Brutally Honest Heisman Breakdown - Week 4

There's no need for the deep sleepers or the top defensive players here. When it comes to the Heisman chase, it's mostly up to quarterbacks and running backs from the top teams, and the statistical monsters. Welcome to week two of the Brutally Honest Heisman Breakdown.

2007 Brutally Honest Heisman Breakdown

Week Four

By Pete Fiutak   

- Heisman Rankings Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3

Let's cut through the garbage, the pomp, the circumstance, the PR BS, and the hype surrounding the greatest individual award in all of sports. The Heisman Trophy goes to the most celebrated quarterback or running back from a top BCS team or a top 25 non-BCS program, and while others will be acknowledged here if they have any prayer of potentially finishing in the top five, it'll take something extraordinary to get on this list. Let's not pretend the hot Sun Belt back or the dual threat MAC quarterback has an honest chance.

This isn't a ranking of the best players or top NFL prospects. This is an attempt to put the finger on the pulse of the Heisman chase. So without further ado, here are the current favorites AT THE MOMENT (and this will changed week after week with players moving in and out of categories

No Current Chance To Win It, But Deserves To Be In The Discussion

QB Brian Brohm, Sr. Louisville
Last Week: 45 of 65 for 555 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions in the 38-35 loss to Syracuse
It's over for now, but the stats against Syracuse were so impressive that it's hard to keep him out of the finalist hunt. To get to New York, the Cardinals have to win the rest of their games and he has to stay ballistic.

QB Chase Daniel, Jr. Missouri
Last Week: 21 of 34 for 294 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions in the 38-17 win over Illinois State
Have a good game and beat Nebraska next week, and the buzz starts to kick in. Beat Oklahoma the week after, and Daniel is in New York.

QB Graham Harrell, Jr. Texas Tech
Last Week: 246 of 67 for 646 yards and five touchdowns in the 49-45 loss to Oklahoma State
The numbers are becoming too ridiculous to ignore any longer. The 646 yards against Oklahoma State, and the later rant by Cowboy head coach Mike Gundy, helped Harrell's Heisman hunt by taking focus away from the loss. Everyone still remembers the numbers, and few care that OSU won 49-45.

WR/RB Percy Harvin, Soph. Florida
Last Week: 11 catches for 121 yards and a touchdown in the 30-24 win over Ole MIss
Gone is Cal's DeSean Jackson from the mix, enter Harvin. There isn't a more dynamic playmaker in America, but he might not be able to stay healthy enough to last in the race.

On The Radar, But The World Is Looking For More

QB Sam Bradford, RFr. Oklahoma
Last Week: 19 of 26 for 255 yards and three touchdowns with an interception in the 54-3 win over Utah State
Still the ringleader for a terrific Sooner season, he's not slowing down, completing 78% of his throws with 14 touchdown and two picks. However, his receivers, and the Sooner line, are making him look really, really good.

QB Dennis Dixon, Sr. Oregon
Last Week: 27 of 36 for 367 yards and four touchdowns, and nine carries for 15 yards and a touchdown in the 55-31 win over Stanford
He's a better passing, not as fast Pat White. There isn't a more effective all-around quarterback right now.

RB P.J. Hill, Jr. Wisconsin
Last Week: 29 carries for 113 yards and two touchdowns in the 17-13 win over Iowa
Holding serve in the race, the world is waiting to see what he'll do against top teams like Penn State and Ohio State. His numbers might not be gaudy, but he's saving UW's offense.

RB Darren McFadden, Jr. Arkansas
Last Game: 29 carries for 173 yards and a touchdown, and two catches for ten yards, in the 42-29 loss to Kentucky
There's no questioning McFadden's fantastic start to the year, but at 1-2, there's no more margin for error. Everyone respects what he does, but the unfortunate part is that record matters here. It's certainly not his fault.

QB Colt McCoy, Soph. Texas
Last Week: 20 of 29 passes for 333 yards and three touchdowns in the 58-14 win over Rice
Coming off his best game of the year in the dominant win over Rice, it all comes down to the Oklahoma showdown in a few weeks. All he has to do is play well and win the game to become a dangerous factor in the Heisman chase.

QB Matt Ryan, Sr. Boston College
Last Week: 35 of 51 passes for 356 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions in the 37-17 win over Army
The numbers can't match Colt Brennan's or Graham Harrell's but there's nothing he has to apologize for. The schedule will get a whole bunch tougher, so as long as BC keeps winning, he'll be in the hunt.

QB Andre Woodson, Sr. Kentucky
Last Week: 21 of 39 for 265 yards and two touchdowns in the 42-29 win over Arkansas
All that matters is coming up with the win. Going eight straight games without an interception is impressive, but Woodson needs to keep winning in SEC play to have a shot.

The True Favorites

QB John David Booty, Sr. USC
Last Game: 28 of 35 for 279 yards and four touchdowns with an interception in the 47-14 win over Washington State
Booty's setting himself up to be everyone's number two Heisman choice. He played well against Washington State, but so would you with the time he's getting.

RB Mike Hart, Sr. Michigan
Last Week: 44 carries for 153 yards in the 14-9 win over Penn State
Everyone's still buzzing about his performance against Penn State. It was big enough to make people forget about the opening two games, which Hart played well in. McFadden fans are wondering why Hart's here, and there guy isn't. Michigan has a better chance to go on a splashy run.

RB Ray Rice, Jr. Rutgers
Last Week: Was off this week. Two weeks ago, he had 12 carries for 72 yards and three touchdowns in the 59-0 win over Norfolk State
Beating Maryland might not be like beating LSU, but Rice needs to come up with a big night against the Terps after two weeks off. He's the signature player on a team that should roll its way to a huge record.

RB Steve Slaton, Jr. West Virginia
Last Week: 18 carries for 119 yards and a touchdown, and three catches for 42 yards in the 48-7 win over East Carolina
The model of explosive consistency, few make a touchdown run look more effortless. However, Pat White's emergence as the star of the show should make Slaton no better than third in the final pecking order.

QB Tim Tebow, Soph. Florida
Last Week: 20 of 34 passes for 261 yards and two touchdown, and 27 carries for 166 yards and two scores, in the 30-24 win over Ole Miss
While not as fast as Pat White, and not the passer Brian Brohnm is, Tebow has been incredible with his arm and his legs. It's all about the LSU game in a few weeks. Win that, and he's the front-runner.

QB Pat White, Jr. West Virginia
Last Week: 18 of 20 for 181 yards and two touchdowns, and nine carries for 42 yards and two touchdowns in the 48-7 loss to East Carolina
18 of 20 passing. He'll never be Dan Marino, but he showed he could spread the ball around without a problem and get it in the hands of his playmakers. The less running he has to do, the better.

And The Current Leader In The Clubhouse Is ...

QB Colt Brennan, Sr. Hawaii
Last Week: Missed the Charleston Southern game with an ankle injury
He's here one more week by default since no one else has stepped up to take the spotlight. Now the scrutiny is coming with Texas Tech's Graham Harrell putting up similar numbers against better teams. If he doesn't light up Idaho like a Christmas tree, he'll have to battle to get back in the top spot.