Heading into the heart of the 2009 College Football Season, most prognosticators are beginning to look ahead.
As we reach the halfway point, it is hard to believe that many websites are already starting their Heisman Watch and Bowl Predictions. By the way, no team has become bowl eligible yet, but that should change this weekend.
Therefore, following suit as other sports websites have done, it is time to look at the mid-season predictions for the 2009 Heisman Trophy.
Here are my top five picks to win this year’s Heisman:
1a. Colt McCoy (Quarterback – Texas). There are two main reasons why I rank him at the top. First of all, of the three ‘big name’ quarterbacks entering the season – Florida’s Tim Tebow, Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford, and McCoy – he is the only one to not win a Heisman Trophy (Tebow won in 2007, Bradford in 2008). Second, he is the only of the three pre-season favorites to not get hurt this season. Bradford lost his chances at a second Heisman Trophy when he left the game against BYU with a shoulder injury, and not playing since then. Tebow’s candidacy could end on Saturday if he is unable to go against LSU after a concussion he suffered against Kentucky.
1b. Tim Tebow (Quarterback – Florida). He is the guy I think is in the lead of winning the 2009 Heisman Trophy. The only problem: he might not play against LSU. In my mind, you must play all the games your team plays if you want to win college football’s top prize. If he comes out and has a masterful performance against LSU, the trophy is easily his. If he is a no-go in the Top-5 match-up, the first repeat winner since Archie Griffin will have to wait.
3. Jacory Harris (Quarterback – Miami (FL)). People wondered why the Hurricanes urged last season’s starter Robert Marve out the door. Harris this season has shown them exactly why. After several seasons of mediocrity, Harris has led the once prominent program back into the Top-10. Besides Tebow, Harris might be the most exciting quarterback in college football. The miserable game against Virginia Tech will probably be his undoing in winning the award. He has no worries though, he has a great chance of winning the Heisman at some point in his career.
4. Tony Pike (Quarterback – Cincinnati). Pike is the guy nobody knows about whatsoever. He is leading Cincinnati on a rampage through the weak Big East, and is putting up huge numbers in the process. Pike, a sixth-year senior, has the experience and the wisdom to be a great quarterback. He will never be flashy, but he will give you a consistent arm. If he does manage to win the Heisman Trophy, it would be much like the rest of his career…an upset.
5. Noel Devine (Running Back – West Virginia). It is hard to believe that someone would put two Big East players in the Heisman consideration, but I wanted to go with a true long-shot on my number five pick. Devine might be having the best season of his career in his junior season. I have always been a fan of this kid since his days backing up Steve Slaton. I always felt Devine was the better all-around running back than Slaton, and he is certainly showing it. He probably has no shot at winning the Heisman, but I at least wanted to give him some of the respect he is not getting.
Honorable Mentions:
Case Keenum (Quarterback – Houston)
Tate Forcier (Quarterback – Michigan)
Todd Reesing (Quarterback – Kansas)
There you have it, my picks for the Heisman Trophy. A lot will be decided this week with Tebow’s uncertain status against LSU.
The bottom-line, assuming everybody plays the remainder of the games, Tim Tebow will be the first repeat winner of the Heisman since running back Archie Griffin.