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1. QB Matt Leinart, USC – Leinart’s biggest obstacle to making history might be his own teammates, who don’t figure to give him many opportunities to play in the fourth or engineer the kind of game-winning drives that move Heisman voters. The Trojans, who were off last week, play their home opener against Arkansas Saturday.
Last Week: 18-of-24 for 332 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT (Idle)
2005 Season: 18-of-24 for 332 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT
Barometer: Steady
[font=verdana, arial,
sans serif][/font]Heisman Contender of the Week[font=verdana, arial,
sans serif]
[/font][font=verdana, arial,
sans serif]2. QB Vince Young, Texas – With one perfectly thrown pass to WR Limas Sweed, Young stamped himself as Leinart’s undisputed toughest competition and probably already earned a trip to New York City. Although the rest of his night may not have been perfect, quarterbacks are judged by wins and losses and how they perform when huge games hang in the balance.
Last Week: 18-of-29 for 270 yards, 2 TDs and 2 INT – 20 carries for 76 yards (Ohio State)
2005 Season:31-of-46 for 443 yards, 5 TDs and 3 INT – 27 carries for 125 yards and 1 TD
Barometer: Rising
3. RB Reggie Bush, USC – Adding seven solid pounds in the off-season could give the do-everything Bush a new role this fall—every down back. Now more than 200 pounds, yet as quick as ever, he’s still a nightmare for defenses in the open field, but can also be a factor between the tackles, a new dimension for the All-American.
Last Week: 12 carries for 86 yards and 2 TDs – 4 catches for 58 yards (Idle)
2005 Season: 12 carries for 86 yards and 2 TDs – 4 catches for 58 yards
Barometer: Steady
4. QB Chris Leak, Florida – Leak has been near peerless in his first two games in a new system, but the stakes will be off the charts Saturday with Tennessee visiting the Swamp in week three’s marquee match up. If Leak can light up a star-studded Vol D the way he did Wyoming and Louisiana Tech, he could temporarily move all the way up to No. 2.
Last Week: 13-of-22 for 219 yards and 2 TDs – 2 rushing TDs (Louisiana Tech)
2005 Season: 39-of-56 for 539 yards and 5 TDs – 2 rushing TDs
Barometer: Rising
5. RB Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma – When they needed him most, Peterson carried the hapless Sooner offense past a plucky Tulsa team. He performed like a warrior, reminding everyone why he’s still the nation’s best running back. Peterson was suspended from practice this week for missing classes, however, and his status for Saturday’s game at UCLA is uncertain.
Last Week: 32 carries for 220 yards and 3 TDs (Tulsa)
2005 Season: 54 carries for 283 yards and 4 TD
Barometer: Steady
6. QB Omar Jacobs, Bowling Green – Jacobs is an offensive machine, cranking out gaudy numbers like a Pez dispenser. As long as his production sets the standard for quarterbacks, he’ll remain a strong contender to be a finalist. With the start Jacobs has had, a run at David Klingler’s single-season record of 54 touchdown passes can’t be ruled out.
Last Week: 27-of-43 for 428 yards and 5 TDs (Ball State)
2005 Season: 57-of-94 for 886 yards, 10 TDs and 1 INT
Barometer: Steady
7. RB Laurence Maroney, Minnesota – One of the closest things to a given in college football, Maroney has become a virtual lock for at least 100 yards and a score every weekend. The nation’s No. 2 rusher is within striking distance of the leaders, but won’t really get a chance to make up ground until Big Ten play starts a week from Saturday.
Last Week:26 carries for 133 yards and 2 TDs (Colorado State)
2005 Season: 47 carries for 336 yards and 4 TDs
Barometer: Rising
8. QB Reggie McNeal, Texas A&M – McNeal’s campaign got off to a rocky start, but he’s the type of dynamic playmaker, who can make voters forget about the opening loss to Clemson. He’s just better hope they don’t get infatuated with other contenders too early because McNeal doesn’t play his next must-see game until Nov. 12.
Last Week: 8-of-16 for 110 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT – 9 carries for 100 yards (Idle)
2005 Season: 8-of-16 for 110 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT – 9 carries for 100 yards
Barometer: Falling
9. WR Ted Ginn, Ohio State –Where was Ginn against Texas Saturday night? Two serious Heisman candidates entered Ohio Stadium last weekend, but only one was left following the game. Ginn can still electrify the voting base, but after being a factor in a showcase game, his margin for error this season has almost evaporated.
Last Week: 2 receptions for 9 yards (Texas)
2005 Season: 7 receptions for 84 yards and 1 TD – 4 carries for 9 yards
Barometer: Falling
10. RB Gerald Riggs, Tennessee – A mediocre opener and a week off sort of has Riggs in suspended animation. That changes this week, when the nation’s eyes will be on Gainesville, and the senior gets a chance to thrust himself into the Top 5 with a big game and a Volunteer win.
[/font]L[font=verdana, arial,
sans serif]ast Week: 23 carries for 110 yards (Idle)
2005 Season: 23 carries for 110 yards
Barometer: Steady
11. QB Marcus Vick, Virginia Tech – When it comes to the Heisman, everyone recognizes there’s a hype and notoriety factor, which helps a well-known player like Marcus Vick and hurts other such as Bowling Green’s Omar Jacobs. Because he’s a Vick, everything he does this fall—good or bag—carries three times the impact and gets three times the coverage.
Last Week:12-of-19 for 172 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT (Duke)
2005 Season: 22-of-40 for 280 yards, 4 TDs and 1 INT
Barometer: Steady
12. QB Brady Quinn, Notre Dame – As Notre Dame goes, so goes Quinn’s candidacy. The Irish are smoking hot these days, in more ways than just results, and a lot of the credit goes to the quarterback, who’s leading with poise and has turned the ball over just once. Pocketing a win in Ann Arbor does wonders for his street cred.
Last Week: 19-of-30 for 140 yards and 2 TDs (Michigan)
2005 Season: 37-of-57 for 367 yards, 4 TDs and 1 INT
Barometer: Rising
13. QB D.J. Shockley, Georgia – Shockley took a step backwards against South Carolina, but his initial start against Boise State cemented a solid enough foundation to withstand a poor performance. The key was that Georgia survived, which means so does Shockley to prove last Saturday was an aberration.
Last Week:8-of-17 for 112 yards and 2 INTs – 10 carries for 30 yards and 1 TD (South Carolina)
2005 Season: 24-of-41 for 401 yards, 5 TDs and 2 INTs– 15 carries for 115 yards and 2 TD
Barometer: Steady
14 QB Drew Tate, Iowa – Like all of the Big Ten heavyweights, Tate had a forgettable week 2 of the 2005 season. Not only did his Hawkeyes get ambushed by Iowa State, but the quarterback got his bell rung early and missed most of the game. There’s never any quit in Iowa players, so it’s too early to count Tate out.
Last Week: 5-of-11 for 57 yards and 1 INT (Iowa State)
2005 Season: 14-of-21 for 156 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT
Barometer: Falling
15. RB Brian Calhoun, Wisconsin – Doggone Temple. The Owls are so ferociously bad, Calhoun was only needed for 13 minutes before getting pulled and replaced by a revolving door of reserves. His numbers suffered, but blowouts like the Badgers had Saturday may not happen again this fall.
Last Week: 11 carries for 42 yards and 1 TD (Temple)
2005 Season: 54 carries for 300 yards and 6 TDs
Barometer: Steady
16. QB Sam Keller, Arizona State – The Sun Devils lost at home to LSU, but it was no fault of Keller, who was spectacular, tossing four touchdowns and making the Tiger secondary look like a Division II unit. He debuted on the radar thanks to Saturday’s effort, but to be more than a novelty, he may have to lead ASU to an upset of USC in two weeks.
Last Week: 35-of-56 for 461 yards and 4 TDs (LSU)
2005 Season: 55-of-87 for 688 yards and 6 TDs
Barometer: Rising
17. QB Brian Brohm, Louisville – Brohm made like the rest of his Cardinal team, and failed to impress in the opener against Kentucky. A better and more important measuring stick, however, occurs this week when Louisville welcomes Oregon State, likely the most formidable opponent on the 2005 schedule.
Last Week: 19-of-27 for 179 yards – 2 rushing TDs (Idle)
2005 Season: 19-of-27 for 179 yards – 2 rushing TDs
Barometer: Steady
18. RB DeAngelo Williams, Memphis – A pedestrian game against Ole Miss in the rear view mirror, Williams is going to have to be a statistical demon going forward to have any shot at New York City. At some point, he’ll likely ascend toward the top of the nation’s all-purpose runners, but if the damage comes at the expense of Chattanooga or Houston, will anyone in the Heisman community care?
Last Week: 24 carries for 85 yards (Idle)
2005 Season: 24 carries for 85 yards
Barometer: Falling
19. RB Maurice Drew, UCLA – Drew is a smaller, slightly less explosive version of Reggie Bush. He lacks pub and is injury prone, but when the ball is in Drew’s hands, opposing defensive coaches get justifiably jittery. Drew’s averaging almost 10 yards a carry and has taken a punt back in each game. More of the same against Oklahoma could give him the boost he needs to enter the Top 10.
Last Week: 11 carries for 95 yards and 1 TD – 1 punt return TD (Rice)
2005 Season: 22 carries for 209 yards and 3 TDS – 2 punt return TDs
Barometer: Rising
20. QB Brad Smith, Missouri – Smith made way too many mistakes in the loss to New Mexico, but his beefy numbers are going to be eye candy for some voters. And as long as the Mizzou defense shows an inability to stop anyone, Smith is going to be asked to be a one-man offensive juggernaut.
Last Week:32-of-55 for 248 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs – 29 carries for 165 yards and 3 TDs (New Mexico)
2005 Season: 61-of-92 for 565 yards, 5 TDs and 2 INTs – 41 carries for 260 yards and 3 TDs
Barometer: Steady
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1. QB Matt Leinart, USC – Leinart’s biggest obstacle to making history might be his own teammates, who don’t figure to give him many opportunities to play in the fourth or engineer the kind of game-winning drives that move Heisman voters. The Trojans, who were off last week, play their home opener against Arkansas Saturday.
Last Week: 18-of-24 for 332 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT (Idle)
2005 Season: 18-of-24 for 332 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT
Barometer: Steady
[font=verdana, arial,
sans serif][/font]Heisman Contender of the Week[font=verdana, arial,
sans serif]
[/font][font=verdana, arial,
sans serif]2. QB Vince Young, Texas – With one perfectly thrown pass to WR Limas Sweed, Young stamped himself as Leinart’s undisputed toughest competition and probably already earned a trip to New York City. Although the rest of his night may not have been perfect, quarterbacks are judged by wins and losses and how they perform when huge games hang in the balance.
Last Week: 18-of-29 for 270 yards, 2 TDs and 2 INT – 20 carries for 76 yards (Ohio State)
2005 Season:31-of-46 for 443 yards, 5 TDs and 3 INT – 27 carries for 125 yards and 1 TD
Barometer: Rising
3. RB Reggie Bush, USC – Adding seven solid pounds in the off-season could give the do-everything Bush a new role this fall—every down back. Now more than 200 pounds, yet as quick as ever, he’s still a nightmare for defenses in the open field, but can also be a factor between the tackles, a new dimension for the All-American.
Last Week: 12 carries for 86 yards and 2 TDs – 4 catches for 58 yards (Idle)
2005 Season: 12 carries for 86 yards and 2 TDs – 4 catches for 58 yards
Barometer: Steady
4. QB Chris Leak, Florida – Leak has been near peerless in his first two games in a new system, but the stakes will be off the charts Saturday with Tennessee visiting the Swamp in week three’s marquee match up. If Leak can light up a star-studded Vol D the way he did Wyoming and Louisiana Tech, he could temporarily move all the way up to No. 2.
Last Week: 13-of-22 for 219 yards and 2 TDs – 2 rushing TDs (Louisiana Tech)
2005 Season: 39-of-56 for 539 yards and 5 TDs – 2 rushing TDs
Barometer: Rising
5. RB Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma – When they needed him most, Peterson carried the hapless Sooner offense past a plucky Tulsa team. He performed like a warrior, reminding everyone why he’s still the nation’s best running back. Peterson was suspended from practice this week for missing classes, however, and his status for Saturday’s game at UCLA is uncertain.
Last Week: 32 carries for 220 yards and 3 TDs (Tulsa)
2005 Season: 54 carries for 283 yards and 4 TD
Barometer: Steady
6. QB Omar Jacobs, Bowling Green – Jacobs is an offensive machine, cranking out gaudy numbers like a Pez dispenser. As long as his production sets the standard for quarterbacks, he’ll remain a strong contender to be a finalist. With the start Jacobs has had, a run at David Klingler’s single-season record of 54 touchdown passes can’t be ruled out.
Last Week: 27-of-43 for 428 yards and 5 TDs (Ball State)
2005 Season: 57-of-94 for 886 yards, 10 TDs and 1 INT
Barometer: Steady
7. RB Laurence Maroney, Minnesota – One of the closest things to a given in college football, Maroney has become a virtual lock for at least 100 yards and a score every weekend. The nation’s No. 2 rusher is within striking distance of the leaders, but won’t really get a chance to make up ground until Big Ten play starts a week from Saturday.
Last Week:26 carries for 133 yards and 2 TDs (Colorado State)
2005 Season: 47 carries for 336 yards and 4 TDs
Barometer: Rising
8. QB Reggie McNeal, Texas A&M – McNeal’s campaign got off to a rocky start, but he’s the type of dynamic playmaker, who can make voters forget about the opening loss to Clemson. He’s just better hope they don’t get infatuated with other contenders too early because McNeal doesn’t play his next must-see game until Nov. 12.
Last Week: 8-of-16 for 110 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT – 9 carries for 100 yards (Idle)
2005 Season: 8-of-16 for 110 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT – 9 carries for 100 yards
Barometer: Falling
9. WR Ted Ginn, Ohio State –Where was Ginn against Texas Saturday night? Two serious Heisman candidates entered Ohio Stadium last weekend, but only one was left following the game. Ginn can still electrify the voting base, but after being a factor in a showcase game, his margin for error this season has almost evaporated.
Last Week: 2 receptions for 9 yards (Texas)
2005 Season: 7 receptions for 84 yards and 1 TD – 4 carries for 9 yards
Barometer: Falling
10. RB Gerald Riggs, Tennessee – A mediocre opener and a week off sort of has Riggs in suspended animation. That changes this week, when the nation’s eyes will be on Gainesville, and the senior gets a chance to thrust himself into the Top 5 with a big game and a Volunteer win.
[/font]L[font=verdana, arial,
sans serif]ast Week: 23 carries for 110 yards (Idle)
2005 Season: 23 carries for 110 yards
Barometer: Steady
11. QB Marcus Vick, Virginia Tech – When it comes to the Heisman, everyone recognizes there’s a hype and notoriety factor, which helps a well-known player like Marcus Vick and hurts other such as Bowling Green’s Omar Jacobs. Because he’s a Vick, everything he does this fall—good or bag—carries three times the impact and gets three times the coverage.
Last Week:12-of-19 for 172 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT (Duke)
2005 Season: 22-of-40 for 280 yards, 4 TDs and 1 INT
Barometer: Steady
12. QB Brady Quinn, Notre Dame – As Notre Dame goes, so goes Quinn’s candidacy. The Irish are smoking hot these days, in more ways than just results, and a lot of the credit goes to the quarterback, who’s leading with poise and has turned the ball over just once. Pocketing a win in Ann Arbor does wonders for his street cred.
Last Week: 19-of-30 for 140 yards and 2 TDs (Michigan)
2005 Season: 37-of-57 for 367 yards, 4 TDs and 1 INT
Barometer: Rising
13. QB D.J. Shockley, Georgia – Shockley took a step backwards against South Carolina, but his initial start against Boise State cemented a solid enough foundation to withstand a poor performance. The key was that Georgia survived, which means so does Shockley to prove last Saturday was an aberration.
Last Week:8-of-17 for 112 yards and 2 INTs – 10 carries for 30 yards and 1 TD (South Carolina)
2005 Season: 24-of-41 for 401 yards, 5 TDs and 2 INTs– 15 carries for 115 yards and 2 TD
Barometer: Steady
14 QB Drew Tate, Iowa – Like all of the Big Ten heavyweights, Tate had a forgettable week 2 of the 2005 season. Not only did his Hawkeyes get ambushed by Iowa State, but the quarterback got his bell rung early and missed most of the game. There’s never any quit in Iowa players, so it’s too early to count Tate out.
Last Week: 5-of-11 for 57 yards and 1 INT (Iowa State)
2005 Season: 14-of-21 for 156 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT
Barometer: Falling
15. RB Brian Calhoun, Wisconsin – Doggone Temple. The Owls are so ferociously bad, Calhoun was only needed for 13 minutes before getting pulled and replaced by a revolving door of reserves. His numbers suffered, but blowouts like the Badgers had Saturday may not happen again this fall.
Last Week: 11 carries for 42 yards and 1 TD (Temple)
2005 Season: 54 carries for 300 yards and 6 TDs
Barometer: Steady
16. QB Sam Keller, Arizona State – The Sun Devils lost at home to LSU, but it was no fault of Keller, who was spectacular, tossing four touchdowns and making the Tiger secondary look like a Division II unit. He debuted on the radar thanks to Saturday’s effort, but to be more than a novelty, he may have to lead ASU to an upset of USC in two weeks.
Last Week: 35-of-56 for 461 yards and 4 TDs (LSU)
2005 Season: 55-of-87 for 688 yards and 6 TDs
Barometer: Rising
17. QB Brian Brohm, Louisville – Brohm made like the rest of his Cardinal team, and failed to impress in the opener against Kentucky. A better and more important measuring stick, however, occurs this week when Louisville welcomes Oregon State, likely the most formidable opponent on the 2005 schedule.
Last Week: 19-of-27 for 179 yards – 2 rushing TDs (Idle)
2005 Season: 19-of-27 for 179 yards – 2 rushing TDs
Barometer: Steady
18. RB DeAngelo Williams, Memphis – A pedestrian game against Ole Miss in the rear view mirror, Williams is going to have to be a statistical demon going forward to have any shot at New York City. At some point, he’ll likely ascend toward the top of the nation’s all-purpose runners, but if the damage comes at the expense of Chattanooga or Houston, will anyone in the Heisman community care?
Last Week: 24 carries for 85 yards (Idle)
2005 Season: 24 carries for 85 yards
Barometer: Falling
19. RB Maurice Drew, UCLA – Drew is a smaller, slightly less explosive version of Reggie Bush. He lacks pub and is injury prone, but when the ball is in Drew’s hands, opposing defensive coaches get justifiably jittery. Drew’s averaging almost 10 yards a carry and has taken a punt back in each game. More of the same against Oklahoma could give him the boost he needs to enter the Top 10.
Last Week: 11 carries for 95 yards and 1 TD – 1 punt return TD (Rice)
2005 Season: 22 carries for 209 yards and 3 TDS – 2 punt return TDs
Barometer: Rising
20. QB Brad Smith, Missouri – Smith made way too many mistakes in the loss to New Mexico, but his beefy numbers are going to be eye candy for some voters. And as long as the Mizzou defense shows an inability to stop anyone, Smith is going to be asked to be a one-man offensive juggernaut.
Last Week:32-of-55 for 248 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs – 29 carries for 165 yards and 3 TDs (New Mexico)
2005 Season: 61-of-92 for 565 yards, 5 TDs and 2 INTs – 41 carries for 260 yards and 3 TDs
Barometer: Steady
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