peterson is already the most complete back in the college game, but a reshuffled line and an inexperienced quarterback could make yards a wee bit tougher to come by this fall.
4. RB Reggie Bush, USC – If the Heisman championed college football’s Most Entertaining or Most Dangerous player, some ballots might already be cast. Bush is college football’s ultimate weapon, who can do everything, except, perhaps, convince Heisman voters he’s the most valuable player on his own team.
5. QB Chris Leak, Florida – Leak is not the letter-perfect quarterback to run Urban Meyer’s read-option attack, but the coach is wise enough to install a playbook that’ll get the most out of his junior’s deep reservoir of talent. Meyer was a starmaker for his last two quarterbacks, and Leak was already on the All-American doorstep.
6. WR Ted Ginn, Jr., Ohio State – The mercurial and multi-faceted Ginn is on the tarmac, and preparing for lift-off in 2005. He’ll challenge Bush as the most electrifying player in America.
7. QB Drew Tate, Iowa – Tate was thrust into an impossible situation in 2004, and he responded by being named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. With a running game to balance the offense and a Top 10 team to attract attention, the Hawkeyes could have their second Heisman finalist in four years. <TABLE cellSpacing=6 width=120 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%"><!--120x600 and 160x600 SkyScraper CODE for collegefootballnews.com --><SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://media.fastclick.net/w/get.media?sid=16942&m=3&tp=7&d=j&t=n"></SCRIPT><NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT><!-- 120x600 and 160x600 SkyScraper CODE for collegefootballnews.com --></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
8. QB Reggie McNeal, Texas A&M – To the dismay of the rest of the Big XII, McNeal keeps maturing into a complete quarterback. If he can continue honing his passing skills and engineer an upset of either Oklahoma or Texas in November, he’ll mount a stiff challenge.
9. RB DeAngelo Williams, Memphis – Assuming the broken leg he suffered in the GMAC Bowl heals fine, Williams should be a fixture in the Heisman race right through November. He’ll have the numbers and the national recognition, however, all bets are off if he sputters in Knoxville Nov. 12.
10. RB Laurence Maroney, Minnesota – Marion Barber’s early departure to the NFL opens the door for Maroney to make a push for All-American honors. He’s a tremendous combination of power and breakaway speed, who’ll put up Heisman caliber numbers in 2005.
11. QB Chad Henne, Michigan – Henne’s physically gifts were well-documented, but it was his uncommon poise as a true freshman starter, which already has him among the top quarterbacks in the nation. Even without Braylon Edwards, he has no shortage of quality pass-catchers.
12. RB Michael Hart, Michigan – Hart silenced the questions about Chris Perry’s successor last year, leading the Big Ten in rushing as a true freshman. Expect more of the same, but also expect heralded recruit Kevin Grady, who’s already in Ann Arbor, to steal some carries in September.
13. QB Tyler Palko, Pittsburgh – Even more is expected of Palko in 2005 after last year’s 24-touchdown, 3,067-yard opening act. He and Greg Lee form one of the most lethal pitch-and-catch combos in the country.
14. RB Gerald Riggs Jr., Tennessee – It’s taken four years, but now that he’s finally the workhorse, Riggs figures to have a monster season for a Vol team that’ll be contending for more than one title.
15. QB Omar Jacobs, Bowling Green – If 41 touchdowns to just four interceptions couldn’t get Jacobs on the radar, you kind of assume he’s fighting an uphill battle for national awards. At least this season, he won’t have to introduce himself to the major media before the start of the season.
16. QB Marcus Vick, Virginia Tech – Vick is the great unknown on a Hokie team that’s a consistent quarterback from being a bona fide Rose Bowl contender. His talent is unquestioned, but he still needs to prove he can get it done in a big spot.
17. CB Devin Hester, Miami – Hester’s one of those rare athletes that’s so explosive, he compels coaches to invent ways to get the ball in his hands. He played on offense, defense and special teams, picked off four passes and scored on a handoff, punt return, kickoff return and a blocked field goal.
18. QB Erik Ainge, Rick Clausen or Brent Schaeffer, Tennessee – Morph these three challengers into one uniform, and you’ve got a quarterback built at the XBox headquarters. Each offers something a little unique to the Vol offense, but all three have an opportunity to achieve some lofty individual goals in 2005.
19. RB Leon Washington, Florida State – The ‘Noles have big question marks on offense, but the running game isn’t one of them. Washington has first-round NFL talent, but as long as Lorenzo Booker is healthy, it’s doubtful he can accumulate Heisman-type numbers.
20. QB Brad Smith, Missouri – With expectations for him and his Tigers substantially more realistic than last year, Smith should bounce back with a season that’s more commensurate with his skills. The offense, which was roundly criticized in 2004, has been tinkered with to allow Smith more latitude to make plays.
45. QB Troy Smith or Justin Zwick, Ohio State – As if the chance to start isn’t enough incentive, the winner of this intriguing battle also gets to play catch with Teddy Ginn and Santonio Holmes on Saturdays. Smith has a dynamite upside, but was suspended for the Alamo Bowl and won’t dress for the opener after taking money from a booster.
82. WR Santonio Holmes, Ohio State – Holmes’ continued development as a big-play receiver will likely get overshadowed in 2005 by the presence of budding superstar, Ted Ginn Jr.
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Yeah, Ainge was too high, and the other thing about Fiu's list that bothered me was having Texas Tech's QB above Teddy.
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