There are a few schools out there that possess the institutional power and tradition to produce instant Heisman candidates with little or no preseason fanfare.
All it takes is a few good early season games and you can count on these players being talked about as serious contenders (whether they truly are or not).
Here is the group of players who I think have a chance to suddenly be regarded as Heisman candidates if they get off to a sizzling start–thanks in large part, of course, to where they play and the media advantages that gives them:
Aaron Corp, Joe McKnight, Stafon Johnson–USC
DeMarco Murray, Chris Brown–Oklahoma
Terrelle Pryor, Dan Herron, Brandon Saine–Ohio State
Christian Ponder, Jermaine Thomas–Florida State
Jimmy Clausen, Armando Allen–Notre Dame
Greg McElroy, Mark Ingram–Alabama
Charles Scott, Jordan Jefferson–LSU
Brandon Minor–Michigan
Roy Helu–Nebraska
Jacory Harris, Graig Cooper–Miami
Nobody from Texas or Florida, but 2 from Oklahoma? That doesn’t make sense to me. It seems to me that Bradford is still the most likely Sooner to win the Heisman next year. Not Murray nor Brown. The reason nobody from UF or Texas will recieve votes is because every would-be vote would go to either McCoy or Tebow. I think that line of thinking would hold true for Oklahoma as well…unless Texas voters vote (1)McCoy, (2) Murray/Brown, (3)Tebow in order to prevent a repeat for Bradford. Who knows.
I didn’t choose anyone from Texas or Florida because both Tebow and McCoy dominate those offenses so much. Florida has so many backs and that system doesn’t lend itself to big rushing numbers (unlike OU), while Texas just doesn’t have a back in place who looks like he’ll go crazy.
Of course Bradford is the most likely sooner to win the Heisman. But he also has two 1,000 yard rushers who could potentially be seen as candidates (not necessarily potential winners).