It’s obviously a long way off and the 2010 season hasn’t even begun yet–so a LOT can and will happen–but here are some very early front runners (in no particular order) for the 2011 Heisman*. Unlike 2010, the 2011 season should be filled with a bevy of top players from traditional Heisman powers:
Garrett Gilbert, Texas–He’ll be a junior coming off his first full year as a starter for the Longhorns. If 2010 is successful, he’ll be one of the top contenders going into 2011.
Terrell Pryor, Ohio State–If he doesn’t win the Heisman this year then I doubt he goes pro, which means he’ll have another shot to fulfill all that unrealized talent while still at Ohio State.
Landry Jones, Oklahoma–Assuming he can hold off the super-talented Blake Bell, he’ll be on everyone’s short list if he has a good 2010.
Dayne Crist, Notre Dame–If Crist does well in his first year in Brian Kelly’s system, he should really blow up in year two and we all know how much voters love Irish quarterbacks.
Trent Richardson, Alabama–Mark Ingram should bolt to the NFL after this season, which will allow Richardson to dominate the carries for the Tide in 2011.
John Brantley, Florida–Could put up big numbers this year for the Gators, but will he then stick around for his fifth season? If he does, he might bring another Heisman to Gainesville.
Kellen Moore, Boise State–Moore’s best shot at the Heisman is as a senior, when he could potentially enter the year with a career record of 39-1 as a starter.
John Clay, Wisconsin–He’s no Dayne, but if he comes back for his senior year, he’ll have a chance to finish up among the top five rushers in NCAA history.
Jacory Harris, Miami–He’ll be in his fourth season as a starter and might end up as the all-time Miami passing leader before he’s all through. That might count for something in the Heisman race.
Denard Robinson, Michigan–Rich Rodriguez has compared him to Pat White. If Robinson actually starts as a sophomore and then plays like White did as a junior, he’ll be a Heisman contender.
LaMichael James, Oregon–By his junior season, James might be the top Heisman contender from the West Coast.
Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh–If his sophomore year is anywhere near as successful as his freshman year, he’ll enter 2011 as one of the front runners.
Dark Horses: Washaun Ealey, Georgia; Cam Newton, Auburn; Robert Griffin, Baylor; Marc Tyler, USC; Jermie Calhoun, Oklahoma
* — This list assumes Andrew Luck, Jacquizz Rodgers, Blaine Gabbert, Ryan Williams, Ryan Mallett and Mark Ingram will go pro following the 2010 season.
HP are you forgeting Matt Barkley?
Why? I could possibly see this list making sense in December after the finalists have been announced, but who cares about it now?
SEChater,
Matt who?
SEChater–Didn’t forget Barkley. Just not a believer in his chances.
Roby13–I like to do this because it gets my perspective of the race on record at certain intervals. I like to see how my perception evolves, or if it does at all.
AUman–Don’t worry, it’s not the QB Matt who blanked the Tigers in his first start.
Don’t worry HP…I member him well. 21-0 bad guys if memory serves correct? But very nice comeback. Youngin you’re finally catchin on to this lil ole game. lol
it was actually 23-0.
Tis true HP, just a typo and two tired eyes. The 2002 game was much better as we fell by aTD, 24-17.
RANDALL COBB, Kentucky Dark Horse??
You just lost ALL credibility with your omission of Taylor Martinez. He just happens to be the FIRST Freshman to EVER start at QB for the Huskers and they’ve had a few pretty good ones – Turner Gill, Tommie Frazier, and Eric Crouch!! – come to mind… T-Magic, who also leads the nation in yards/carry, is a bigger (more powerful), faster Eric Crouch with a better arm. You better start paying attention boys!
Well, this post was back in August, before Martinez had even played, much less won the starting job for Nebraska. So, I think my credibility is intact!
Perhaps you should rethink your Barkley chances for Heisman. Check the stats, not sure why you continue hating on a future top 5 NFL pick.
He’s not a future top 5 pick. But even if he were, there are a ton of top 5 picks who never came close to the Heisman.
Love reading that Cam Newton was considered a Dark Horse…for 2011!! In all honesty, I think EVERYONE has been surprised how good the guy is.
I wrote in May that he was a darkhorse for 2010
http://heismanpundit.com/2010/05/28/cam-newton-ready-to-go-for-auburn/
I’ll make sure to bookmark your comment when Matt decides to go pro. By the way, Spiller to USC!
Marcus Lattimore. Done. Now, start speculating about 2012.
watch out for marcus lattimore(south carolina) and chris polk(washington)
what about the sophomore qb from west virginia? i think his name is geno smith. he had a 150.0 qb rating this year. 2600 yards passing. 25 tds and 5 ints. Also runs pretty well too.
Barkley is garbage, and so is USC. I like dion lewis, lattimore, landry jones, james, and kellen moore, and luck. This is gonna be a great college football season in 2011.
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