Doomsday101
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 107,762
- Reaction score
- 39,034
If you feel like a kid on Christmas Eve, I'm with you. The start of college football season is just two days away, but it can't come soon enough. So let's cut to the Heisman chase with the preseason Watch, a list that's dominated by running backs but no one heavy favorite.
1. Darren McFadden, Arkansas, RB, Jr.
2006 stats: 284 carries, 1,647 yards, 9 TDs; 7-of-9 passing, 69 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT; 11 receptions, 149 yards, 1 TD; 10 kickoff returns, 262 yards, 1 TD
Heisman-o-meter: No one does what McFadden does against the competition he does it against, which is why this "back of all trades" tops the preseason Watch. Early in the season it'll be interesting to see how effectively his offensive line -- featuring three new starters -- opens holes and if his touches (21.7 per game from scrimmage in '06) are affected by the playcalling of new coordinator David Lee.
Up next: Saturday vs. Troy
2. Steve Slaton, West Virginia, RB, Jr.
2006 stats: 248 carries, 1,744 yards, 16 TDs; 27 receptions, 360 yards, 2 TDs
Heisman-o-meter: Fast. Dynamic. Electric. He hits the edge and turns the corner better than anyone in college football, and the offseason surgery he had on his right arm should alleviate the fumbling problem he had late last year. One thing however could hamper his hopes: the presence of fleet-footed quarterback Pat White, himself a Heisman candidate.
Up next: Saturday vs. Western Michigan
3. Colt Brennan, Hawaii, QB, Sr.
2006 stats: 406-of-559 passing, 5,549 yards, 58 touchdowns, 12 interceptions; 86 carries, 366 yards, 5 touchdowns
Heisman-o-meter: Here's the most important question for Heisman voters this year: What do you do with Colt Brennan? His stats will be double those of other top quarterbacks, but it's possible he will face only one team (Boise State) in the top 75. And he'll also have to overcome a "system quarterback" reputation. Prediction for Saturday: 475 yards and five touchdowns and the top spot in the Watch next week.
Up next: Saturday vs. Northern Colorado
4. Brian Brohm, Louisville, QB, Sr.
2006 stats: 199-of-313 passing, 3,049 yards, 16 TDs, 5 INTs
Heisman-o-meter: The frontrunner to be the No. 1 pick in next April's NFL draft, Brohm is a smart and accurate passer who delivers the ball with poise. First-year coach Steve Kragthorpe has installed a new passing attack that will feature quicker throws while also utilizing some of the spread that Brohm ran so well the last two years. How quickly Brohm adjusts to Kragthorpe's system and playcalling will determine Brohm's viability as a candidate.
Up next: Thursday vs. Murray State
5. Glenn Dorsey, LSU, DT, Sr.
2006 stats: 22 unassisted tackles, 64 total tackles, 8 1/2 tackles for loss, 3 sacks
Heisman-o-meter: That's right, a defender makes the Watch. And deservedly so. Powerful and athletic at 6-foot-2, 299 pounds, Dorsey causes havoc in the middle of the line despite being double-teamed constantly and has been touted by some as the best player in the nation. He won't win the Heisman, but he is too good to be left off this -- or any -- list.
Up next: Thursday at Mississippi State
6. John David Booty, USC, QB, Sr.
2006 stats: 269-of-436 passing, 3,347 yards, 29 TDs, 9 INTs
Heisman-o-meter: If the purpose of this column was to predict who would win the Heisman Trophy and not who should, then this "boy of Troy" would be No. 1. He's the quarterback for No. 1 USC, will be in the national title hunt all season, plays in a big media market, will take center stage in some big games, yadda yadda yadda. But let's not diminish Booty's ability. Last season he passed for almost as many yards as Brady Quinn and threw almost as many touchdown passes as Troy Smith.
Up next: Saturday vs. Idaho
7. Mike Hart, Michigan, RB, Sr.
2006 stats: 318 carries, 1,562 yards, 14 TDs; 17 receptions, 125 yards
Heisman-o-meter: I've heard and read a lot about Mike Hart hate lately, and I just don't understand it. Maybe it's because he doesn't break off the 80-yard, Steve Slaton-type runs or maybe it's because he's smaller (5-9, 196) than your typical college back. But the man moves chains with his no-nonsense running style. Quarterback Chad Henne will get some Heisman love, but Hart is the Wolverine that stirs the drink (in these eyes at least).
Up next: Saturday vs. Appalachian State
8. P.J. Hill, Wisconsin, RB, Soph.
2006 stats: 311 carries, 1,569 yards, 15 TDs; 18 receptions, 197 yards, 1 TD
Heisman-o-meter: Bad news for Big Ten defenders: P.J. Hill lost a little more than 10 pounds in the offseason and is down to a sleek 223. In a breakout 2006 season he was a joy to watch, plowing potential tacklers while also showing surprising quickness. It will be interesting to see how the dropped weight will affect his running style.
Up next: Saturday vs. Washington State
9. DeSean Jackson, Cal, WR/PR, Jr.
2006 stats: 59 receptions, 1,060 yards, 9 TDs; 25 punt returns, 455 yards 4 TDs; 5 carries, 19 yards; 2 kickoff returns, 38 yards
Heisman-o-meter: He's the Calvin Johnson of 2007. In other words, if the Heisman was awarded on athletic ability alone, he'd win it. His speed and agility in the open field make him a must-watch every Saturday. The question is: Will he get enough touches so that his production matches his absurd ability?
Up next: Saturday vs. Tennessee
10. Ray Rice, Rutgers, RB, Jr.
2006 stats: 335 carries, 1,794 yards, 20 TDs; 4 receptions, 30 yards
Heisman-o-meter: Ian Johnson, Colt McCoy and Pat White are just a few of the names that could've nabbed the No. 10 spot, but I'll take Rice because few players last season boasted a workload (his 335 carries led the nation) and big-game savvy (464 rushing yards against South Florida, Louisville and West Virginia combined) like this stocky (5-9, 205), tough runner. If quarterback Mike Teel shows improvement from last season, Rice will benefit greatly.
Up next: Thursday vs. Buffalo
1. Darren McFadden, Arkansas, RB, Jr.
2006 stats: 284 carries, 1,647 yards, 9 TDs; 7-of-9 passing, 69 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT; 11 receptions, 149 yards, 1 TD; 10 kickoff returns, 262 yards, 1 TD
Heisman-o-meter: No one does what McFadden does against the competition he does it against, which is why this "back of all trades" tops the preseason Watch. Early in the season it'll be interesting to see how effectively his offensive line -- featuring three new starters -- opens holes and if his touches (21.7 per game from scrimmage in '06) are affected by the playcalling of new coordinator David Lee.
Up next: Saturday vs. Troy
2. Steve Slaton, West Virginia, RB, Jr.
2006 stats: 248 carries, 1,744 yards, 16 TDs; 27 receptions, 360 yards, 2 TDs
Heisman-o-meter: Fast. Dynamic. Electric. He hits the edge and turns the corner better than anyone in college football, and the offseason surgery he had on his right arm should alleviate the fumbling problem he had late last year. One thing however could hamper his hopes: the presence of fleet-footed quarterback Pat White, himself a Heisman candidate.
Up next: Saturday vs. Western Michigan
3. Colt Brennan, Hawaii, QB, Sr.
2006 stats: 406-of-559 passing, 5,549 yards, 58 touchdowns, 12 interceptions; 86 carries, 366 yards, 5 touchdowns
Heisman-o-meter: Here's the most important question for Heisman voters this year: What do you do with Colt Brennan? His stats will be double those of other top quarterbacks, but it's possible he will face only one team (Boise State) in the top 75. And he'll also have to overcome a "system quarterback" reputation. Prediction for Saturday: 475 yards and five touchdowns and the top spot in the Watch next week.
Up next: Saturday vs. Northern Colorado
4. Brian Brohm, Louisville, QB, Sr.
2006 stats: 199-of-313 passing, 3,049 yards, 16 TDs, 5 INTs
Heisman-o-meter: The frontrunner to be the No. 1 pick in next April's NFL draft, Brohm is a smart and accurate passer who delivers the ball with poise. First-year coach Steve Kragthorpe has installed a new passing attack that will feature quicker throws while also utilizing some of the spread that Brohm ran so well the last two years. How quickly Brohm adjusts to Kragthorpe's system and playcalling will determine Brohm's viability as a candidate.
Up next: Thursday vs. Murray State
5. Glenn Dorsey, LSU, DT, Sr.
2006 stats: 22 unassisted tackles, 64 total tackles, 8 1/2 tackles for loss, 3 sacks
Heisman-o-meter: That's right, a defender makes the Watch. And deservedly so. Powerful and athletic at 6-foot-2, 299 pounds, Dorsey causes havoc in the middle of the line despite being double-teamed constantly and has been touted by some as the best player in the nation. He won't win the Heisman, but he is too good to be left off this -- or any -- list.
Up next: Thursday at Mississippi State
6. John David Booty, USC, QB, Sr.
2006 stats: 269-of-436 passing, 3,347 yards, 29 TDs, 9 INTs
Heisman-o-meter: If the purpose of this column was to predict who would win the Heisman Trophy and not who should, then this "boy of Troy" would be No. 1. He's the quarterback for No. 1 USC, will be in the national title hunt all season, plays in a big media market, will take center stage in some big games, yadda yadda yadda. But let's not diminish Booty's ability. Last season he passed for almost as many yards as Brady Quinn and threw almost as many touchdown passes as Troy Smith.
Up next: Saturday vs. Idaho
7. Mike Hart, Michigan, RB, Sr.
2006 stats: 318 carries, 1,562 yards, 14 TDs; 17 receptions, 125 yards
Heisman-o-meter: I've heard and read a lot about Mike Hart hate lately, and I just don't understand it. Maybe it's because he doesn't break off the 80-yard, Steve Slaton-type runs or maybe it's because he's smaller (5-9, 196) than your typical college back. But the man moves chains with his no-nonsense running style. Quarterback Chad Henne will get some Heisman love, but Hart is the Wolverine that stirs the drink (in these eyes at least).
Up next: Saturday vs. Appalachian State
8. P.J. Hill, Wisconsin, RB, Soph.
2006 stats: 311 carries, 1,569 yards, 15 TDs; 18 receptions, 197 yards, 1 TD
Heisman-o-meter: Bad news for Big Ten defenders: P.J. Hill lost a little more than 10 pounds in the offseason and is down to a sleek 223. In a breakout 2006 season he was a joy to watch, plowing potential tacklers while also showing surprising quickness. It will be interesting to see how the dropped weight will affect his running style.
Up next: Saturday vs. Washington State
9. DeSean Jackson, Cal, WR/PR, Jr.
2006 stats: 59 receptions, 1,060 yards, 9 TDs; 25 punt returns, 455 yards 4 TDs; 5 carries, 19 yards; 2 kickoff returns, 38 yards
Heisman-o-meter: He's the Calvin Johnson of 2007. In other words, if the Heisman was awarded on athletic ability alone, he'd win it. His speed and agility in the open field make him a must-watch every Saturday. The question is: Will he get enough touches so that his production matches his absurd ability?
Up next: Saturday vs. Tennessee
10. Ray Rice, Rutgers, RB, Jr.
2006 stats: 335 carries, 1,794 yards, 20 TDs; 4 receptions, 30 yards
Heisman-o-meter: Ian Johnson, Colt McCoy and Pat White are just a few of the names that could've nabbed the No. 10 spot, but I'll take Rice because few players last season boasted a workload (his 335 carries led the nation) and big-game savvy (464 rushing yards against South Florida, Louisville and West Virginia combined) like this stocky (5-9, 205), tough runner. If quarterback Mike Teel shows improvement from last season, Rice will benefit greatly.
Up next: Thursday vs. Buffalo
