Andrew Luck is in the driver's seat for the Heisman Trophy. He's proved he's a triple threat, but can he close out on the ultimate individual achievement for a college football player? A lot of it will probably depend on how the games shake out. With the wild ride this season has been already, I wouldn't go all in on anyone just yet. Here's a list of top Heisman contenders as the season goes into the home stretch:
8) Tajh Boyd, Quarterback, Clemson
Boyd has been nothing short of spectacular this year. He has given new life to a program that has disappointed in years past. He has led his Tigers to an impressive 8-1 record and a spot in the BCS top 10. Boyd has racked up 25 touchdown passes (not to mention a handful of touchdown runs) and he has only thrown five interceptions. For as good of a year he’s had, his numbers simply do not stack up at this point to the other candidates. But still, he has an outside chance. You never know.
Lets get to know Boyd:
7) Brandon Weeden, Quarterback, Oklahoma State
Although his numbers may be a product of the spread offense, Weeden has been nearly flawless this year. He has one more passing touchdown than Boyd while playing tougher defenses, and he does it all while looking very smooth. Oh yeah, his team is undefeated too. That can’t hurt his cause.
Weeden has been known to cause dancing and viral videos after big wins:
6) Kellen Moore, Quarterback, Boise State
Say what you want about what Moore will or will not do at the next level, the guy can flat out play. He has proved time and time again that he is not only a winner; he does it with class and he puts up some hefty numbers to go along with it. Moore has completed nearly 75 percent of his passes and has 29 touchdowns to go along with it. The only thing detracting from his Heisman hopes is the talent (or lack thereof) that Boise plays. With a stellar performance against TCU this upcoming week, Moore could move up the list.
Beware, Dr. Moore has been known to surgically pick apart defenses:
5) Sammy Watkins, Wide Receiver, Clemson
Maybe I am putting Watkins high on this list because he shredded my Terps, but the true freshman may very well be the most athletic player in America and his stats show it. He has had a receiving touchdown in all but two of his games this year, he averages over 100 yards a game, and he returns kicks and punts. If Clemson wasn’t afraid he would get hurt, they’d put him in on defense too. He is that much of a weapon, and that cannot be overstated.
Don’t worry, ACC fans, he’ll be tearing up the league for several years:
4) Landry Jones, Quarterback, Oklahoma
If it were any other year, Landry Jones would be the talk of his quarterback class. Unlucky for him, that Luck guy stayed around for another year. Still, Jones has put up very similar numbers to the other quarterbacks listed, and he does it all playing a rough schedule. He has 30 total touchdowns and well over 3000 yards passing while playing in an offense that runs the ball, too. To put it simply, the man is good.
Remember when Jones led the comeback against Florida State? Yes, it was impressive:
3) Case Keenum, Quarterback, Houston
I get that he plays in a non-AQ conference and that his team passes the ball almost exclusively, but the fact of the matter is that numbers do not lie. Keenum has thrown for 34 touchdowns this year while only turning the ball over three times. He leads an offense that has not scored less than 35 points in any one game, and they have not lost either. This spot may be too high for him at the moment, but the guy threw for nine touchdowns two weeks ago. That is not a type-o. Nine. Yeah, he’s good too.
I can’t throw nine touchdowns in NCAA Football:
2) Trent Richardson, Running Back, Alabama
Richardson is the only running back to make my list, and deservedly so. He is far and away the best back this year in college football. He can run through you, past you and around you and he has done so to the horror of SEC defenses. His total touchdowns (18) rival that of some quarterbacks on this list, and he does so while splitting carries with Eddie Lacy. His stock took a hit after his team’s loss to LSU last weekend in which Richardson only ran for 89 yards. When 89 yards is semi-disappointing, you know you have a special back.
He can bench 475 pounds. And he can crush your skull:
1) Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Stanford
I tried for a long time to find a flaw in Luck’s game and in all honesty I can’t. He may not put up Keenum-like numbers, but the man is unreal. His consistency is unparalleled this year in college football, maybe ever. He is a quarterback and he has arguably the best catch this year, not to mention that he can run – he just chooses not to. The Heisman trophy is reserved for the best player in college football. Is there any doubt who the best player is? I think not.
We don’t need highlights of him throwing the ball here, this is his play of the year:
