Kevin Thomas takes another guest author shot as he looks at who should be Heisman candidates

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Guest Author
Publish date:
Dec 7, 2007 2:33 PM EST

HEISMAN TROPHY TALK

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Â We might as well talk about the Heisman Trophy. Right now it appears to be a two man race between Tim Tebow of Florida and Darren McFadden of Arkansas, but a guy whoÂ wonâ€™t even be in New York for the presentation, but is probably more valuable to his team than anyone in the country, is Dennis Dixon from Oregon. Since Dixonâ€™s ACL injury, not only has Oregon fallen off the map, they have struggled to even score or even move the football. Dixon had an impressive 20 touchdown passes to four interception ratio before going down, and a completion percentage of 67.7%, and ran for nine more touchdowns. Tebow himself is putting up unbelievable numbers, especially rushing touchdown numbers that no one else has seen before in accounting for over 50 touchdowns himself, and either he or McFadden will probably take home the trophy. Anyway, here is my handicapping of the Heisman race:

Darren McFadden (Arkansas):Â 1,725 yards rushing with 15 rushing touchdowns,

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â one receiving touchdown, and four touchdown

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â passes.

A.Â Â Â Â Reason to vote for him: Great body of work throughout career, running for 1558-yards last year with 14 touchdowns. Has seven touchdown passes in two years. Everyone knows he is going to get the ball and he still does damage.

B:Â Reason not to vote for him: Not as consistent early on as Tim Tebow was,

Â Â Â Â Â and his coach getting fired doesnâ€™t help, but it was not his fault.

Tim Tebow (Florida): Passed for 3,125-yards with a touchdown to interception

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â ratio ofÂ 29/6 and who also added 848 yards on the ground

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â with 22Â rushingÂ touchdowns.

A.Â Â Â Â Reason to vote for him: The guy has accounted for an unbelievable 51-

Â Â Â Â Â touchdowns while playing in the tough SEC Conference.

B.Â Â Â Â Reason not to vote for him: He is a Sophomore or you are blind, take your

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â pick.

Chase Daniel (Missouri): Passed for 3,951-yards with a 33/9 touchdown to

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â interception ratio. Also added 258-yards and three more

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â scores on the ground.

A.Â Â Â Â Reason to vote for him: Pulled Mizzou out of the dumps and led them to the

Â Â Â Â Â Big-12 Championship game.

B.Â Â Â Â Reason not to vote for him: Lost to Oklahoma in Championship game and

Â Â Â Â Â their BCS hopes that went with it.

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Colt Brennan (Hawaii): 4,174-yards passing, with a 38/14 touchdown to

Â Â Â Â Â Â interceptionÂ ratio and also ran for eight touchdowns.

Reason to vote for him: Undefeated record and plenty of records.
Reason not to vote for him: Perhaps didnâ€™t play the best competition.

Todd Reesing (Kansas): 3,259-yards passing with 32/6 touchdown to interception

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ratio, also ran for 203 yards and two touchdowns.

Reason to vote for him: Took a down football team and lead them to 11

Â Â Â Â Â wins and a BCS Bowl with great passing accuracy.

Reason not to vote for him: Couldnâ€™t win the touted match up with Chase

Â Â Â Â Â Daniel ofÂ Missouri despite a late comeback attempt

Pat White (West Virginia): Passed for 1,548-yards with a 12/4 touchdown to

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â interception ratio and also ran for 1185-yards and

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â fourteen rushing touchdowns.

A.Reason to vote for him: ImpressiveÂ numbers in a balanced, mostly

Â Â Â Â Â running West Virginia attack.

B.Reason not to vote for him: His injury and losing to Pitt and thus not

Â Â Â Â Â getting to the National Championship game probably putÂ a nail in this

Â Â Â Â Â coffin.

Matt Ryan (Boston College): Passed for 4,258-yards with a 28/16 touchdown to

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â interception ratio and added one score on the ground.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â A. Reason to vote for him: Made big plays in big games.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â B. Â Reason not to vote for him: His interception ratio is a little high.

Dennis Dixon (Oregon): Passed for 2,136-yards with a 20/4 touchdown to

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â interception ratio. Ran for 583-yards and had nine rushing

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â touchdowns.

A.Reason to vote for him: No one is more valuable to their team this year.

Reason not to vote for him: His ACL injury ended his season early.