Stanford’s Toby Gerhart is the dark horse for the Heisman award. Statistically, he might be the most deserving, leading the nation in rushing yards (1,736) and touchdowns (26). But he did not play last weekend and Stanford finished with a average 8-4 record. Why he could win is pound for pound, Gerhart has had the best statistical year of all the candidates. And Heisman voters love statistics. Gerhart led the Pac-10 in rushing yards and touchdowns. His 205-yard performance against Notre Dame bolstered his profile. Exposure is the issue for Gerhart, who might have jumped into the race too late.
The second place guy to me I believe is Alabama's Mark Ingram. The reasons he could win is he dominated the SEC championship game with 189 total yards on the most crucial day of the season while Tebow and Colt McCoy struggled. Some voters might be ready to give tradition-rich Alabama a Heisman. He refused to let Alabama lose all year by constantly making clutch plays. His problem is that normally Heisman-winning running backs need eye-popping stats to beat quarterbacks, and Ingram's are good but not great.
Last but surely not least Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh probably the most dominating player in the entire race, and he had his best game - a 12-tackle, four-sack performance against Texas - at the perfect time on the national stage of the Big 12 title game. Heck, he's the biggest reason Nebraska actually had a chance at the title. His biggest problem is defensive linemen have too steep of a disadvantage going in. The last tackle invited to New York was Warren Sapp. Michigan's Charles Woodson, the only defensive player to win a Heisman, benefited from eight interceptions while also returning punts and playing wide receiver.
The second place guy to me I believe is Alabama's Mark Ingram. The reasons he could win is he dominated the SEC championship game with 189 total yards on the most crucial day of the season while Tebow and Colt McCoy struggled. Some voters might be ready to give tradition-rich Alabama a Heisman. He refused to let Alabama lose all year by constantly making clutch plays. His problem is that normally Heisman-winning running backs need eye-popping stats to beat quarterbacks, and Ingram's are good but not great.
Last but surely not least Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh probably the most dominating player in the entire race, and he had his best game - a 12-tackle, four-sack performance against Texas - at the perfect time on the national stage of the Big 12 title game. Heck, he's the biggest reason Nebraska actually had a chance at the title. His biggest problem is defensive linemen have too steep of a disadvantage going in. The last tackle invited to New York was Warren Sapp. Michigan's Charles Woodson, the only defensive player to win a Heisman, benefited from eight interceptions while also returning punts and playing wide receiver.
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