Heisman Trophy Watch 2010: It’s Still Cam Newton’s To Lose
Examining the 2010 Heisman Trophy race, ordering the potential candidates by threat level. This week: Cam “Cameron” Newton is trying his best to stave off stiff competition from a host of other talented spread quarterbacks, and his best remains very, very good.
Cam “Cameron” Newton, QB, Auburn
The Auburn coaching staff seems to be going all-out to display Newton’s versatility to Heisman Trophy voters as more than just a guy who can fall and gain three yards. He throws touchdowns! He runs for touchdowns! He catches touchdown passes! Newton attempted a season-high 24 passes against Ole Miss on Saturday, and racked up a season-high 18 completions to go with them.
Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State
Threw his second interception of the season, and saw his QB rating dip below 200 for the first time in a month, but Moore is still lethally efficient, throwing for close to 300 yards on Saturday and on pace to blow right by the 3,000-yard mark for the third consecutive season.
LaMichael James, RB, Oregon
Broke USC's greenwood defense over his knee with 239 yards on 36 carries Saturday in the Coliseum. His September suspension all but forgotten, James is one of those players who's going to get the ball, every time, and whom defenses simply cannot contain at any time.
ORANGE
Andy Dalton, QB, TCU
Dalton barely seemed to even blink Saturday night, torching UNLV for 252 yards and three touchdowns. He's still slotted behind Moore in the overall odds, but the longer TCU stays ahead of Boise State in the BCS standings, the better his exposure gets.
Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan
His completion percentage (47.8) was his lowest of the season, but Robinson made up for his uncharacteristically low passing stats (190 yards, one touchdown) by running for 191 yards and three scores on the ground. If Michigan had any playmakers on the other side of the ball to spell him, they might eventually amount to something.
Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State
Rebounded nicely from his relatively low-octane output against Purdue with 222 aerial yards, 55 ground yards, and three touchdowns against Minnesota. Pryor also threw an interception for the third consecutive game.
Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
Mallett's injured shoulder and concussed head were nowhere in evidence Saturday, as the Hawgs overcame a slow start against Vanderbilt and Mallett hit a personal season high-water mark through the air, which for him means throwing for 409 yards, three touchdowns, and no picks. The completion percentage won't wow any Heisman voters, but he can wing long bombs with the best of them.
YELLOW
Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
Held below 200 yards for only the third time this season but the second week in a row against Washington, Luck managed only one touchdown and one interception aerially, though he did rush for 92 yards and a second score.
Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada
Back to his fleet-footed wrecking-ball ways coming off a bye to light up Utah State for 190 passing yards, 102 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He won't catch Dalton or Moore in a crowded field of mid-major candidates, but he remains a sublime joy to watch.
GREEN
Kendall Hunter, RB, Oklahoma State
How high are the standards for this 'Poke star? 143 ground yards against Kansas State is only his fourth-best total of 2010.
Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
Cooling his heels on a bye in Week 9.
Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State
Could not have had a better Saturday in the Beavers' thrashing of Cal, rushing for 119 yards and three touchdowns in addition to throwing a touchdown pass. His numbers against UCLA in Week 10 should be terrifying.
Robert Griffin, QB, Baylor
Has been quietly amassing a beautiful body of work at Big 12 South-leading Baylor, an amazing rebound season even for a guy who wasn’t benched due to injury for most of 2009. Against the vaunted Will Muschamp defense, on the road in Austin, Griffin threw for 219 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He’ll hit the 3500-yard mark by December with just a slight uptick in pace.
BLUE
Taylor Martinez, QB, Nebraska
Will be a frontrunner for the 2011 Heisman Trophy, though Saturday's Husker win over Missouri was largely Roy Helu's show. Martinez sprained his ankle and left the game early, but not before throwing for 115 yards and a touchdown in just six of nine passes attempted.
Daniel Thomas, RB, Kansas State
No touchdown passes this week, but Thomas did account for 101 yards in the Wildcats' 24-14 loss to Oklahoma State.
Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina
Wrecked shop against an underclassmen-stuffed Tennessee defense, besting his previous career high of 182 at Georgia by two yards.
Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
Time to throw another defensive player into the mix, just for fun, because if Auburn goes as far as it looks like they might, you're going to be hearing much, much more about this kid. The junior from Mobile ranks third nationally in tackles for loss, and is a top-20 performer in sacks, but his ferocious omnipresence behind opposing offensive lines cannot be quantified.
HOVERING BEYOND OUR RADAR
Matt Barkley, John Clay, Justin Blackmon, Blaine Gabbert, Jake Locker, DeMarco Murray, Jacory Harris, Patrick Peterson, Trent Richardson, Christian Ponder.
See More:
