As the BCS Championship series and NCAA football winds down for the season, the hopes of several players for college football's greatest individual prize rises. It is, in fact, the Heisman Trophy. On Monday, the list of Heisman Finalists 2009 was announced, and there weren't really any surprises.
The trophy is named after the former college football coach John Heisman. It is awarded annually by the Heisman Trophy Trust to the most outstanding player in collegiate football. As the list of Heisman Finalists 2009 circulates, it should be noted that a player who wins the Heisman trophy can still be a bust in the Pros.
The more gimmicky the offense, for example, the less chance the player will do well in the NFL. Defensive players don't usually have that liability, but offensive players usually dominate the Heisman, and they certainly do in the Heisman Finalists 2009.
Some of the most stupendous past Heisman busts include a few QBs: Ty Detmer (1990), Gino Torretta (1992), and Gary Beban (1967). In fact, QBs who didn't bust are often among Heisman busts. RBs are among the busts as well, with Rashaan Salaam (1994) a notable example.
The list of Heisman Finalists 2009 includes two QBs Colt McCoy (Texas), Tim Tebow (Florida), two RBs Mark Ingram (Alabama), Toby Gehart (Stanford), and a DT, Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska). Of these, Tim Tebow is notable as the 2007 Heisman winner. It should also be noted that Alabama has its hopes on Ingram; the school has never had a Heisman winner.
Among the Heisman Finalists 2009, Tim Tebow is the most likely to be a bust in the NFL. Florida uses a gimmicky, non-pro-style offense, and many analysts feel he would be a better H-back than a QB. He did win the award in 2007, but Florida's defeat against Alabama dashed his chances. This is also Tebow's 3rd time as a finalist.
Colt McCoy, meanwhile, was the runner-up last season to Oklahoma's Sam Bradford. This year, he has led No. 2 Texas to the BCS national championship game, where he will play against Alabama.
Speaking of Alabama, that's where RB Mark Ingram comes in. Ingram has rushed for 1,542 yards and scored 15 touchdowns for No. 1 Alabama.
The San Francisco Bay Area sees a candidate in Stanford's RB Toby Gehart. While a dark horse among the Heisman finalists 2009 because of the relative low amount of publicity Bay Area teams get, Gehart has run for more yards (1,736) and scored more touchdowns (26) than any other player in the nation.
Nebraska's Suh enters the Heiamna finalists 2009 as the darkest dark horse. While he had 4 1/2 sacks in an excellent performance against Texas in the Big 12 title game, he is also the first defensive player to be a finalist since 1997, when Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson became the first full-time defensive player to win the Heisman.
The Heisman Trophy will be awarded Saturday in Manhattan. Since 1982, at least three players have been invited to attend the ceremony. The last time as many as five finalists were invited to New York was 2004. That year, USC quarterback Matt Leinart won the award.
Written by Michael Santo
HULIQ.com
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