Every week, we’ll take a look at a handful of the top contenders for the 2011 Heisman Trophy. (Previous reports here and here.)
Here’s this week’s short list of potential future Heisman winners who either made names for themselves or kept themselves in the conversation last weekend:
Robert Griffin III – QB, Baylor
Griffin continues to make a case for himself as a Heisman candidate every week. He leads the nation with 19 touchdowns on the year (with just one interception), and he’s accumulated 1520 passing yards already this year. In last week’s 49-26 win over Iowa State, Griffin was 22 of 30 for 212 yards and a touchdown, and he once again showed he’s outstanding all around, adding 107 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Andrew Luck – QB, Stanford
Anyone else think Andrew Luck would have to take the rest of the season off to miss out on an invite to New York in December? Last year’s finalist added another big win to his 2011 resume, throwing for 370 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Cardinal trounced new Pac-12 opponent Colorado, 48-7. Before the game, Colorado’s coach, Jon Embree, called Luck possibly the best player in the country, and Luck just keeps adding evidence to his case.
Brandon Weeden – QB, Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden is quietly having one of the best seasons of any QB in the nation.
It was a bit of a surprise for many when Weeden and his primary target, Justin Blackmon, both opted to return for their senior season. While one of Blackmon’s biggest moves this year has been losing his grip on a sure touchdown, Weeden’s been stringing together a stellar first half of the season. With a 75.8% completion rate, he’s second in the nation, behind Baylor’s Robert Griffin III. In the Cowboys’ brutal slaughter of the Kansas Jayhawks last week, Weeden went 24 of 28 (85.7%) for 5 touchdowns – and his 288 yards in the game was the lowest he’s thrown all year.
LaMichael James – RB, Oregon
Oregon's LaMichael James grimaces in pain after an elbow injury knocked him out of the game vs. Cal - but not before he rushed for 200+ yards in a third straight game.
James left Thursday night’s game vs. Cal with a dislocated elbow, but that didn’t prevent him from running more than 200 yards for the third straight game. He had 239 carries on 30 attempts against a Golden Bears’ D that has been pretty tough against the run. He started the season slowly, with games of 54 and 67 yards against LSU and Nevada, but since then he’s been a prime member of the 200 club. If his elbow injury doesn’t keep him out long, he could be running away with the 2011 Heisman.
Denard Robinson – QB, Michigan
Robinson is probably the biggest dual-threat in the country. He helped engineer a comeback win over Northwestern, as the Wolverines outscored the Wildcats, 28-0, after halftime. Robinson threw for 337 yards and ran for 113; he threw two touchdown passes and ran for another. His touchdown to interception ratio (10 TDs, 9 INTs) isn’t really Heisman caliber, but he’s too dynamic of an all-around player, too exciting to watch, and too important to his team to be overlooked by voters.
