Brutally Honest Heisman Breakdown - Week 3

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 Three

By Pete Fiutak   

- Heisman Rankings Week 1 | Week 2

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 Chase Daniel, Jr. Missouri
Last Week: 27 of 46 for 328 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions, and five carries for 60 yards and a score in the 52-24 win over Western Michigan.
The numbers keep piling up. Seventh in total offense and seventh in passing, his numbers will be strong all year long. However, is Mizzou loses to Nebraska in a few weeks, it's all over.

QB Dennis Dixon, Sr. Oregon
Last Week: 14 of 20 for 139 yards and two touchdowns, and eight carries for 59 yards and score, in the 52-21 win over Fresno State.
He wasn't needed much against Fresno State, so he made sure he didn't make any mistakes and swing the momentum. No one outside of Gainesville is running the spread any better right now.

QB Graham Harrell, Jr. Texas Tech
Last Week: 28 of 37 for 414 yards and six touchdowns in the 59-24 win over Rice
Think of Colt Brennan without the national love. Harrell, helped by a huge start to the year from WR Michael Crabtree, is putting up gaudy stats. Don't be shocked if he gives the Hawaii star a run for his money, at least statistically. 

RB Mike Hart, Sr. Michigan
Last Week: 35 carries for 187 yards and two touchdowns, and two catches for 14 yards, in the 38-0 win over Notre Dame
Here's the scenario for Hart. Michigan wins out and gets back to the Rose Bowl thanks to Hart, who took all the heat off Ryan Mallett. A leader makes things happen, and Hart took the pressure on himself guaranteeing a win over Notre Dame. Now it's Penn State and a chance to move up into the contenders.

WR/PR DeSean Jackson, Jr. California
Last Week: Five catches for 28 yards, one carry for six yards, and three punt returns for -6 yards in the 42-12 win over Louisiana Tech
For now, it's all over. Jackson has the name recognition and the overall respect, but his numbers just don't warrant Heisman consideration. He needs another blowup game soon.

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
He's a bum ... he threw an interception. Bradford continues to be unbelievable, but he's getting a world of time to work, and his one interception came when he was hit. He's a redshirt freshman, so forget about winning. That doesn't mean he can't be a finalist.

QB Brian Brohm, Sr. Louisville
Last Week: 28 of 43 for 366 yards and two touchdowns with an interception in the 40-34 loss to Kentucky
Unless he starts destroying Big East teams, and as long as Louisville keeps winning, Brohm won't be more than just a future top ten pick. The loss to Kentucky likely seals any hope of winning the Heisman, but he can still finish as a runner up.

RB P.J. Hill, Jr. Wisconsin
Last Week: 25 carries for 168 yards and four touchdowns, and two catches for 20 yards and a score in the 45-31 win over Citadel
Where would Wisconsin be without him. He's been the steadying force over a rocky few games, and against the Citadel, he was unstoppable on the goal line. Eventually this season, he'll have to prove he can produce against someone with a pulse.

QB Colt McCoy, Soph. Texas
Last Week: 32 of 47 passes for 259 yards and a touchdown with an interception, and ran ten carries for 40 yards in the 35-32 win over UCF
McCoy is getting a little help from the running game, and Texas is still winning, but his receivers aren't providing much help, and beating UCF by three isn't going to get anyone to rush out and order a plane ticket to New York. Only a win over Oklahoma can do that.

QB Matt Ryan, Sr. Boston College
Last Week: 30 of 44 for 435 yards and one touchdown in the 24-10 win over Georgia Tech
He's on the radar now after the brilliant performance against Georgia Tech, but to become more than a Tom Brady lookalike, he'll need to quietly build up his stats as BC goes 6-0 (Army, UMass and Bowling Green are up next), and then he'll have to take his turn beating on Notre Dame, and then will have to beat Virginia Tech.

QB Andre Woodson, Sr. Kentucky
Last Week: 30 of 44 for 275 yards and four touchdowns in the 40-34 win over Louisville
The win over Louisville was a big start for Woodson's campaign, but no one saw it on ESPN Classic. To get into the chase, he has to light up SEC stars like a Christmas tree. Kentucky doesn't have to win the East, but his numbers have to be terrific against the top teams.

The True Favorites

QB John David Booty, Sr. USC
Last Game: 19 of 30 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns with an interception in the 49-31 win over Nebraska
It was the running game and defense, not Booty, that got USC the win over Nebraska. At this point, figure Booty ends up in the top five by default as the quarterback of the nation's number one team, but his stats won't remotely compare to the top contenders.

RB Darren McFadden, Jr. Arkansas
Last Game: 33 carries for 195 yards and two touchdowns, and three catches for 16 yards in the 41-38 loss to Alabama
If the Heisman went to the Most Outstanding Player, helped by the amazing, electrifying performance against Alabama, McFadden would probably be the number two man in the hunt. But the honor almost always requires a winning team, and if the Hogs fall out of the West race, McFadden might have to settle for being a future multi-millionaire

RB Ray Rice, Jr. Rutgers
Last Week: 12 carries for 72 yards and three touchdowns in the 59-0 win over Norfolk State
Rice wasn't needed much in the blowout over Norfolk State, but he scored three times anyway. The current problem is perception. Some out there think Rutgers ran it up on Navy by getting Rice a late score. That's not a public relations plus.

RB Steve Slaton, Jr. West Virginia
Last Week: 26 carries for 137 yards and three touchdowns, and one catch for ten yards in the 31-14 win over Maryland
From the explosion in the open field to the easy way he glides into the end zone on short yardage plays, he's the total running back package having a Heisman caliber season. He'll need a few high profile games to be considered an honest contender, and to rise above backs like Ray Rice and Darren McFadden.

QB Tim Tebow, Soph. Florida
Last Week: 14 of 19 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns with an interception, and 18 carries for 61 yards and two scores
Second in the nation in passing efficiency, now he has the signature win as the starter to jump-start his campaign. While only a sophomore, if Florida keeps on winning, he'll be in the thick of the race for the same reasons John David Booty is. If Tebow lights up LSU on October 6th, then look out.

QB Pat White, Jr. West Virginia
Last Week: 8 of 13 passes for 95 yards, and 11 carries for 22 yards and a touchdown in the 31-14 win over Maryland.
He didn't need to do too much in the win over Maryland, and now he has a bigger problem in the Heisman race: Noel Devine. There are whispers about the freshman being the next Reggie Bush or DeSean Jackson, and that'll take even more attention away from White.

And The Current Leader In The Clubhouse Is ...

QB Colt Brennan, Sr. Hawaii
Last Week: 26 of 32 passes for 298 yards and two touchdowns, and nine carries for 19 yards and three touchdowns in the 49-14 win over UNLV
As long as Hawaii keeps winning, and as long as Brennan keeps completing 77% of his passes and putting up huge numbers, he'll be the one everyone is gunning for. However, one slip-up game in a loss, and he's gunning just to be a finalist.