Strike the Pose!

Perhaps I should wait one more week before naming my 5 Heisman finalists, as several contenders still have key games left to play.

Eh, I'll live on the edge.

#5, Ray Rice, Rutgers: The diminutive 19-year-old sophomore has logged 1388 yards and 16 TDs for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, one of the nation's true Cinderella stories. With a trip to Morgantown still on the schedule, Rice has a legitimate shot to surpass the impressive 1500-yard mark (especially in light of the Mountaineers' disastrous performance against South Florida). Many critics will argue that Rice's reputation has been excessively bolstered by the sentimentality surrounding Rutgers' magical season. To those folks I say, Show the Scarlet Knights some love! Who knew that the State University of New Jersey even had a Big East football program? Rice (in tandem with a great coach and hard-working teammates) helped vault this program from practical anonymity all the way to the BCS precipice. Performances of note include: 23-108-1TD in a 33-0 shellacking of Illinois, 39-225-1TD in a win at Pittsburgh, and 22-131-2TD in a historic defeat of Louisville. If Rice goes into Morgantown and puts forth a solid effort, then it'll be hard to deny him a trip to New York.

#4, Steve Slaton, West Virginia: With one game still to play, Slaton will likely finish the season with more than 2,000 all-purpose yards and almost 20 TDs. He and hot-footed quarterback Pat White are the nation's top one-two rushing combo, which makes it no surprise that the Mountaineers have scored at least 34 points in all but two games this season. Without a doubt, West Virginia fields as potent an offense as any team in the country; Slaton, with his 7.7 yards-per-carry average, is its primary catalyst. Notable games: 21-195-2TD against Maryland (victory), 18-156-1TD at Louisville (loss), and 23-215-2TD in a win at Pittsburgh.

#3, Brady Quinn, Notre Dame: Quinn finished the '06 campaign with a staggering 35 TD passes against only 5 interceptions, 3 of which came in one game that he'd like to forget--a humbling 47-21 home loss to Michigan. After that defeat, he went on a torrid nine-game streak, posting 29 touchdown passes against only a pair of picks, and leading the Irish to an overall mark of 10-2. With four years as the QB of a newly resurgent high-profile team under his belt, Brady (no, not that Brady) appears poised to be christened the NFL's next Golden Boy. Don't be surprised to hear his name called before all others on draft day.

#2, Darren McFadden, Arkansas: Arguably the most valuable and versatile back in all of college football, Darren McFadden has led the Razorbacks to a surprising berth in the SEC Championship Game. In addition to compiling 1400+ yards and 14 rushing TDs, McFadden has helped to throw (quite literally) a unique twist into the Arkansas offense, often lining up at quarterback in the so-called "Wildcat" formation. 5-5 with 2TD passes--not bad, huh? McFadden helped run the Razorbacks to the brink of a national title shot, and he clearly deserves a spot on the Heisman stage, especially if the Hogs defeat Florida and earn the right to represent the nation's toughest conference in a BCS bowl. Impressive performances: 145 yards in an enormous win at Auburn, 219 yards-2TD in a road victory against the Gamecocks, and 21-182-2TD in a nail-biting loss to LSU.

And now, the winner...
#1, Troy Smith, Ohio State: 30 touchdown passes. 5 interceptions. Quarterback ratings of 177.7 and 162.8 against #2 Texas and #2 Michigan, respectively. (And yes, that 24-7 victory over the 'Horns took place in Austin.) Whilst steering the ship for the clear-cut #1 team in the nation, Smith has shown little sign of running aground. Look for him to contribute a performance of (Vince) Young-like proportions in the BCS Championship Game, and for Ohio State to defeat whomever their opponent may be. Also, rest assured that Troy Smith's name will grace this year's Heisman Trophy.


Honorable Mentions: Colt Brennan, QB, Hawaii (72% comp./4,589 yards/51 TD passes); Ian Johnson, RB, Boise State (1600+ yards and 24 TDs for an undefeated, BCS-busting Bronco team, including a monstrous 22-240-5TD effort in a 42-14 thumping of the Trojan-slaying Oregon State Beavers); Mike Hart, RB, Michigan (1500+ yards and 14 TDs for a team whose only loss came in an epic 42-39 showdown in Columbus, a game in which Hart carried the ball 23 times for 142 yards and 3 touchdowns)