Heismanpundit

Today, we look at Florida junior wide receiver/running back Percy Harvin and what he has to do to win the Heisman:

Stat Requirements: 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving, plus at least 20 total touchdowns…that’s his surest route to the Trophy.  Of all things, I think attaining 1,000 receiving yards is his most essential requirement.  He can get away with fewer rushing yards and touchdowns if he also performs spectacularly in the return game or rips off momentum-changing plays against marquee foes with regularity.  To this point, he has not had to do much with returns–Florida is in capable hands with Brandon James in that area–but I wouldn’t completely discount that possibility.  With a Heisman at stake, it could happen.   When you consider that last season he rushed for 764 (9.2 ypc!) and had 858 yards receiving (with 10 total TDs) while missing two full games, getting to 1,000/1,000 is not out of the question.  The main obstacles to that goal are (1) his health–he had offseason surgery on his foot–and (2) the possible rejuvenation of the Florida tailback position.

Big Game Performances: Harvin will have plenty of chances to showcase his abilities while Heisman voters are watching.  The Gators host Miami on Sept. 6 and, while the ‘Canes are not what they used to be, the matchup still has national appeal.  Harvin could set the tone in this one with a dominant performance.  By Sept. 20 at Tennessee, we should have a good idea about the changing dynamics of the Gator offense, namely the roles of Tebow and Harvin in relation to guys like Emmanuel Moody and Chris Rainey.  If Harvin’s candidacy is in good shape through the fifth game and he is routinely mentioned as a prime contender, huge matchups against LSU and Georgia in weeks six and eight could decide his fate.

Team Requirements: As the newest Heisman power on the block, Florida can lose a few games and Harvin will still have a shot at the Trophy.  Case in point, Tebow won it last year as a true sophomore despite Florida’s 9-3 record at the time of the voting.   This is a luxury not afforded to players like Chase Daniel or Pat White, whose teams basically have to go undefeated or be in the thick of the national title race to have a chance.   Obviously, Florida being in the hunt for the national championship helps Harvin–the fewer losses, the better.  But unless the Gators implode, their record shouldn’t have any major bearing on Harvin’s chances–unless his main challenger comes from a team that is undefeated.

Reader Robert Pickett provided the following stat:

Through two seasons, Harvin has 2,477 rushing and receiving yards on just 217 touches.  That’s an average of 11.41 yards per touch.   Chris Wells has 2,222 yards on 385 touches, or 5.77 yards per touch.

Now, granted, they are different players and are used differently in very different offenses, but it does illustrate the pure explosiveness of this special player.

If Urban Meyer makes the decision to rein in some of Tebow’s running and Moody, Rainey and the other tailbacks don’t hit the holes with consistency, you might see Harvin race his way to New York City come December.

Up Next: What USC tailback Stafon Johnson must do to win the Heisman.