Heisman Watch: Week 12

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Nov 22, 2010

Heisman Watch: Week 12

Denard Robinson

Last Week: 16-of-25 passing for 239 yards, two TDs and one INT; 22 rushes for 121 yards and two TDs in a 48-28 loss to Wisconsin Season: 147-of-232 passing for 2,229 yards, 16 TDs and 10 INTs; 227 rushes for 1,538 yards and 14 TDs Shoelace has now broken Beau Morgan's 14-year-old single-season rushing record for a quarterback and has become the first player in NCAA history with 1,500 yards rushing and 1,500 yards passing in the same year. There's no question Robinson has been electrifying in his first season as a starter, but after falling to Wisconsin his Wolverines are now 0-3 against Top 25 teams and 3-4 in the Big Ten. And they still have to play No. 8 Ohio State. It may not be fair to deride Shoelace for Michigan's struggles, but like it or not, winning is part of the equation. Next Up: Saturday at No. 8 Ohio State

Terrelle Pryor

Last Week: 18-of-33 passing for 195 yards, one TD and two INTs; 15 rushes for 78 yards in a 20-17 win over Iowa Season: 178-of-271 passing for 2,331 yards, 23 TDs and 10 INTs; 108 rushes for 719 yards and four TDs; two receptions for 19 yards and one TD Pryor put together a Heisman-type drive in Iowa City, running 14 yards to convert on fourth-and-10, set up the game-winning score and keep the Buckeyes' Rose Bowl hopes alive. It was a glimmer of greatness, but unfortunately for Pryor's candidacy, it hasn't been the standard. Even an invite to New York seems like a long shot for the player I pegged as the favorite in Sports Illustrated 's preseason preview. Next Up: Saturday vs. Michigan

Andy Dalton

Last Week: Idle Season: 164-of-243 passing for 2,242 yards, 19 TDs and five INTs; 70 rushes for 418 yards and five TDs; one reception for 27 yards The redhead is red hot. Dalton has thrown for at least 240 yards in his last three games, tossing nine touchdowns to one interception in that span. He'll likely build on those numbers against New Mexico's 118th-ranked defense. Dalton has already passed Peyton Manning for third on the alltime quarterback wins list with his 40th victory and can move within a win of tying David Greene (42) for second with a win in Albuquerque. Next Up: Saturday at New Mexico

Andrew Luck

Last Week: 16-of-20 for 235 yards and two TDs; three rushes for 72 yards in a 48-14 win over Cal Season: 224-of-319 passing for 2,746 yards, 24 TDs and seven INTs; 49 rushes for 489 yards and three TDs Luck led Stanford to 48 points against Cal, delivering the largest margin of victory in Big Game history. That will look good in the media guide, but the lasting image of this blowout will be Luck's career-long 58-yard run , in which he gave a forearm shiver to Cal safety Sean Cattouse. No one's going to confuse Luck with Newton or Denard Robinson, but Luck's ability to pick his spots has resulted in three runs of 50 yards or more this season.

Justin Blackmon

Last Week: 10 catches for 130 yards and one TD in a 48-14 win over Kansas Season: 94 catches for 1,560 yards and 17 TDs; four rushes for 77 yards and one TD; one blocked punt recovery for a TD Blackmon's assault on the record books continues. He's now racked up 10 straight games with at least 100 yards receiving (one behind the season record shared by three players) and he's 113 yards shy of breaking Larry Fitzgerald's sophomore mark of 1,672. Blackmon's pursuit of both those marks against an Oklahoma defense that's already allowed 171 yards to Cincinnati's D.J. Woods, 139 to Missouri's Jerrell Jackson and 136 to Texas A&M's Ryan Swope will add another subplot to the Bedlam Game. Next Up: Saturday vs. No. 14 Oklahoma

Kellen Moore

Last Week: 27-of-38 passing for 333 yards, four TDs and one INT; two rushes for zero yards in a 51-0 win over Fresno State Season: 201-of-280 passing for 2,921 yards, 28 TDs and five INTs; 12 rushes for minus-23 yards; one reception for seven yards and one TD; one punt for 54 yards In three games this month, Moore has thrown for 1,056 yards and 10 scores and completed 75.2 percent of his passes -- all while playing in just under nine of the team's 12 quarters. He's always been efficient, ranking 12th nationally in 2008, second in 2009 and first this season, but he struggled in the past with the long ball. Not this year. Moore has completed nine of 10 deep throws to Titus Young for 461 yards and six touchdowns. Next Up: Friday at No. 19 Nevada

LaMichael James

Last Week: Idle Season: 225 rushes for 1,422 yards and 17 TDs; 10 receptions for 149 yards and one TD After speculating that James' past conviction could hurt his chances, I received multiple e-mails pointing out that if we're talking character, James was recently named to the Pac-10's All-Academic first team. To be fair, there's precedent for winning despite legal troubles, as Nebraska's Johnny Rodgers won in 1972 with a felony on his record. Currently the bigger concern is James' ankle -- and whether it will slow him down against Arizona's No. 15 ranked rush defense. Next Up: Friday vs. No. 20 Arizona

Cam Newton

Last Week: Idle Season: 135-of-198 passing for 2,038 yards, 21 TDs and six INTs; 206 rushes for 1,297 yards and 17 TDs; two receptions for 42 yards and one TD The off-field drama surrounding Newton isn't going away, but this week it could pale in comparison to what happens on the field. Newton and Auburn head to Tuscaloosa for the Iron Bowl, and Alabama would like nothing better than to put a major dent in its rival's national title hopes. The game could also define Newton's Heisman candidacy. Dominate, and he may have the trophy wrapped up; struggle, and he'll give his detractors even more ammunition. Next Up: Friday at No. 9 Alabama