Our 2009 college football preview starts today with our first edition of the RSS Heisman Watch. After each week, we'll rank the current top 5 Heisman candidates. Forget all the other Heisman Watches, we've got the real scoop on who's rising and falling in the race for the most prestigious individual award in sports. Before Week 1 begins, a familiar face sits at the top...
1) Tim Tebow-QB-Florida: While many of the preseason winds blow in the favor of Colt McCoy, we at RSS recognize there is only one Superman in college football, Tim Tebow. If Tebow can keep up his career statistics (67 passing TDs, 43 rushing TDs), he will surely get an invite to NYC. Once Tebow makes it, most likely as the QB of the best team in college football, it will be hard for voters to resist giving him the Heisman to put him in rarefied air; I mean, the guy's already a saint off the field, no really, he is! Not quite a "lifetime achievement" award, but close enough. Until further notice, he's the favorite.
2) Colt McCoy-QB-Texas: The second of the QB triumvirate is Texas's senior leader Colt McCoy. McCoy was a little harshly done to not win the award last year after his gawdy numbers (team's leading rusher, 76.7 completion %, 34 TDs), but he has an even better offense around him this year. Also don't discount the fact that some voters could be weary of bestowing the Heisman to Tebow or Sam Bradford for a second time. That alone could be enough to push McCoy to the trophy, let alone if he can somehow improve on his stats from last year.
3) Sam Bradford-QB-Oklahoma: Our third choice is Oklahoma signal caller Sam Bradford. Bradford stunned many by returning to school for another season to win a national championship. However, he'll be hard pressed to find the same success after several key losses on the O-line. Clearly, even in the sometimes nonsensical world of college football, whoever comes out on top in the Red River Shootout will not only have the inside track to the Big 12, but also the Heisman Trophy.
4) Dez Bryant-WR-Oklahoma St: After the top 3 QBs, there is a chasm the size
of the Grand Canyon to the other Heisman candidates. It would take an absolute monumental season for anyone to top Tebow, McCoy, or Bradford, especially a WR. But, if anyone can do it, it's Ok. St.'s Dez Bryant. He put up some insane numbers last year (87 catches, 19 TDs, 2 return TDs), and he returns in what should be one of the nation's most high-powered offenses with QB Zac Robinson and RB Kendall Hunter. To overcome the QBs though, Bryant will have to make even more of an impact in the return game.
5) Taylor Mays-S-USC: Well, if we're gonna think outside the box here at the RSS Heisman Watch, why not go with one of the nation's best defenders. Taylor Mays is the one high profile returnee on the USC defense, which means the spotlight will shine brightly on the next great USC safety. However, he will have to improve on that pesky lack of interceptions and forced fumbles (0 combined last year), but hey, it's worth a shot.
Keep One Eye On: Watch RBs like Javhid Best (Cal), Jonathan Dwyer (Ga Tech), and Jacquizz Rodgers (Ore St.). If one of these guys can string together a couple of big games early, they could easily vault themselves onto the RSS Heisman Watch. Also, watch for perennial RSS favorite Matt Grothe. The QB from South Florida seems as if he's been starting for the last 10 years, but he has the dual threat ability to sneak into the race if the Bulls can run away with the Big East.
So who's at the top of your list? Let us know and follow along as we update the RSS Heisman Watch every week throughout the season. Join us tomorrow for the second part of our CFB Previw as we unveil the first installment of the YCS Standings (that's Yoder Championship Series) much more official and important than the BCS! Until then, it's bye for now!
No comments:
Post a Comment