Let’s get this straight first: A pure defensive player will never win the Heisman. It’s just the nature of the award. The one defender who did win–Michigan’s Charles Woodson–did so because he also played wide receiver and returned punts. Take away the gimmick of  Woodson being a two-way player and Peyton Manning would’ve had a Heisman to add to his wonderful NFL accomplishments.

That all said, there is nothing to prevent defensive players from getting Heisman votes and, on occasion, catching fire and making it to New York as a finalist. Tyrann Mathieu’s fifth-place finish last year is a great example of that. The closest a pure defensive player has come to winning was 1980, when Hugh Green of Pittsburgh placed second, just 267 points behind George Rogers of South Carolina.

While they can’t win, defensive players can sway close races, as one did in 2009 when Ndamukong Suh cost Colt McCoy the Heisman by topping the Longhorn quarterback in the Southwest region. Give McCoy half of Suh’s 161 first-place votes and he–not Mark Ingram– is probably that year’s Heisman winner.

So who are the defensive players with the best chance of making an impact on this year’s Heisman race? Who might actually make it to New York as a finalist in 2012?

Here’s my list: Continue Reading →

No Tyrann Mathieu? WTF, he made it to NYC in 2011 but cant make the watch list in 2012?

That’s the comment left by Drew in response to the 2012 preseason Heisman Watch List I released last week.

It’s a fair question.

After all, Tyrann Mathieu AKA ‘The Honey Badger’ ["I do have a real name," he once told me] finished fifth in the Heisman vote last season and, by a lot of standards, would have to naturally be considered a contender in 2012 as well.

But, my problem with Mathieu as Heisman candidate is this: Defensive players just don’t win the Heisman.

I offer that statement without moral judgement and without disrespect. It just is what it is.

The preseason Heisman list is intended to include players who have an actual chance to win the trophy.

Can Mathieu overturn a central tenet of the Heisman race and win it?

Think about Mathieu last season. Think about what had to happen for him to even finish fifth in the voting. Heck, take a look at this video:

He’s a great player, without a doubt, and probably the main reason LSU made it through the regular season unscathed.

But amazing punt returns at critical junctures, acrobatic interceptions, forced fumbles, scoop-and-scores, and other plays in that vein are very hard to duplicate. Some of those plays were the kind of plays that were only going to happen in that moment, at that time.

And so, I just can’t see Mathieu being able to replicate it all, which is what he would have to do to get to New York again, much less win it.

I’d say the most likely trophy destined to sit on his mantle is the Thorpe.

The 2012 Heisman Trophy Watch List has been released by Heismanpundit.com.

The prestigious 18-player list gives football fans the first glimpse at a great crop of Heisman contenders for the coming season.

Heismanpundit.com will consider other players for the 2012 Heisman Trophy Watch List and will also delete players as the season progresses.

The Heisman Trophy, presented annually since 1935, is the most prestigious award in sports.  It is named after famed college football coach John W. Heisman.

The 2012 winner will be announced in New York on Saturday, Dec. 8.

The 2012 Heismanpundit.com Heisman Trophy Watch List (in alphabetical order)

Tavon Austin, Sr., AP, West Virginia

Montee Ball, Sr., RB, Wisconsin

Matt Barkley, Sr., QB, USC

Tajh Boyd, Jr., QB, Clemson

Tyler Bray, Jr., QB, Tennessee

Knile Davis, Jr., RB, Arkansas

James Franklin, Jr., QB, Missouri

Landry Jones, Sr., QB, Oklahoma

Collin Klein, Sr., QB, Kansas State

Marcus Lattimore, Jr., RB, South Carolina

Aaron Murray, Jr., QB, Georgia

Keith Price, Jr., QB, Washington

Denard Robinson, Sr., QB, Michigan

Geno Smith, Sr., QB, West Virginia

De’Anthony Thomas, So., RB, Oregon

Sammy Watkins, So, WR, Clemson

Tyler Wilson, Sr., QB, Arkansas

Cierre Wood, Sr., RB, Notre Dame

Continuing with the series, here’s my look at the 10 players from the ACC with the best chance of winning the Heisman. Remember, this is not to say that all of them are legit candidates in 2012. It is merely a 10-deep ranking of their odds at winning. The ACC is so lacking in Heisman potential, one has to dig deep…

The Contenders

1. Tajh Boyd, Clemson – Boyd is coming off a sophomore season in which he threw 33 touchdown passes and he benefits from Chad Morris, the best offensive coordinator in the league, calling the plays. He’s also got one of the best receiving corps in the country at his disposal, so an RG3 type of season where he elevates his team into the national spotlight isn’t out of the question.

The Dark Horses

2. E.J. Manuel, Florida State – Manuel had a spotty junior year, consisting of flashes of brilliance mixed with maddening inconsistency. However, FSU is a traditional Heisman power and if he puts it all together as a senior and leads the Seminoles back into the top 5 or 10, he can emerge as a legitimate candidate.

3. Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech – Thomas is a superb physical specimen hamstrung by a somewhat basic offensive scheme that doesn’t always enable Tech quarterbacks to put up Heisman-worthy numbers. But if he can help Tech win the ACC title while beating some good teams along the way, he might figure in the Heisman conversation.

4. Sammy Watkins, Clemson – Watkins might be the best receiver in the country and he’s also an explosive special teams performer. He had 83 catches for 1,225 yards and 12 touchdowns as a true freshman and he should improve upon those numbers in 2012.

The Long Shots

5. Bryn Renner, North Carolina – He had a strong sophomore year with 26 touchdown passes and a 68 percent completion rate, which could portend bigger things to come.

6. Andre Ellington, Clemson – Ellington is a breakaway back who had 1,178 yards last season. If he can hold off talented sophomore Mike Bellamy, look for him to improve his production in 2012.

7. Tevin Washington, Georgia Tech – The leader of the Tech triple option will put up big numbers on the ground, for sure, but he’ll need to improve his passing yardage to be a factor.

8. James Wilder, Florida State – Wilder may not even be the main back for the ‘Noles this year, but if he wins the starting job he might get a chance to showcase his considerable talent. He’s got a name that voters recognize, too.

9. Chase Rettig, Boston College – Rettig was solid as sophomore, so maybe he makes a jump as a junior and brings BC back to respectability.

10. Giovani Bernard, North Carolina – Bernard had an impressive freshman year, running for 1,253 yards and 13 touchdowns. Maybe he’s the next great Tar Heel back.

Just a gentle reminder to those of you who are taking my top 10 conference lists waaaaaay too literally.

Keep in mind that just because a guy is 7th out of 10 on a conference list does NOT mean I think he is a real Heisman candidate for 2012.

The point is to rank the players from each conference based on their potential to mount a real Heisman run under a hypothetical circumstance. The lists assume an equally incredible season for each player and what would happen as a result.

Very soon, I will have the 2012 HP Heisman Watch List and that will list the overall legitimate candidates for the award.

The conference lists are just fun exercises, nothing more.

Continuing our series of looking at potential Heisman candidates (potential being a key distinction here, people) by conference, here is a look at the Pac-12. The conference has been very active in the Heisman race of late thanks to Stanford and Oregon, but hasn’t produced a winner since 2005 (yes, Reggie Bush won the Heisman, whether he still holds that honor or not).

The Contenders

1. Matt Barkley, USC – Barkley enters 2012 as the overall Heisman leader. While he’s not getting the accolades that Andrew Luck received heading into 2011, Barkley has the advantage of being the quarterback for a traditional Heisman power that also happens to be a strong contender for the national title. Then there is the surrounding narrative of his leading the Trojans back to prominence following a tough NCAA probation period. So, in that sense, he is potentially a stronger candidate than Luck, especially when you consider the field that is arrayed against him is not as strong as it was for Luck in 2011. Last year, Barkley threw for 3,528 yards and 39 touchdowns, so he has a good shot at bettering his numbers, especially with the best receiving corps in college football and almost all of his offense returning around him. If Barkley leads USC to an undefeated season and, at minimum, approximates his production from last season, he’ll win the Heisman.

2. DeAnthony Thomas, Oregon – By the end of last season, it was pretty clear what a special player Oregon had in Thomas. He only touched the ball 140 times as a true freshman (101 times on offense), but he produced 2,235 yards (an average of 16 yards per play) and 18 total touchdowns. Thomas will see his role expand in 2012 and that means plenty of opportunities to show why he’s quite possibly the most electrifying player in college football. He seems born to be featured in the Chip Kelly offense and I expect to see bigger and better things in 2012. If he stays healthy and produces, he could easily end up in New York City in December.

The Dark Horses

3. Keith Price, Washington – The concept of Price as a dark horse candidate has its roots in last season’s Holiday Bowl, when he went toe-to-toe with Heisman winner Robert Griffin III in a tough loss to Baylor. Price threw for 438 yards and four touchdowns, putting a cap on one of the best sophomore seasons in Pac-12 history. He threw for 3,063 yards and 33 touchdowns and should improve on those numbers in 2012 as young talents Kasen Williams and Austin Serferian-Jenkins start to come into their own. The main hurdle to a legitimate Price candidacy is that Washington’s record may not be that good. Beat LSU at Tiger Stadium in September and he’ll be a contender.

4. Kenjon Barner, Oregon – As mentioned in a previous post here at HP, Barner has a great chance to be just as productive in 2012 as LaMichael James was in 2011. The Oregon system is running back friendly and he could well double the 938 yards and 11 touchdowns he had last season. If that happens and the Ducks are once again among the top teams in the country, he’ll battle it out with his teammate Thomas for Heisman love.

5. Curtis McNeal, USC – Lack of tailback depth could propel McNeal to increased production in 2012. He rushed for 1,005 yards last season on just 145 carries (and with more depth around him), so as a senior he should end up with the most yards by a Trojan tailback since Reggie Bush in 2005. Unfortunately for McNeal, his teammate is the Heisman front runner, but you can never really count out the USC tailback mystique when it comes to the Heisman race.

The Long Shots

6. John White, Utah – White made quite a splash in the conference last season, rushing for 1,520 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s a bit atypical for the conference in that he is a true power back who can wear down a defense. He averaged 24 carries per game last year (third among running backs nationally), so it might be asking a bit much for him to keep up the same pace. But if he can lead Utah into conference title contention and help the Utes take out USC in early October, he could get some Heisman consideration.

7. Stepfan Taylor, Stanford – While Andrew Luck was getting all the attention these past two seasons, Taylor was quietly rushing for 2,467 yards and scoring 28 touchdowns. It could be that with Luck gone, the Cardinal reverts to its tailback-centric attack from the Toby Gerhart days. That could mean a special season for Taylor and a potential dark horse Heisman run.

8. Brett Nottingham, Stanford – It could well be that Nottingham is nothing special this year as Andrew Luck’s replacement (assuming he actually wins the job, which I do). But what if Nottingham ends up being really, really good in the same way that Matt Leinart was good following the departure of Carson Palmer at USC? The media will tout Nottingham as the next great Stanford quarterback and if you are the next great Stanford quarterback, it’s not out of the ordinary to be a Heisman candidate as well. Hey, this is why we have a ‘long shot’ category.

9. Johnathan Franklin, UCLA – Franklin has been decently productive the last two seasons, rushing for 2,103 yards for a bad team. But the Bruins have a new coach and a new system and it could well be that Franklin sees increased production as a result. He certainly has the skill set to break a lot of highlight reel runs and as long as he can hold onto the ball and stay healthy, he could have one of the better years by a UCLA back in quite a while.

10. Isi Sofele, California – Sofele rushed for 1,322 yards and 10 touchdowns last season and he seemed to get better as the year wore on. Although diminutive, he carried the ball 20 times or more in his last five games while topping the 100-yard mark three times. Cal has a recent tradition of running back success, so it’s possible that Sofele improves upon his debut year as a starter and earns accolades as one of the best backs in the country.

Previous Conference Heisman Top 10s for 2012

The SEC

The Big Ten

The Big 12

More breaking down of the Heisman race by conference with a look at the Big Ten today. The conference has only had one Heisman winner in the last 12 seasons so maybe it’s time. If so, he’ll likely come from this group:

The Contenders

1. Denard Robinson, Michigan – It’s the last go-around for the electric Robinson, whose development has come hand-in-hand with Michigan’s return to prominence. His numbers weren’t as good in 2011 as they were in 2010 (when he finished sixth in the Heisman race), but his team was much better and that gives him immense credibility in this year’s race. Another year of comfort with the Al Borges offense should also help. His name recognition plus his position as quarterback for a traditional power on the rise makes him a serious Heisman candidate.

2. Montee Ball, Wisconsin – How can a guy who rushed for 1,923 yards and scored 39 touchdowns as a junior not be at the top of this list? Because he rushed for 1,923 yards and 39 touchdowns, that’s why. It will be very hard for Ball to duplicate last season’s production and any major dropoff will be seen by voters as a disappointment. However, if the Badgers can find a way to adequately replace the most efficient single-season passer in NCAA history in Russell Wilson–perhaps with Maryland transfer Danny O’Brien?–I can see Ball having another huge year and making it back to New York. Attention Wisky: This time, give the man a campaign.

The Dark Horses

3. Fitzgerald Toussant, Michigan – Toussant had a strong finish to last season, when he rushed for 1,041 yards and nine touchdowns. He should improve his numbers considerably and have the best season by a Michigan back since Chris Perry, who was a Heisman finalist in 2003.

4. Braxton Miller, Ohio State – When you take a clear talent from a bad system and then put him in a system that is known for maximizing talent, you can expect a corresponding jump in production. Therefore, I expect Miller to have a good season for the Buckeyes. The question is: How good? He wouldn’t be the first Urban Meyer sophomore to out-perform expectations. And playing for a traditional Heisman power like Ohio State certainly helps. In any case, a Heisman run in 2013 seems more realistic.

5. Le’Veon Bell, Michigan State – As mentioned in an earlier post here at HP, Bell is one of several players around the country whose numbers stand to improve considerably in 2012. While Michigan State isn’t a known haven for Heisman candidates, Bell has several high-profile games to establish his credentials and a dark horse run isn’t out of the question.

6. Silas Redd, Penn State – Redd rushed for 1,241 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore last season and he’ll once again be the workhorse for the Nittany Lions. I think Bill O’Brien will lean on Redd considerably, which should mean upwards of 300 carries and over 1,500 rushing yards. That could put him within reach of a dark horse run at the Heisman, the first by a Penn State player since Larry Johnson in 2002.

7. Taylor Martinez, Nebraska – It seems so long ago since Martinez burst onto the scene as a freshman. He’s taken his lumps since then and he definitely fell off the map a bit as a sophomore. If he can recapture that first-year magic and lead the Huskers to a Big Ten title, he could jump back on the Heisman radar.

The Long Shots

8. Nathan Scheelhaase, Illinois – Scheelhaase is an exciting player on a bad team, but we’ve seen that script before (hello, Baylor). Turning a bad team into a good team is always cause for Heisman attention, especially if Scheelhaase can take down a few of the big boys in the Big Ten along the way.

9. Rex Burkhead, Nebraska – Burkhead is coming off a season in which he rushed for 1,357 yards and 15 touchdowns and he could certainly improve upon those stats if he again carries the ball nearly 300 times. A Nebraska running back hasn’t made noise in the Heisman race since 1994, but Burkhead has a shot.

10. Bri’onte Dunn, Ohio State – If a Big Ten freshman somehow ends up making noise in the Heisman race, I think it’ll be this guy, who landed at No. 3 on HP’s running back recruit list. New coaches tend to go with their own players, so I can see the powerfully-built Dunn possibly getting some carries in the fall if he can quickly pick up Urban Meyer’s system. If he does, I think he’ll do well. This is obviously a huge reach of a pick, but that’s why they call it a ‘long shot’ and, besides, Ohio State is the kind of school where a freshman can make a quick name for himself (see Clarett, Maurice).