Heading into the season, 2010 is shaping up to be the most wide-open Heisman race I’ve seen since I started this blog back in 2004.
While Terrell Pryor is the front runner, he’s not exactly a slam dunk selection. There are legitimate cases to be made that five or six other players could be considered front runners as well.
I think it’s going to result in yet another entertaining Heisman race. The last four preseason favorites have failed to win the trophy, so if that trend continues, you wonder which player is going to emerge from the pack.
Here is a rundown of the preseason Heisman favorites from the past 20 years. To me, 2003 was the last season that didn’t really have a clear favorite going in and a reconstructed Jason White ended up having a monster season and taking home the trophy.
Preseason Favorite/Actual Winner
2009: Colt McCoy/Mark Ingram
2008: Chris Wells/Sam Bradford
2007: Darren McFadden and John David Booty/Tim Tebow
2006: Brady Quinn/Troy Smith
2005: Reggie Bush/Reggie Bush
2004: Matt Leinart/Matt Leinart
2003: Eli Manning/Jason White
2002: Ken Dorsey/Carson Palmer
2001: Eric Crouch/Eric Crouch
2000: Chris Weinke/Chris Weinke
1999: Ron Dayne/Ron Dayne
1998: Ricky Williams/Ricky Williams
1997: Peyton Manning/Charles Woodson
1996: Danny Weurffel/Danny Weurffel
1995: Lawrence Phillips/Eddie George
1994: Tommy Frazier/Rashaan Salaam
1993: Charlie Ward/Charlie Ward
1992: Gino Toretta/Gino Toretta
1991: Desmond Howard/Desmond Howard
1990: Rocket Ismail/Ty Detmer
Tressell limited Pryor’s passing down the stretch last year, instead trying to rely upon his running or that of the running backs, Saine and Herron. Against Oregon, his most key and memorable pass was a lob to a tightend that would have gotten picked in the NFL. I don’t think he has turned the corner as a passer and doubt he ever will, ala, Vince Young. I also think his chronic health problems have to make one wonder about his durability and ability to put up individual numbers that will make him stick out and win the Heisman. Honestly, if he weren’t a heralded recruit, playing at Ohio State, his individual performances and statistics would be viewed as rather average. This reality will eventually manifest itself in April 2012.
Clorox – you wouldn’t consider his most key and memorable pass the perfectly thrown back shoulder fade to Posey to cement the win? We must have watched different games.