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September 14, 2010

College Football Report - Heisman Watch - Week 2

Tracking who's in the lead for College Football's highest honor:

*1.) Denard ‘Shoelace’ Robinson – Soph. – Michigan – Quarterback

Last week: 24-40 passing, 244 yds, 1 TD – 28 rush, 258 yds, 2 TD – Beat Notre Dame

Season: 43-62 passing, 430 yds, 2 TD – 57 rush, 455 yds, 3 TD – Record: 2-0

It’s early, real early for Robinson to make the jump to No. 1 on the list, but I like the jump. Robinson has done nothing but crush defensive game plans this season and has placed himself amongst conversation as one of the most exciting players in college football. His 502 total yards against the Irish last week is ridiculous.

2.) Terrelle Pryor – Jr. – Ohio State – Quarterback

Last week: 12-27 passing, 233 yds, 1 TD – 20 rush, 113 yds, 1 TD – Beat Miami (FL)

Season: 29-52 passing, 480 yds, 4 TD – 28 rush, 130 yds, 1 TD – Record 2-0

I don’t feel comfortable placing Pryor any higher than two at this moment. Sure the guy has perhaps the highest upside of anyone in the country, but I’m going to need to see higher than a 44 percent completion percentage in a big game like last weeks. He is a quarterback, and his name isn’t Eric Crouch.

3.) DeMarco Murray – Sr. – Oklahoma – Running Back

Last week: 16 rush, 51 yds, 2 TD – 4 rec. 52 yds – Beat Florida State

Season: 51 rush, 259 yds, 5.1 avg. 4 TD – 4 rec. 52 yds – Record 2-0

I always like running backs to win the award. They’re road gravers for quarterbacks and ware down defenses. Murray won’t take away any hardware with games like his 51 yards against Florida State last week, although the Seminoles defense was better equipped to stop the rush that the passing game. Murray will continue to bring in 20+ carries throughout the season, though.

4.) Cameron Newton – Jr. – Auburn – Quarterback

Last week: 11-19 passing, 136 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT – 18 rush, 70 yds – Beat Mississippi State

Season: 20-33 passing, 322 yds, 5 TD, 1 INT – 33 rush, 241 yds 2 TD – Record 2-0

Newton is a sleeper for the award, and more should be known of the junior college transfer in the next coming weeks. He has proven to be accurate as a passer (61%) and dynamic as a runner (7.3 avg.) but will finally get his first test against an above average defense against Clemson this week.

5.) John Clay – Jr. – Wisconsin – Running Back

Last week: 23 rush, 137 yds, 2 TD – Beat San Jose State

Season: 40 rush, 260 yds, 6.5 avg. 4 TD – Record 2-0

As long as the Badgers keep winning, Clay has a shot at the most popular piece of hardware. Clay has faced two weak opponents so far this season, but has paved over both of them with favorable averages. When he gets into the heap of the Big Ten schedule for the Badgers, he’ll need to do the same.

6.) Ryan Mallett – Jr. – Arkansas – Quarterback

Last week: 28-43 passing, 400 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT – Beat Louisiana Monroe

Season: 49-67 passing, 701 yds, 6 TD, 2 INT – 9 rush, 1 yd, 1 TD – Record 2-0

Mallett holds his own destiny for the Heisman. If Arkansas wins games and beats favorable SEC opponents, Mallett is a shoe in as a finalist for the award. If the Razorbacks begin to slip in the SEC standings and AP Poll, Mallett will be just another quarterback who puts up huge stats, i.e. Case Keenum, Tyler Potts.

7.) Kellen Moore – Jr. – Boise State – Quarterback

Last week: Bye

Season: 23-38 passing, 215 yds, 3 TD - Record 1-0

Moore would be higher if it wasn’t for the WAC. I can’t see voters giving it to him just for that reason. He has a chance if he puts up monster stats and rolls through the rest of the schedule. Against Oregon State in two weeks Moore will need to be perfect to have a chance.

8.) LaMichael James – Soph. – Oregon – Running Back

Last week: 16 rush, 134 yds, 1 TD – Beat Tennessee

Season: 16 rush, 134 yds, 8.4 avg. 1 TD – Record 2-0

It took just one run for me to consider placing James on the watch list again. That run was 72 yards of sprinting, spinning and slipping tackles of Tennessee defenders and showed a national audience what the sophomore is capable of. After rushing for 1,546 yards last season, a sophomore slump looks highly unlikely for James.

9.) Ryan Broyles – Sr. – Oklahoma – Wide Receiver

Last week: 12 rec. 124 yds, 1 TD – Beat Florida State

Season: 21 rec. 266 yds, 3 TD – Record 2-0

I know it’s not going to happen. Receivers don't get any credit when it comes to taking home the Heisman anymore. The award would go to Landry Jones before it went to his wideout Broyles, but the senior wideout is playing with a chip on his shoulder and looks to be on a mission after an injury plagged 2009 season. Broyles deserves a lot of the credit in the FSU win.

-That’s all for week two. I have a feeling we might see a particular Crimson Tide player at some point make the list...

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