|
|
|
Heisman Hopefuls
|
|
 |
After a complete season of ranking the nation's top football players, SCS.com takes a final look at who the award should be given to. Be sure to tune in to ESPN Saturday night, December 13 for the presentation of the Heisman Trophy....
[ Updated December 9 ] |
| |
| .ONE | LARRY FITZGERALD PITTSBURGH PANTHERS (8-4) |
|
Wide Receiver Sophomore 6'3" 225 lbs
SEASON STATS: 87 receptions 1595 yards 18.3 yards/catch
132.9 yards/game 22 TDs
LAST GAME: vs Miami (L) - 3 receptions 26 yards 8.7 yards/catch 1 TD
WHY HE SHOULD WIN IT: Fitzgerald has been the major reason for Pitt's success all season, whether he was catching his weekly TD or just attracting all of the other team's defensive attention. He has been nothing short of remarkable, making catches that most pro WRs have never even thought about. And any WR that, even with the defense blanketing him, still catches a TD in nearly 20 straight games deserves to be nationally recognized.
photo courtesy pittsburghpanthers.com
|
| ..TWO | CHRIS PERRY MICHIGAN WOLVERINES (10-2) |
|
Running Back Senior 6'1" 228 lbs
SEASON STATS: 315attempts 1589 yards 5.0 yards/carry 132.4 yards/game 17 rush TDs
LAST GAME: vs Ohio State (W) - 31 attempts 154 yards 5.0 yards/attempt 2 TDs 5 receptions 55 yards 11.0 yards/catch 0 TDs
WHY HE SHOULD WIN IT: Chris Perry is at the top of the list in every national rushing category. He leads the Big Ten in rushing yards, yards per game, carries, and is tied for the lead in rushing touchdowns. He was the one constant even as Michigan hit bumps in the road in mid-season. If not for Perry keeping the collective UM heart beating, the Wolverines would not have been in position to win the Big Ten title and earn the BCS bowl berth.
photo courtesy mgoblue.com
|
| ....THREE | JASON WHITE OKLAHOMA SOONERS (12-1) |
|
Quarterback Senior 6'3" 221 lbs
SEASON STATS: 265 completions 414 attempts 3744 yards 64.0 completion % 9.0 yards/attempt 288.0 yards/game 40 TDs 8 INTs
LAST GAME: vs Kansas State (L) - 27 completions 50 attempts 54.0 completion % 298 yards 11.0 yards/attempt 0 TDs 2 INTs
WHY HE SHOULD WIN IT: White has led the Oklahoma Sooners all year long, and all year long, the Sooners have been considered the nation's best team. Should one slip-up against a great opponent on a neutral site in a game that didn't really affect OU's BCS status harm him all that much? White still has a chance to win the national title, but the Sooners and White may have missed out on this honor thanks to their dismal peroformance against KSU.
photo courtesy soonerports.com
|
| ....FOUR | ELI MANNING MISSISSIPPI REBELS (9-3) |
|
Quarterback Senior 6'5" 218 lbs
SEASON STATS: 253 completions 410 attempts 3341 yards 61.7 completion % 8.1 yards/attempt 278.4 yards/game 27 TDs 9 INTs
LAST GAME: at Mississippi State (W) - 19 completions 27 attempts 70.4 completion % 260 yards 13.7 yards/attempt 3 TDs 0 INTs
WHY HE SHOULD WIN IT: The Rebels would have never been in a position to be in contention for the SEC West title without Manning. Thanks to the big play of their QB, Mississippi will be playing in the Cotton Bowl, one of the best non-BCS bowls in the nation. However, Eli could have used one more big show, like the SEC Championship Game, to strut his stuff. Because he and UM could not get it done against LSU at home, Manning will miss out on the honor.
photo courtesy olemisssports.com
|
| NEXT THREE UP: Philip Rivers QB NC State, Kevin Jones RB Virginia Tech, B.J. Symons QB Texas Tech |
|
