Current candidates I’m aware of:
Brad Banks, Iowa QB
Larry Johnson, Penn State RB
Willis McGahee, Miami RB
Ken Dorsey, Miami QB
Carson Palmer, So. Calif. QB
Byron Leftwich, Marshall QB
or add your own
Whose yer guy?
As an alum, I bleed black and gold: Brad Banks all the way. I think he brings a set of skills as a runner and passer that none of the other candidates have. I also think he has a hell of a chance of winning.
Unfortunately, the Heisman has turned into a sort of career award, which means that Ken Dorsey seems to have the best shot at it, having posted something outrageous like a 47-1 won loss record while starting at QB for the Hurricanes.
But Willis McGahee put on quite a show this past Saturday, but one game does not a Heisman Trophy Winner make.
At least if the voters are even semi-reasonably sane it shouldn’t.
My vote is for Larry Johnson.
Very few RB’s have run for over 2000 yards and the vast majority of those that have have won the Heisman.
Of course, here in Oklahoma, the talk is about Quentin Griffin, RB. The Big XII Championship Game record holder rushing. He goes to a BCS game, too, Rose Bowl.
I’m having trouble finding a candidate I like this year. Leftwich was my early pick, but the injury took him out. I haven’t seen Palmer, so I can’t pick him. I don’t think Johnson has a chance, because Penn State didn’t do much this year. The Miami boys may split the vote, leaving Brad Banks as the last choice.
I guess I’m taking Brad Banks in this, then.
-brianjedi (who wishes anyone knew who Artose Pinner was)
Larry Johnson averaged a mere 70 yards in the games Penn State lost this year (Ohio State, Michigan, and Iowa). He’s just another in the long line of overrated Penn State backs (Curtis Enis, Blair Thomas, Ki-Jana Carter).
I think it has to go to Dorsey, as sort of a lifetime achievement award. Yes, he has amazing talent to work with, but he gets the job done.
I have to go with Brad Banks. He put up very good stats for a very good team. But, his team really exceeded expectations and a lot of that was due to his efforts.
If he doesn’t win it, then he’s the only RB to rush for over 2000 yards on a 9-3 teams and not win it.
He could have had 2500 yards if Joe hadn’t pulled him from the game.
Do you really think Dorsey would have been as stellar as he was in his thrilling wins over all the unranked teams in his conference if he had to play the likes of Ohio State, Michigan and Iowa? I mean give me a break, Ohio State and Iowa are AWESOME this year. Can you say that about ANY team Miami had played?
I’m going with Larry Johnson as well. Banks’ stats are awesome but I only got to see him play once while I saw Johnson several times (a poor reason for choosing one over the other but not any worse than the reasons given by people who actually vote).
As far as Dorsey goes, great stats but jeez, with that supporting cast I could have gone 50/50.
corbEllo
heiSman
troPhy
wiNner
But seriously, John Corbello (from LSU) is a great kicker - he almost never misses. How often do they give the heisman to a kicker???
Someone not mentioned but had a fantastic season was Jason Gesser of Washington State. The way he destroyed UCLA last week with just one good leg was pretty amazing. He missed a couple games because of injury or he would be more highly rated.
I think a few kickers have won the Heisman trophy. Of course, they were usually playing other positions and it was back before kickers were specialists.
Paul Hornung was a kicker at Notre Dame and he won the Heisman even though his team only won 2 games.
If you think Larry Johnson is the latest in a long line of mediocre PSU running backs, I would contend that Dorsey is another in a long line of mediocre Miami QBs (Walsh, Torretta and I would even add Testaverde and Kosar).