Without going into to much detail–that will all come a little later in the summer–here’s a list of players with the best chance of actually winning the Heisman at this point. This is not a predicted order of the final tally, so some guys who will eventually garner a lot of votes–like Tim Tebow–may not be listed here.
1. Chris Wells, Ohio State
2. Chase Daniel, Missouri
3. Percy Harvin, Florida
4. Patrick White, West Virginia
5. Colt McCoy, Texas
6. Stafon Johnson, USC
7. Marlon Lucky, Nebraska
8. Keiland Williams, LSU
9. Graham Harrell, Texas Tech
10. C.J. Spiller, Clemson
I think that, at this point, it is highly likely that the 2008 Heisman will go to one of the players on this list.
I’m liking the new site Chris…
also liking seeing Percy in your top 3!
Go Gators!
Good to have ya back HP. Beanie baby!
I’ve looked everywhere for your email address but have not been able to find it. Please send a message to the email I included so we can discuss the possibility of a strategic partnership that would include a free, professional redesign easily in time for football season. Hope to hear from you soon.
–
Austin Baird
NCAA Sports Director
Most Valuable Network
Atta baby Marlon!!!!
I just wanted to point out that in your previous post you explicitly said Graham Harrell had no chance of winning. Now you’ve got him in your list of ten who can win. What gives?
I’m assuming that you’re going endorse this post, seeing as Harrell definitely will be a contender if he and Texas Tech have a great season (which some people are predicting).
In the previous post, I basically implied that unless Graham Harrell throws for a million yards–or let’s just say NCAA single-season records for yards and TDs–and his team goes 12-0 and makes it to the BCS title game, he ain’t going to win.
In that sense, his being ranked 9th here takes into account that extremely remote chance.
So, yeah, he has a remote shot. But I feel safe enough in its remoteness to write that he has no real shot. But hey, if he proved me wrong, it’d be really fun to watch!
What I do know is that Graham Harrell can’t do what he did last year, have his team go 10-2 and still have a shot at the Heisman. He has to go undefeated and a LOT of other candidates have to mess up. Not something I would bet on.
HP,
Have you learned nothing? You say that Tebow’s winning last season only proves your “no sophomore can win” commandment because of the circumstances of his win. Yet Tebow can’t win this year? Even though a two time winner has already occured in the past?
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think he will win, for all the reasons you mention. I think Beanie will be the guy. But to say Tebow can’t win seems like you are out of touch. He has more of a chance to repeat than most of your list above have to win. Look at your heismandments again. He is a perfect fit for EVERY one except #9. And he’s already proven himself to be the exception to #2.
Like I said, every rule has an exception. He is the exception to No. 2. But Griffin, not Tebow, is the exception to No. 9.
But look, I already laid out the reasons why Tebow won’t win. They are sound reasons and I stand by them.
HP,
We’ll agree to disagree. But I look forward to your in-season posts where you detail how Tebow, in yet another “freak” year, is among the top two or three contenders with an actual shot at winning.
I THINK MARLON LUCKY WOULD BE A GREAT HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER… HE SHOULD GET IT… HE TRAINED HARD FOR IT.
No Tim Tebow???? I am not Florida fan at all but he has to be in the top ten and I think top 5 easy.
How is Knowshon Moreno not on this list?!!
MARLON SHOULD HAVE A SHOT AT IT. DEPENDS ON THE BLACKSHIRTS. IF WE CAN’T STOP TEAMS THIS YEAR MARLON WON’T BE IN NY. BO WILL HAVE THE BLACKSHIRTS BACK, SO SEE YOU IN NY MARLON!!!!
Where Tebow? Knowshon?
Knowshon!!!
BEE’S WILL DOMINATE THE DAWGS THIS YEAR ENDING GEORGIA’S CHANCES AT A NC or HEISMAN
8:45??????????!!!!!!!!!!
I think Matt Stafford should be on this list.
GO BIG RED!!!
Carneiro,
HP is a slave to his heismandments. Maybe he has to be. But that is why you don’t see Knowshon or Tebow here. They violate the “no sophomores” and “no repeat winners” rules.
I’m surprised he removed Stafford from this list as he was high up on the early list at the end of last season. HP, how come?
Ed you are spot on HP sticks to his Heismandments ’til the bitter end… or ’til he has no other choice (see last season for a perfect example). You have to admire him for sticking to his convictions, but I hope, as you seem to, that Tebow takes another Heismandment down this season!
However, I wouldn’t bank on it. Expectations are so high for him now… he will have to meet or exceed last year’s statistically phenomenal season to remain in the running (or have all other contenders fall on their faces again).
Brent,
I am actually in Beanies corner. Had Tressell just kept giving Beanie the ball like he did in the first 10 minutes, the NC game might have turned out differently. Beanie is that big a stud. But you’re also right in noting I’d love to see another of the heismandments fall.
Tebow might not need to have the monster season again. We’ve seen guys steal the award by having signature moments. A few of those for Tebow, plus the perception that he puts FLA on his back to the NC game could probably be enough. Beanie and Johnson need to “stay in the ballpark” though. Either of those guys go off then Tebow probably loses regardless. I’m not as concerned about the other guys on the list. I think either the team will disappoint (sorry PW, ML) or the player will (CM).
Big Husker fan, but Lucky is out unless the Skers somehow win 11 games.
It’s a preseason list, does it matter who is or isn’t on the list? How does a list prompt “GO WHOEVER, WE’RE #1″?
I really must learn not to read the responses, it’s like 4th grade recess.
LUCKY 4 HEISMAN. RESTORE THE ORDER, BO IS BACK
I have a very similar list. Unfortunately, I don’t think Lucky has a chance as his team will not be ranked. Simlarly, McCoy’s Longhorns will not climb high into the top 10 (if at all). Instead, my list includes another Clemson representative-James Davis- and an unspecified USC representative. Both these teams will remain high in the rankings, and USC seems to always have a candidate lurking (and this year, multiple candidates).
One might think that Stafford (Bulldogs) and Boeckman (Buckeyes), as the QB’s of the top two programs, might get some pre-season Heisman recognizion, but neither of these guys has the passing yardage or TD/INT ratio that I think warrants Heisman consideration as a QB, and neither has the rushing threat to overcome this.
Now that Tebow has broken the “sophmore barrier” I think there are 3 sophmores that have an outside chance: Moreno, Sam Bradford, and Michael Crabtree. These guys have a poor chance at winning, but they will decent point totals.
Chris