Here is (what I believe) the top 3 Heisman Finalist are:
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.
Duke freshman guard Andre Dawkins' sister died of injuries suffered in a car wreck Saturday while attempting to travel to Saturday's game against St. John's, team spokesman Matt Plizga said Monday. Lacey Dawkins, 21, of Columbus Ohio, died in the wreck. Dawkins' mother, Tamara Hill, also was in the Chevy Lumina, but Duke officials did not have an update on her condition Monday. Thoughts and prayers are with Dawkins through the rest of the season as he copes with this.
C.J. Spiller has made his name by eluding defenders with breathtaking jukes and bursts of speed. But there was one cut Clemson's star running back was unable to make in his senior season. Spiller was not among the five Heisman Trophy finalists who were announced Monday evening an hour after online voting concluded. It will become known how close Spiller came to an invitation when voting results are released Saturday. The number of finalists were based on the "natural break" in the voting tally. No more than six finalists are invited and that many had not gone since 1994. This is the first time five finalists have been named in the past five years. His candidacy probably took a fatal blow when he posted rushing performances of 58 and 18 yards against Virginia and USC, respectively, to close the regular season. Spiller, Ingram and Gerhart are the three finalists for the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation's top running back. That honor will be presented Thursday night during ESPN's college football awards show at 8 p.m.
Gov. Charlie Crist joined that chorus Monday that the Jags should draft Tim Tebow while talking football with several news reporters in Tallahassee. His comments were after a record-low 42,079 spectators at the Jacksonville-Houston game on Sunday. Rumors that low attendance will prompt the team to leave Jacksonville. Crist's opinion of Tebow, a team leader who's built a reputation around his religious faith. Crist has previously said he could see a future in politics for Tebow. Regardless, it takes more to draft a player than a governor's suggestion. Other teams will be in line to pick before the playoff-hopeful Jaguars, and team officials still have decisions to make about what they will need for next year's roster. No matter what, team owner Wayne Weaver leaves the draft decisions to GM Gene Smith.
Florida State coach Bobby Bowden says he plans to spend more time doing the Lord's work in retirement from football. Bowden told about 300 people attending a Fellowship of Christian Athletes breakfast Tuesday that his plans are to evangelize after he leaves the sidelines the final time after Florida State's Gator Bowl date with West Virginia on New Year's Day. Bowden told his audience that upon reflecting on his life, God wanted him to be a football coach. But now, he said, there are other challenges in his life, most notably in the area of promoting Christianity and talking to young people about their priorities in life.
In other news, Florida State football staff overhaul to include Chuck Amato. Well looks like he is out a job maybe the Notre Dame job?
I really have not liked Brandon Jennings but I have to give him some credit. In a 129-125 win against Golden State on Nov. 14, Jennings scored 55 points -- the most in a game by a rookie since Earl Monroe had 56 in the 1968 season. In addition to his ability to put up big scoring numbers, Jennings has impressed Detroit Pistons coach John Kuester.He averages 21.5 points to lead the Milwaukee Bucks in scoring. His 5.8 assists also are tops among Bucks players. "I'm very impressed with his discipline and how he's seeing the court and recognizing there are opportunities where he is going to score a lot of points, but also making his teammates better."
Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant admitted that he, like teammate Ron Artest, has played basketball after drinking. The admission was both shocking and troubling, right up until Bryant specified his drink of choice.Vitamin Water," he said. Artest, according to a story in the Sporting News, opted for Hennessy at halftime when he was with the Bulls. Artest's former teammate and former coach while he was with Houston. Rick Adelman theorized that Artest loves staying in the headlines, and probably isn't happy that Tiger Woods news is all the rage at the moment. "Ron's probably a little disappointed that happened," Adelman said. I do not know if I believe Rick myself. He maybe just trying to down play the fact because maybe he done it in Houston too. Who knows but I think it was stupid of him to say or even do for that fact. There's a chance Artest will be fined for his comments, though it is only a small possibility.
Joe McKnight would like nothing more than a repeat performance. Two years ago, McKnight set up the go-ahead touchdown with a dazzling punt return. Two years later, McKnight has an opportunity to become the Trojans' first 1,000-yard rusher since Reggie Bush and LenDale White achieved the feat in 2005. McKnight enters Saturday's regular-season finale against Arizona at with 979 yards and eight touchdowns.
In other news,Joe tells the Los Angeles Times that he's leaning towards returning for his senior season rather than entering the NFL Draft. He feels there are some things left to accomplish as a Trojan.
Julio Jones seems to be getting better the more the Crimson Tide needs him. The sophomore receiver was limited early in the season by a knee injury that he suffered against Florida International on Sept. 12, but he has played well in the clutch down the stretch. Jones has caught 27 of his team-high 40 passes in the Crimson Tide's last five games, including a career-high nine against Auburn. This season, even though Alabama was breaking in a new quarterback, Jones was expected to at least match those numbers from last year. Jones caught five passes for 124 yards in last year's SEC title game against Florida, and he'll be matched up against the same cornerbacks this year, too: Joe Haden and Janoris Jenkins.
Ok so first of I am not a Gator fan but Joe Haden is the truth. He is overlooked right now by the likes of Taylor Mays and Eric Berry. Haden was an outstanding high school quarterback in Maryland and one of the nation's top recruits when he signed with Florida in 2007. Haden has developed into a shutdown corner, a sure tackler, and one of the smartest players on UF's defense. He was named an American Football Coaches Association All-American on Thursday and is going to be a high first-round draft pick in April if he decides, as expected, to bypass his senior season. Florida cornerback Joe Haden has been the Gators' best defensive player all season.
