My current top five is Tebow, Ryan, Dixon, Hart and McFadden. Here’s a look at what Dennis Dixon has to do to win:
Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon is the newcomer to this year’s Heisman race. Through eight games, he has thrown for 1,885 yards and 16 TDs with just 3 interceptions. He has also rushed for 492 yards and eight touchdowns. Overall, his numbers are not far off of Tim Tebow’s.
He is on pace to throw for 2,828 yards, 24 TDs and 5 picks, and rush for 738 yards and 12 TDs. If he keeps that pace, those are certainly Heisman-worthy numbers.
Simply put, Oregon needs to win out for Dixon to have a real chance at winning. It all starts with Saturday’s high-profile game against Arizona State. The nation will be watching and Heisman voters will hold their breaths, hoping that yet another Heisman hopeful doesn’t disappoint.
A win over ASU will push Oregon into serious national title contention and should vault Dixon into the top spot in the Heisman race. His three remaining games–Arizona, UCLA and Oregon State–are not gimmes, but they are certainly manageable.
One other thing: If Dixon comes out looking good against Arizona State and the Ducks win, Oregon needs to make a concerted effort to promote him as a Heisman candidate. It is very hard for a player from a non-traditional power like Oregon to win the Heisman, so a creative, convincing argument must be made on his behalf.
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