1.) Cameron Newton – Jr. – Auburn – Quarterback
Last week: 10-14 passing, 140 yds, 1 TD – 25 rush, 188 yds, 3 TD – Beat Arkansas
Season: 80-122 passing, 1,278 yds, 13 TD, 5 INT – 129 rush, 860 yds, 12 TD – 1 rec. 22 yds
There’s no player in the country that gives his team a chance to win every game more so than Newton right now. Bar none the most exciting player with the ball in his hands, Newton chips away at defenses with 15 and 20 yard runs before breaking 40+ yard scampers late. I can’t help but think about what thoughts run through Florida head coach Urban Meyer’s head as he watches Newton slam through defenses like a pregnant woman through Haagen Dazs. Suppose to be the successor to Tebow, Newton is playing like he should have stole minutes from Tebow.
2.) LaMichael James – Soph. – Oregon – Running Back
Last week: Bye week
Season: 114 rush, 848 yds, 7.4 avg. 9 TD – 3 rec. 96 yds, 1 TD
James, even with the week off, keeps a steady hold of the No. 2 spot. There has yet to be a running back look better on a Saturday than what James has done this season. Keeping the young scamper back healthy will be key in the Ducks title run. It should be interesting to see if Oregon uses James more in the passing game. In his last game against Washington State James took a swing pass 84 yards for six points, yet it was only his second catch of the season.
3.) Kellen Moore – Jr. – Boise State – Quarterback
Last Week: 14-16 passing, 231 yds, 2 TD – Beat San Jose State
Season: 105-151 passing, 1,567 yds, 16 TD, 1 INT
Unless a couple of other players completely bomb out the rest of the year, I can’t see Moore moving from the No. 3 spot. He mid as well pull up a chair and a drink with a little umbrella at the Heisman trust because his numbers probably aren’t going to hit the deck anytime soon, if ever. I would like to see what Moore and the Boise offense could do if head coach Chris Peterson lets them go on full cylinders, though. The numbers might be something closer to seasonal stats for one of New Mexico’s rotisserie of quarterbacks, but it’d be exciting.
4.) Andrew Luck – Jr. – Stanford – Quarterback
Last week: Bye week
Season: 113-172 passing, 1,538 yds, 16 TD, 4 INT – 31 rush, 242 yds, 2 TD
Luck and the Cardinal had the week off as well. Next up for the single caller is Washington State, a perfect game for Luck to stretch his arm back off of a bye week. Better for Luck is that his group of banged up wideouts may finally be to full strength. It’s good news for both Luck and coach Harbaugh, as the head man won’t need to worry about his quarterback taking off downfield as much anymore. Luck’s 242 yards on the ground this season nearly match his numbers from the year’s end last season.
5.) John Clay – Jr. – Wisconsin – Running Back
Last week: 21 rush, 104 yds, 5.0 avg. 2 TD – Beat Ohio State
Season: 136 rush, 796 yds, 5.9 avg. 11 TD
Clay has been around the block of the Heisman watch this year. He’s had his ups and downs, but came up big when it mattered most. Something more important than winning a national title for a Heisman contender, is stepping up big in big situations. The Badgers continue to use a two back system this year with freshman James White soaking up a lot of the carries Clay would have brought in last season. It keeps the big man’s legs fresh, however, and there is one area of Clay’s game that won’t be touched: the goal-line carries.
6.) Justin Blackmon – Soph. – Oklahoma State – Wide Receiver
Last week: 10 rec. 207 yds, 1 TD – Beat Texas Tech
Season: 57 rec. 955 yds, 12 TD – 3 rush, 8 yds
Where did this guy come from? Blackmon has been an unstoppable force split wide for the Cowboys this season. The first year starter has brought in at least 125 yards and at least one score in every game this season. His last week numbers against the Red Raiders nearly out match his total of 20 catches for 260 yards last year. Blackmon has a chance to continue to rise in the rankings as the sophomore is placing better numbers on the board than once OK State Cowboy Dez Bryant did in his sophomore season. He’ll get his chance to play against one of the best corners in the country in Prince Amukamara of Nebraska this week.
7.) Denard Robinson – Soph. – Michigan – Quarterback
Last week: 13-18 passing, 96 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT – 18 rush, 105 yds – Lost to Iowa
Season: 97-143 passing, 1,319 yds, 9 TD, 5 INT – 137 rush, 1,096 yds, 9 TD
Oh Denard, how the mighty have fallen. The Michigan quarterback once looked like an untreatable virus for defenses, but has turned into a mild case of hiccups the last two weeks. The Michigan sophomore is still one of the most exiting players in college football when there’s an opening, but open lanes in Michigan’s offense against Michigan State and Iowa came about as often as a pay raise for a GM employee. His injury last week was nothing serious and a week off should benefit the Michigan offense. Robinson will return to a three game stretch in which he’ll be capable of placing more big numbers up, but he’ll need the rest of the offense to do their part.
8.) Terrelle Pryor – Jr. – Ohio State – Quarterback
Last week: 14-28 passing, 156 yds, 1 INT – 18 rush, 56 yds – Lost to Wisconsin
Season: 118-181 passing, 1,505 yds, 15 TD, 4 INT – 75 rush, 410 yds, 3 TD – 2 rec. 19 yds, 1 TD
I’m starting to question what kind of quarterback Terrelle Pryor is. One week the junior will look like a drop back passer, throw for over 300 yards and be proclaimed a solid pocket passer. The next, he’ll throw for 100 yards and rush for 100+ yards, becoming a three step drop and take off quarterback. Then there’s last week. When Pryor amazes everyone by looking like a player who has yet to develop into someone many think or thought he would be. Pryor’s inconsistencies as a quarterback will be what hold him back. Because I don’t care if he can pass for 3 touchdowns against Indiana or rush for 100 yards against Eastern Michigan. So can freshman Nathan Scheelhaase of Illinois. If Pryor doesn’t become better in big games, he’ll continue to fall as fast as Florida’s ego.
9.) Ryan Broyles – Jr. – Oklahoma – Wide Receiver
Last week: 15 rec. 182 yds, 1 TD – Beat Iowa State
Season: 61 rec. 700 yds, 5 TD
Broyles continues to impress this season. After battling injury throughout last season, the junior is finally playing healthy and looks to reach the potential and flashes he’s shown in the past. Broyles has at least 10 catches in four games this year and has brought in 100 yards in every game apart from the Texas win. His five touchdowns are below pace of his 15 from last year, but Broyles is one breakout game away from becoming a nationally known name. Not to say 15 catches and 182 yards isn’t enough to be considered a breakout game, but I might have been able to bring in at least two catches against Iowa State, so that’s pretty much equal. A nationally televised game against undefeated Missouri this week will be the time.
10.) Edwin Baker – So. – Michigan State – Running back
Last week: 8 rush, 23 yds – Beat Illinois
Season: 105 rush, 706 yds, 6.7 avg. 6 TD – 1 Rec. 2 yds
A lot of people might be wondering what Baker is still doing on the Heisman board. I am a little too after last week’s game against Illinois, but I still feel because Michigan State has a chance to go undefeated and with the rush game being their primary contributor to the offense, Baker has a great chance to make a name for himself. He still ranks No. 12 in the country in rushing for running backs and has a chance against Northwestern this week to greatly improve that number, and then make a huge name for himself against Iowa the week following. It’s a No. 10 ranking; I’m not saying the guy is going to win the award, especially with Le’Veon Bell and Larry Caper sharing the load, just keep an eye on him.
On the brink…Da’Quan Bowers, Clemson, DE – Cliff Lee, Texas Rangers, P – Andy Dalton, TCU, QB – Dan Bailey, Oklahoma State, K – Concussion Proof Mouthguards.
*Stock up – Stock down – Neutral
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