The Fanatic Magazine - A student-run sports magazine for the UVA fanatic

Heisman Watch: The Final Ballot

Written by Andrew Sutton

Wednesday, 05 December 2007

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Much like the College Football season, this year’s Heisman race has been full of twists and turns. With the award being presented on Saturday, here are my predictions for how the ceremony will turn out:

Sample Image 1. Heisman winner: Tim Tebow, Florida QB: In the end, Tebow’s numbers are just too good to ignore, and his performance proves his deservingness of college football’s most prestigious award. Tebow’s candidacy has two major flaws in the eyes of voters: (1) that his team finished the season with three losses, and (2) he is only a sophomore. However, he has accomplished feats never done before in the history of college football. Tebow is the first man to have a 20-20 season, throwing for 3,132 yards and 29 touchdowns and rushing for 838 yards and 22 touchdowns. Tebow carried the Gator offense for the entire season, keeping them in the SEC title race for most of the season. Look for Tebow to strike the pose on Saturday.

Sample Image 2. Darren McFadden, Arkansas RB: After starting the season as the Heisman favorite, and almost falling off the Heisman map in the middle of year, a late season push almost gives McFadden the award, but not quite. McFadden’s performance is second to none, but his team’s four losses cause him to fall short. On the season McFadden rushed for 1,725 yards and 15 touchdowns, threw for four touchdowns, and added a touchdown reception. McFadden is widely considered college football’s most talented player, but that’s not the only criterion taken into consideration by Heisman voters.

3. Colt Brennan, Hawaii QB: Brennan climbed up the Heisman charts with a late season-surge, which is enough to get him to New York for the ceremony, but not enough to give him the trophy. Brennan complied another statically impressive season, throwing for 4,174 yards and 38 touchdowns, breaking the NCAA record for career touchdown passes, and also running for eight scores. Brennan also led his team to the nation’s only undefeated record, and a first-ever BCS appearance for the Warriors. Brennan completed over 71 percent of his passes, a remarkable statistic. Brennan’s candidacy is marred by his team’s strength of schedule, making his performance less impressive than other Heisman candidates.

4. Pat White, West Virginia QB: After West Virginia’s loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday, White’s importance to his team cannot be understated. White was injured in the second quarter of the game and did not return until the final minutes, only to lead a drive that fell just short of giving the Mountaineers the victory and a spot in the BCS title game. Had White managed to complete the comeback, his position in the Heisman ballots would be significantly higher, perhaps at the top. For the season White passed for 1,548 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 1,185 yards and 14 touchdowns, leading West Virginia to a Big East title and BCS bowl.

5. Chase Daniel, Missouri QB: Daniel’s performance against Oklahoma drops him out of contention for the Heisman, though his overall season performance merits a trip to New York for the young man. Daniel threw for 219 yards and rushed for a touchdown in the loss in the Big 12 title game, but simply did not do enough to lead the Tigers to the BCS title game. Daniel’s season numbers are among the nation’s best for quarterbacks, throwing for 4,170 yards and 33 touchdowns and rushing for 284 yards and four scores. Had Daniel led the Tigers to a victory on Saturday, his position in these rankings would be a lot different from where it is now.