2011 CF Heisman Watch List

[Electric Slide]

Thought with a few weeks to go til the season starts that it wasn't too early to preview some of our athletes who have a shot being in a position the Heisman. It will be interesting to see the shuffling that happens. Remember that Toby Gerhart wasn't even considered in the running until about 4 weeks into the season and bouncing among the top three RBs in the FBS. Most in the media didn't even recognize him until he trampled all over USC and was well ahead in first place among RBs. Despite leading in yards and TDs of all FBS RBs, he still finished a close 2nd in Heisman voting to Alabama RB Mark Ingram. Here are the preseason candidates who I feel have at least a chance to be in a position to win the award:

1. Andrew Luck (SR)-QB Stanford. 2010: 372 passes, 263 completions (70.7%), 3332 yards, 32 TDs, 8 INTs (4/1). 55 rushes, 453 yards, 8.24 average, 3 TDs. Went 12-1, won the Orange Bowl. Finished 2nd in Heisman voting in 2010.

2. Kellen Moore (SR)-QB Boise State. 2010: 383 passes, 273 completions (71.3%), 3845 yards, 35 TDs, 6 INTs (5.8/1). 1 rush TD. Went 12-1, won Maaco Bowl Las Vegas.

3. Taylor Martinez (SO)-QB Nebraska. 2010: 196 passes, 116 completions (59.2%), 1631 yards, 10 TDs, 7 INTs (1.4/1). 162 rushes, 965 yards, 5.96 average, 12 TDs. Went 10-4.

4. Rex Burkhead (JR)-RB Nebraska. 2010: 172 rushes, 951 yards, 5.53 average, 7 TDs. 3 pass TDs. 15 receptions, 148 yards, 9.87 average. Went 10-4.

5. Landry Jones (JR)-QB Oklahoma. 2010: 617 passes, 405 completions (65.6%), 4718 yards, 38 TDs, 12 INTs (3.2/1). 1 rush TD. Went 12-2, won Fiesta Bowl.

6. Brandon Weeden (SR)-QB Oklahoma State. 2010: 511 passes, 342 completions (66.9%), 4277 yards, 34 TDs, 13 INTs (2.6/1). Went 11-2, won Alamo Bowl. Will turn 28 years old this season.

7. Zach Line (JR)-RB Southern Methodist. 2010: 244 rushes, 1494 yards, 6.12 average, 10 TDs. 17 receptions, 163 yards, 9.59 average. Went 7-7.

8. T.J. Moe (JR)-WR Missouri. 2010: 92 recpetions, 1045 yards, 11.36 average, 6 TDs. Went 10-3.

And just to use as a comparison, here is what a preseason watch list would have looked like for Toby Gerhart before his Heisman worthy season in 2009:

Toby Gerhart (SR)-RB Stanford. 2008: 210 rushes, 1136 yards, 5.41 average, 15 TDs. 13 receptions, 114 yards, 8.77 average. Went 5-7.

 

[Carolina Speed]

Great list Electric Slide, I like what you added about TG. Nothing against the QB's, but It would be nice to see Burkhead or Line get on a roll as TG did to help the cause, if not maybe one of the QB's will win.

 

[dwid]

I truly think this is the year McGuffie puts it all together. He had 1200 yards from scrimmage last year, only two other backs had more than 880 yards rushing and 380 receiving.

Sam McGuffie (JR) 197 attempts 883 rushing 4.5 ypc 6 tds, 39 receptions 383 yards receiving 3 tds. Went 4-8. Rice highlights - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_KErSK2a9w

one of the other backs that had at least 880 rushing and 380 receiving was

JJ Di Luigi (SR) 178 attempts 917 yards 5.2 ypc 8 td. 45 receptions 443 yards receiving 1 td, a total of 1360 from scrimmage. Went 7-6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMVE-7-4kP4

McGuffie finally has a consistent quarterback this year and was getting into a groove the second half of last year, he played with Rice shuffling 4 different qbs and the oline seemed off whenever they switched qbs. If you look at Chris Johnson and Matt Forte (both C-USA guys), they had mediocre seasons for their first few years in college and didn't hit it big until their last seasons. McGuffie is already written off as a bust by dwfs when he has two years left. Being in the C-USA hurts him but maybe he can come in close and have a Matt Forte like season, I predict over 2k from scrimmage (about 1700 rushing), a chance at the Doak Walker. Forte had 2k rushing and was considered a dark horse, so it will be much harder for a White guy from the same conference but hopefully it gets him back in the spotlight proving to people who thought he was a bust after having a decent season for a true fresh at Mich before his frame even filled out.


JJ Di Luigi also played with some inexperienced quarterbacks with Max Hall leaving for the NFL, I expect him to have a breakout year as well.

I would rank both of these guys above T.J. Moe, although I think Moe is going to have a great season.

 

[Electric Slide]

Great list Electric Slide, I like what you added about TG. Nothing against the QB's, but It would be nice to see Burkhead or Line get on a roll as TG did to help the cause, if not maybe one of the QB's will win.

Carolina thanks. If you looked at the Heisman race unfold in 2009, it was interesting they kept leaving Gerhart in at 3rd. Gerhart ended the season with an awesome game, but the other conferences still had championship games to play. McCoy didn't have a good game, but then Ingram scored 3 TDs in the SEC championship, but still behind Gerhart in TDs and Yards. Once all the games were done, most of the Heisman polls from ESPN had Gerhart in at first. When all the votes came in, all the voters from the SEC were solidly behind Ingram, and the West Coast was behind Gerhart. I think the Midwest was split, and I think the Northeast slightly broke for Ingram leaving him with the narrowest win in Heisman history. Even with Ingram winning the Heisman, the 2000s was the first decade that most of the Heisman winners were white since the 1960s. We started off this decade on a sour note, but there's still plenty of potential white Heisman winners in the next few years.

DWID, good call on McGuffie and DiLuigi. I forgot about McGuffie's receiving yards. Both McGuffie and DiLuigi would need awesome seasons, as well as a big turnaround in their teams this year. I'd place DiLuigi above Moe, but McGuffie behind him at this point. Moe has the obvious advantage of being in a BCS AQ conference and on a winning team. I will keep updating the list as the season goes on. I think we have identified pretty much every white player that has a shot at it as far as we can tell at this point. But who knows, maybe this is the year a freshman wins it.

 

[TwentyTwo]

Nice list! If I decide to play College Fantasy Football...these players will be a Top priority!


No doubt Luck should be the favorite...

Hoping for 1,000 yard rushing seasons from Line, Burkhead, McGuffie & DiLuigi....

Also QB's Case Keenum , Dan Persa & Ryan Tannehill are also some favorites!

WR's Cole Beasley, Jeremy Ebert, Connor Vernon & Danny Coale can put up some big numbers!

Would like to see Ryan Swope have a nice All-Purpose year!

 

[trackster]

Dan Persa was mentioned in an AP article today. He's list-worthy:

At Northwestern, Dan Persa returns from a torn Achilles’ tendon to direct the Wildcats’ spread attack.
Without all the fanfare Robinson received, Persa was one of the best quarterbacks in the country last season. He led the nation in completion percentage at 73.5 percent and finished ninth in the country in total offense at 310 yards per game, including 51.9 yards rushing.
“I think looking back on last year I think I ran too much,â€￾ said Persa, who ran 164 times in 10 games before getting hurt. “I’m kind of looking at this injury as kind of a blessing in disguise to improve on the things I want to improve on in the pocket.â€￾

 

[jaxvid]

Dan Persa was mentioned in an AP article today. He's list-worthy:

At Northwestern, Dan Persa returns from a torn Achilles’ tendon to direct the Wildcats’ spread attack.
Without all the fanfare Robinson received, Persa was one of the best quarterbacks in the country last season. He led the nation in completion percentage at 73.5 percent and finished ninth in the country in total offense at 310 yards per game, including 51.9 yards rushing.
“I think looking back on last year I think I ran too much,â€￾ said Persa, who ran 164 times in 10 games before getting hurt. “I’m kind of looking at this injury as kind of a blessing in disguise to improve on the things I want to improve on in the pocket.â€￾

Dan Persa is awesome, he is really someone to watch, I hope he can come back from that achillies injury, I know that is a tough one.

 

[whiteathlete33]

Persa is another very athletic white quarterback whose the same size as Eric Crouch. No team wanted to give Eric a shot at quarterback and I'm guessing Persa will switch positions in the NFL. Maybe he'll be moved to safety or wide receiver.

 

[Electric Slide]

Persa is another very athletic white quarterback whose the same size as Eric Crouch. No team wanted to give Eric a shot at quarterback and I'm guessing Persa will switch positions in the NFL. Maybe he'll be moved to safety or wide receiver.

Good call 22 and trackster on Persa. I didn't realize the kind of all purspose yards he put up. He's definitely list worthy. It will be fun to keep track of all these preseason candidates during the season, and see who else may pop up as the season gets going.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

Persa is another very athletic white quarterback whose the same size as Eric Crouch. No team wanted to give Eric a shot at quarterback and I'm guessing Persa will switch positions in the NFL. Maybe he'll be moved to safety or wide receiver.

I'm not sure that a position switch would have happened anyway, but now after the torn Achilles it's HIGHLY unlikely. As far as getting a shot at QB in the NFL- maybe it is a blessing in disguise. Now, if a team likes him it will HAVE to be at QB IMO and he could still be one of the more mobile QBs in the NFL.

 

[TwentyTwo]

Thanks Electric Slide...

One of my break-out candidates is WR-Tyler Shoemaker of Boise...he & Kellen Moore can make for a dynamic pitch & catch combination! he had back-to-back 100+ yard receiving games last year..that could become the norm.

Navy Fullback Alexander Teich could join the 1,000 yard club this season as well if he gets enough carries?? Last year he rushed for 863...including the impressive 210 yards vs Notre Dame!

QB-GJ Kinne(Tulsa) should put up big numbers once again. Looking forward to seeing what soph. Jake Heaps(BYU) can do in his 2nd year as a starter...Tyler Wilson(Arkansas) was the SEC's Best back-up QB last year..should put up some nice numbers!

 

[Electric Slide]

2011 CF Preseason Heisman Watch List

I'm going to keep this list updated after each week, capping it at 10 of our athletes who have a shot at winning the Heisman. Right now it's a clean slate and an open race, so here goes with my preseason list:

1. Andrew Luck (SR)-QB Stanford. 2010: 372 passes, 263 completions (70.7%), 3332 yards, 32 TDs, 8 INTs (4/1). 55 rushes, 453 yards, 8.24 average, 3 TDs. Went 12-1, won the Orange Bowl. Finished 2nd in Heisman voting in 2010.


2. Kellen Moore (SR)-QB Boise State. 2010: 383 passes, 273 completions (71.3%), 3845 yards, 35 TDs, 6 INTs (5.8/1). 1 rush TD. Went 12-1, won Maaco Bowl Las Vegas.



3. Taylor Martinez (SO)-QB Nebraska. 2010: 196 passes, 116 completions (59.2%), 1631 yards, 10 TDs, 7 INTs (1.4/1). 162 rushes, 965 yards, 5.96 average, 12 TDs. Went 10-4.



4. Rex Burkhead (JR)-RB Nebraska. 2010: 172 rushes, 951 yards, 5.53 average, 7 TDs. 3 pass TDs. 15 receptions, 148 yards, 9.87 average. Went 10-4.



5. Landry Jones (JR)-QB Oklahoma. 2010: 617 passes, 405 completions (65.6%), 4718 yards, 38 TDs, 12 INTs (3.2/1). 1 rush TD. Went 12-2, won Fiesta Bowl.



6. Brandon Weeden (SR)-QB Oklahoma State. 2010: 511 passes, 342 completions (66.9%), 4277 yards, 34 TDs, 13 INTs (2.6/1). Went 11-2, won Alamo Bowl. Will turn 28 years old this season.

7. Dan Persa (SR)-QB Northwestern. 2010: 302 passes, 222 completions (73.5%), 2581 yards, 15 TDs, 4 INTs (3.75/1). 164 rushes, 519 yards, 3.16 average, 9 TDs. Went 7-3 in 10 games, team weant 7-6.

8. Zach Line (JR)-RB Southern Methodist. 2010: 244 rushes, 1494 yards, 6.12 average, 10 TDs. 17 receptions, 163 yards, 9.59 average. Went 7-7.

9. T.J. Moe (JR)-WR Missouri. 2010: 92 recpetions, 1045 yards, 11.36 average, 6 TDs. Went 10-3.

10. J.J. DiLuigi (SR)-RB BYU. 2010: 178 rushes, 917 yards, 5.15 average, 8 TDs. 45 receptions, 443 yards, 9.84 average, 1 TD. Went 7-6.

 

[dwid]

Not trying to hijack your list but I still think Sam McGuffie has more of a shot than TJ Moe. Only two wide receivers have won it ever and one hasn't won since 1991 and that guy was also a returnman with over 2,000 all purpose yards and 23 tds. The other was Tim Brown in 87 and was used as a wr/rb/kr/pr I highly doubt TJ will even be a dark horse candidate. I think he has a good shot at Biletnikoff award though.

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struggling witht trying to make the images smaller, anyone know how?

 

[Hawkeye2]

I was watching Sportsnation on ESPN and they were discussing Kellen Moore as a Heisman hopeful and the blonde lady made a comment that "He's got to be a fifth year senior at least, it seems like he's been in the league forever." If your going to get a job in sports reporting at least do a little research first. She has also made stupid comments about Tom Brady and Wes Welker in the past.

 

[Electric Slide]

Dwid, I remember Jordan Shipley was in the running for a few weeks in 2009, but you're right about the odds against them because of the chance that the QB will be credited and be in the running for the Heisman him self. You sort of have to hope for Moe to catch everything that comes his way, while the QB throws some picks, but still win the game.

Shipley did also have some good punt returns, and Moe has not played return at all. My only hesitation with McGuffie is Rice's losing record last year, and the fact that in the past 47 years only two winners have come from a team not currently in a BCS AQ conference. I know I put Line on their, but he was on a winning team last year and put up better rush stats. If McGuffie comes out of the gates in game 1 and Rice wins it and Moe has an average game or less, I'll put McGuffie ahead.

Remember, my plan is for this to change week to week. I hope it's a good Heisman race and I hope all of the guys we're talking about are mentioned as Heisman prospects, in addition to the ones that are a given like Luck, Moore, and Jones.

 

[Wisdom]

Unless he gets injured or Stanford University has some inexplicably bad play, Andrew Luck will win the 2011 Heisman Trophy. Every scout, recruiting service, draftnik, etc. has him ranked as the best player in the nation.