Heisman Hopefuls for the 2007 Football Season
Unlike most years, all of these Heisman Trophy prospects have NFL potential. Juniors have a definite disadvantage, but their are some talented ones this year. QB Colt Brennan put up Heisman numbers last year, but the debate rages on if he is just a system quarterback like Timmy Chang. To win, you almost have to play for a big named school with a lot of games on national, prime time TV, and your team also has to be good enough to be in the running for the National Championship. 1. RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas (JR) You can click on McFadden's Scouting Report for the complete breakdown, but the bottom line is he is the best running back to play college football in a number of years. The problem is, he will see eight and nine defenders in the box all year long. QB Mitch Mustain ran off to sit on the bench at USC, so the Razorbacks don't have a proven signal caller. If I was an offensive coordinator for the Razorbacks I would have McFadden throw a half-back pass to WR Marcus Monk at least twice every game. McFadden could have won the Heisman last year. |
2. QB Brian Brohm, Louisville Brohm looks like the best quarterback in the land this year, and he will have some real offensive firepower at his disposal. The wide receiver tandem of Harry Douglas and Mario Urrutia might be the best in the country, and Gary Barnidge is no slouch at tight end either. If Louisville out scores everybody, and if they are in the hunt for a national championship towards the end of the year, then Brohm has a real shot at winning the Heisman Trophy. |
3. WR/KR DeSean Jackson, California (JR) Jackson has the ability to score every time he touches the football. He has already been on a lot of ESPN highlight reels, last year as only a sophomore he won the inaugural Randy Moss Award as the top return man in the nation by averaging 18.2 yards per punt return. He has already accumulated 97 receptions for 1,661 yards and 16 TDs; and as a returner he has amassed 26 punt returns for 504 yards and another 5 TDs. If he develops more as a receiver, and if California has a surprise season and beats USC, then Jackson could win the Heisman and subsequently declare early for the 2008 NFL Draft. |
4. RB Steve Slaton, West Virginia (JR) Reggie Bush reincarnated. If Slaton can duplicate what he did last year, even though he is a junior, he has a shot at winning the thing. He can line up as a receiver and play that position better than most wideouts, but he is also strong and fast enough to carry the rock for the Mountaineers all season. West Virginia will almost have to have an undefeated season for Slaton to win however. |
5. QB Chad Henne, Michigan Michigan is a big named school and they should be in the mix for a national championship this year. Henne has been a starter since his freshman season and has got a lot of talent around him, with a pair of talented junior wide receivers in Mario Manningham and Adrian Arrington. RB Mike Hart will take some pressure off Henne, and he might even be in the running for the Heisman himself. Hart is a 5' 8" 200 pound bowling ball that is very hard to tackle. |
6. QB John David Booty, USC Yet another Trojan quarterback with a chance to win the Heisman. Booty's Trojans will be battling it out for a national championship this year and with a defense like they will have, Booty should have the ball in his hands early and often. With that defense though, they might play conservative, passing underneath to tight end Fred Davis or handing it off to RB Chauncey Washington. Nah, not a Pete Carrol team, they won't be afraid to throw it. Booty will have a future NFL Prospect to throw to in junior Patrick Turner, he is 6' 4" 225 pounds and can really jump. |
7. QB Matt Ryan, Boston College Ryan is definitely a dark horse, but Boston College is starting to emerge as a football powerhouse. Last year, while battling injuries, Ryan managed to lead |
8. WR Early Doucet, LSU The top senior receiver in 2007 will likely be Doucet. He will have loads of talent around him, with a stifling defense able to keep the ball in the offenses hands, and I really like the young quarterback Matt Flynn, I think he will surprise some people this year. LSU should be in the hunt for a national championship and Doucet will be a big reason why. |
9. QB Colt Brennan, Hawaii Colt Chang....I mean Brennan, seriously, I don't think he can shake the Hawaii jinx. Regardless, I think Brennan is a lot better than Timmy Chang ever was. He has a stronger arm, better delivery and is more accurate. Yes Brennan put up some eye popping numbers last year, but the Rainbows rarely play for a national audience and Hawaii might not be that good as a team. Brennan has a better chance to get drafted in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft than he does of winning the Heisman Trophy. |
10. RB Allen Patrick, Oklahoma Many think Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson should have won the Heisman last year, and if the Sooners would have had a better season he might have. Now Peterson's replacement has an outside chance of winning. He will have to have a spectacular season and Oklahoma will have to win the Big 12 and play in a BCS bowl game, but that is possible if they can find a quarterback. Patrick is big, strong, fast and should be the featured back this year for Bob Stoops and the Sooners. |