He didn't have an awesome showing against Minnesota last weekend, but Ohio State QB Troy Smith remains at the top of my Heisman list. There's a new entrant into the top five, too.
Troy Smith, Sr. QB, Ohio State: Smith had a very pedestrian day in the Buckeyes' 44-0 win over the Gophers: 14-21, 183 yards and a TD. He did have a nice 21-yard rushing score, though-his first of the season. YTD: 1,878 yards, 21 TDs, 2 INTs, 67.8 completion percentage.
Steve Slaton, So. RB, West Virginia: Slaton and the Mountaineers were off last weekend. They have a huge showdown with Louisville on Thursday. I'm sure the Cardinals remember Slaton after his five touchdown performance against them last season. YTD: 151 carries, 1,059 YDS, 9 TD, 7.0 yards per carry.
Brady Quinn, Sr. QB, Notre Dame: The USC game Nov. 25 doesn't mean as much after the Trojans' loss at Oregon State last weekend. But Quinn's stock can continue to improve is he continues to have days like he did Saturday as the Irish routed Navy, 38-14. Quinn completed 18 of 25 passes for 295 yards and 3 scores. He also scampered for a 19-yard score. YTD: 2,233 yards, 21 TDs, 4 INTs, 63.7 completion percentage.
Michael Hart, Jr. RB, Michigan: In Michigan's 17-3 win over Northwestern last weekend, Hart failed to reach the 100-yard mark for the second time in nine games this season. He was close, though, as he tallied 95 yards on 20 carries and ran for a score. YTD: 234 carries, 1,127 yards, 9 TDs, 4.8 yards per carry.
Colt McCoy, Fr. QB, Texas: McCoy orchestrated a Horns second-half comeback at Texas Tech last weekend. Down 31-21 at halftime, McCoy led Texas on two scoring drives to eek out a 35-31 win. The youngster went 21-31 for 256 yards, 4 TDs and a pick. His numbers on the season are actually better than Smith and Quinn;s, too. YTD: 1,705 yards, 24 TDs, 4 INTs, 67.7 completion percentage.
It's almost safe to say the Heisman race is all but over. It seems like once a week, Ohio State senior quarterback Troy Smith has at least one -- if not more -- eye-popping plays that let teamates, coaches, opponents, opposing coaches, fans and everyone else know he's the best player in the country. On Saturday, during a 44-3 win over Indiana, Smith took a three-step stop, saw trouble coming and spun out of a sack, backtracked and threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to junior wideout Ted Ginn Jr. Unbelievable.
Troy Smith, Sr. QB, Ohio State: Pretty much on cruise control until Michigan comes to the Horseshoe on Nov. 18. All he really needs is a win over his arch rivals and he can start writing his acceptance speech. Smith completed 15 of 23 passes for 220 yards and four touchdowns in the Buckeyes' win over IU. YTD: 1,715 YDS, 21 TD, 2 INT, 67.9 completion percentage
Steve Slaton, So. RB, West Virginia: Slaton was corralled for much of the first half of the Mountaineers' 37-11 win at Connecticut last Friday, yet he still managed to rush for 128 yards and a score on 19 carries. Slaton now has nine days off before his, and his team's, first big test at Louisville next Thursday night. YTD: 151 ATT, 1,059 YDS, 9 TD, 7.0 yards per carry
Michael Hart, Jr. RB, Michigan: 27 carries a game is a lot for anybody, let alone a college kid in one of the nation's toughest, hard-hittingest conferences, but Hart just keeps chuggin' along. The junior scored two touchdowns and ran for 126 yards on 31 carries in a 20-6 win over Iowa. He also had what would have been his first fumble in more than 630 carries erased by an official's review. YTD: 214 ATT, 1,032 YDS, 8 TD, 4.8 yards per carry
Brady Quinn, Sr. QB, Notre Dame: The Irish were left for dead last Saturday. Notre Dame was down, 17-14, to UCLA at home with 1:01 left in the final stanza before their senior signal-caller led a three-play, 34 second scoring drive that covered 80 yards for the winning touchdown. Quinn completed passes of 21, 14, and 45 yards, respectively on the drive, capping off a day where he completed 27 of 45 passes for 304 yards and two TDs -- without throwing an interception. YTD: 1,938 YDS, 18 TD, 4 INT, 62.9 completion percentage
James Davis, So. RB, Clemson: He doesn't have as many carries or yards as the other two backs on this list, due in part because he splits time with another standout runner -- freshman C.J. Spiller. But Davis has put up some gaudy numbers this season. In a prime time matchup with ACC leader Georgia Tech, Davis ran 21 times for 216 yards and two touchdowns as his Tigers clobbered the Jackets, 31-7. YTD: 139 carries, 961 yards, 16 touchdownss, 6.9 yards per carry
Not only are Ohio State and Michigan 1-2 in this poll, they're 1-2 in the BCS, too, for now. With Minnesota, Illinois and Northwestern on OSU's schedule, and Northwestern, Ball State!!! and Inidiana coming up for UM, Nov. 18 is shaping up to be called the Game of the Century to this point.
It would have been too easy to title this post as "Strike a Pose." Everybody would have known exactly what I was talkin' about.
Yes, it's THAT time of year again. T-minus 31 days until the start of college football. None of the major polls are out, but all the talk has centered around defending national champ Texas and how Mack Brown will replace Vince Young, and on the two teams who met in last season's Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame and Ohio State.
There's four guys on those two squads who have a shot at the Heisman this season: senior wide out Jeff Samardzija and senior signal caller Brady Quinn could be in New York representing the Irish this December, while senior quarterback Troy Smith, and junior do-everything returner/wide receiver Ted Ginn, Jr. could rep "O-H. I-O."
There's also a number of other guys who could end up hoisting the memorial trophy. Some of them play on BCS bowl contenders. Some of them play on middle of the road squads that have a chance at a solid season.
So, without further ado, here's my list of Heisman candidates for the 2006 College Football season.
--Brady Quinn, Sr. QB, Notre Dame: Head coach Charlie Weiss has turned this Tyrone Willingham recruit into the likely number one pick in next year's NFL Draft. Quinn put up some crazy number last season: 32 TDs, 3,919 yards, and a 65 percent completion rate. If he can duplicate those numbers, and the Irish can make it through a schedule that includes Georgia Tech, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, UCLA and USC relatively unscathed, Quinn could take home the memorial trophy this year.
--Adrian Peterson, Jr. RB, Oklahoma: Peterson was invited to NYC as a freshman after tallying 15 scores and 1,925 yards. He hit what some would term a sophomore slump last year with a couple of injuries "slowing him down." AD still recorded 14 touchdowns and 1,108 yards. If he can regain his frosh form, Peterson could make it back-to-back tailbacks to win the Heisman.
--Michael Bush, Sr. RB, Louisville: His Cardinals squad has a chance to stay in the national title hunt this year. Bobby Petrino's group has just two tough games on its schedule: Miami (Fl.) on Sept. 16 and West Virginia on Nov. 2. Both of those games are at home. Michael played second fiddle to the other Bush last season, but his numbers were second to none. On 205 carries, Bush rushed for 1,143 yards and 23 scores. Michael could be this year's "El Presidente."
--Drew Stanton, Sr. QB, Michigan State: When healthy, Stanton is possibly the best signal caller in college football. With his Spartan squad's sketchy defensive play, lack of a kicking game and questionable coaching decisions, Stanton is the most important player to his team in the nation. This selection is completely dependent on State not having its annual swoon following their game against in-state rival Michigan and finishing with at least nine wins. Stanton's numbers speak for themselves: 67 percent completions, 3,077 yards, 22 TDs.
--Troy Smith, Sr. QB, Ohio State: Once he was given the reins, Smith played well for the Buckeyes last season. He missed the first game-and-a-half due to a suspension and went on to record 2,282 yards and 16 touchdowns on 64 percent. He'll probably be hyped up as this year's Vince Young. Like Young, Smith played well in his team's biggest games. He threw for 300 yards in Ann Arbor in a 25-21 win over Michigan. Smith also threw for 345 yards in the Buckeyes' Fiesta Bowl victory over Notre Dame
My name is Jason Carmel Davis, and I am a graduate of the Michigan State University School of Journalism. Yes, we do go to class in East Lansing, not just to bars and the liquor store.
I'm almost positive I had an SI with me in the womb, checking out Ralph Wiley. He's the main reason I ever decided to pursue a career in sportswriting .
I even remember the first highlight I ever saw on SportsCenter. I don't remember who was reading it, but it was Michael Jordan's 63-point game against the Celtics in the Garden in the 86 Playoffs. I've been hooked ever since.
