CFN: Top 40 Heisman Candidates 2006

[LongJim]

40. RB Darius Walker, Notre Dame – Walker has been the unsung hero of the offense for the past two seasons, giving the Irish balance and another set of hands in the passing game. He accounted for over 1,500 yards from scrimmage last season, but loses pub playing in the same backfield as Brady Quinn.

39. WR Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech – Pound for pound, Johnson’s the best receiver in America. However, unless he has a Larry Fitzgerald circa 2003 season and Reggie Ball starts channeling Joe Hamilton, he’ll spend the year vying for the Biletnikoff Award. A Sept. 2 visit from Notre Dame gives Johnson a high-profile chance to upstage Brady Quinn.

38. QB Kyle Wright, Miami – On paper, Wright’s a Heisman contender. On film, he’s still a young quarterback with a lot to learn. His 2005 numbers were okay, but were largely built against basketball schools, such as Duke, Temple and Wake Forest. The ‘Cane offense will be under the microscope this fall, which will either be really good or really bad for Wright’s psyche.

37. RB Stafon Johnson, Emmanuel Moody, Kenny Ashley or Stanley Havili, USC – The early departures of Reggie Bush and LenDale White and season-ending knee injury of Hershel Dennis mean one of the Trojans’ talented quartet of incoming freshmen could immediately be a new star if something happens to Chauncey Washington.

36. QB Erik Ainge, Tennessee – Yes, Ainge was miserable throughout his sophomore year, but the skills that made him an instant star in 2004 are still there, and so is new offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe. If Ainge returns to his freshman form and ignites the Vol offense, he’ll be up for more than just Comeback Player of the Year honors.

35. QB JaMarcus Russell, LSU – Russell was making strides in 2005 before an injury shelved him for the Peach Bowl massacre of Miami. He’s still not 100%, which has fueled debate on who’ll be behind center when UL-Lafayette visits Sept. 2. It should be Russell, however, don’t be shocked if Les Miles finds ways to weave in Matt Flynn and Ryan Perrilloux to maximize his roster.

34. WR Steve Breaston, Michigan – Braylon Edwards and Jason Avant have graduated. It’s time for Breaston to become Chad Henne’s go-to receiver. He’s already one of the game’s most dynamic return men, but must also become a 60-catch guy to have a chance to contend in this deep field.

33. RB Yvenson Bernard, Oregon State – Bernard was one of last year’s biggest surprises, rushing for 1,321 yards and catching 37 passes in his first season of relevant action. His entire line returns, but a repeat of 2005 requires QB Matt Moore to give defenses a reason not to load the line to stop the run.

32. QB Brandon Cox, Auburn – After a rocky opener versus Georgia Tech, Cox settled down and became exactly what the Tigers needed—a steady hand that wouldn’t make costly mistakes. Now, he’s a year older and ready to become more than just an error-free quarterback on an Auburn team that should be pre-season Top 10.

31. RB Chauncey Washington, USC – He got his grades up and now finally, finally, he can get his career going. The star tailback of USC should be in the top ten, but there's a whole slew of next-level caliber freshmen coming in to take away time.

30. RB James Davis, Clemson – Davis is well positioned to be one of this year’s biggest Heisman surprises. He’s coming off a terrific true freshman year and figures to be the offensive focal point of a Clemson team that returns all five starters on the offensive line and could contend for the ACC title.

29. RB Albert Young, Iowa – Young’s long-awaited breakthrough season occurred in 2005 as he finally stayed healthy and gave the Hawks their best ground threat in years. He was 17th nationally in rushing, helping to form a balanced duet with veteran QB Drew Tate.

28. RB Lorenzo Booker, Florida State – If the offensive line can get its act together, Booker could be in store for a monster senior season. His talent has never been questioned, but his three-year production has lagged well behind his expectations. With even a hint of daylight, that changes in 2006.

27. QB Rhett Bomar, Oklahoma – Ever since Bob Stoops left Gainesville for Norman, OU quarterbacks basked in the spotlight. On potential and raw physical skills, Bomar dwarfs every Sooner quarterback since Troy Aikman had a cup of joe at the school, which is why he’s expected to blossom after last year’s growing pains.

26. RB Tyrell Sutton, Northwestern – Sutton wasn’t even supposed to start last season, but wound up filling in for injured Terrell Jordan and becoming a revelation for the ‘Cat offense. He ran for 1,474 yards, caught 44 passes and scored 18 times in one of the most statistically impressive years ever for a freshman back.

25. QB Drew Weatherford, Florida State – It’s taken a few years, but Florida State finally has a quarterback they can build around for the next couple of seasons. Weatherford built breathing room between himself and Xavier Lee in 2005, and then steadily improved throughout his freshman year. At the top of his to-do list is to dramatically reduce last year’s 18 interceptions.

24. QB Zac Taylor, Nebraska – The light went on for Taylor and the rest of the Husker offense late last season, portending really big things in 2006. In just over a year, he’s come a long way in the West Coast offense, and Nebraska now has the supporting cast at the skill positions to catapult him into national prominence.

23. RB Gary Russell, Minnesota – Russell just completed a class at Inver Hills Community College in step one of getting back on the Gopher football team. Step two will be summer classes before he can even reapply at Minnesota. If he clears academic hurdles, Russell will be Glen Mason’s feature back one year after chugging for 1,130 yards and 18 touchdowns as a backup.

22. RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas – McFadden came of age very quickly as a true freshman, needing just 176 carries to become only the seventh Hog in school history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season. He’s got an ideal blend of power and speed, which might propel him to the top of the rushing ranks in 2006.

21. WR Dwayne Jarrett, USC – Voters looking to champion a receiver or a Trojan should pay closer attention to Jarrett, USC’s biggest star now that Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush and LenDale White have departed. He’s coming off a 91-catch, 16-touchdown sophomore year, and has quickly made Trojan fans forget Mike Williams.

20. LB Paul Posluszny, Penn State – Every season has at least one defensive player that generates a grassroots Heisman buzz. Posluszny will be that player in 2006. He’s arguably the best defender in college football, and those who doubt he steal some votes need only look at last year’s final tally, which included two defensive players in the Top 10.

19. QB Drew Tate, Iowa – Tate has been a very good quarterback the last two years for the Hawkeyes, but in order to be in the long haul hunt, he’ll need to be a little more prolific statistically while leading Iowa to a fifth straight January bowl game. He can also use a few reliable hands now that Clinton Solomon and Ed Hinkel have graduated.

18. RB Jamaal Charles, Texas – Vince Young has left Austin, but the ‘Horns are hardly void of flashy talent Heisman contenders. Charles is a burner, who led Texas backs in rushing as a freshman in 2005, despite suffering a nagging ankle injury in October. His biggest roadblocks will be durability and a backfield that’s as deep as any in America.

17. QB Chad Henne, Michigan – Henne’s got a chance to become the Wolverines’ all-time leading passer after just three seasons in Ann Arbor. And now as the undisputed leader of a Michigan team looking to rebound from its worst season since 1984, he’s going to get more media attention than ever before.

16. RB Garrett Wolfe, Northern Illinois – Get ready for a groundswell of support for Wolfe, particularly if he perforates a revamped Ohio State D in the opener. He’s a 300-yard game waiting to happen, and with an early schedule that includes Ohio, Buffalo, Indiana State and Ball State, he could be over 1,000 yards before the end of September.

15. RB Michael Hart, Michigan – Hart’s value to the Wolverines was never more evident than last year, when he missed substantial parts of the season and the offense sputtered in his absence. Chad Henne may have more pro potential, but Hart is the sparkplug, and with 12 games to prove it, he’s capable of becoming the first Michigan back in 66 years to win the award.

14. RB Marshawn Lynch, Cal – After Adrian Peterson, Lynch is squarely in the team photo for next best back in America. He can zoom past or through tacklers, and last December’s 194-yard, three-touchdown demolition of BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl was a prelude of things to come in his junior season.

13. RB Kenny Irons, Auburn – An expat, who began his college career at South Carolina, Irons was the SEC’s newcomer of the year in 2005, succeeding Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown better than anyone could have expected. In running for more than 100 yards in the Tigers’ final six league games, he allowed QB Brandon Cox to mature at a manageable pace.

12. QB Drew Stanton, Michigan State – Winning the Heisman is a two-part recipe that requires the right combination of big numbers and big wins. And therein lies the rub for Stanton. He’s got a proven, two-year track record of gaudy stats, but unless he can engineer a career-first upset Michigan or Ohio State and get the Spartans back to the post-season, the Top 10 is off limits.

11. QB John David Booty, USC – If Ashton Youboty was the Trojan quarterback, he might warrant an honorable mention somewhere on the list. Such is life these days at USC, where the supporting cast, media crush and league titles are practically built in to a quarterback’s candidacy. Booty’s a former prep All-American with four springs under his belt and a bulging disc that required surgery at the end of March.

10. QB Pat White, West Virginia – A year ago, Pat White was a non-entity to outside Morgantown. Today, he’s one of college football’s rising stars and a bona fide Heisman candidate in just his sophomore year. White didn’t even begin 2005 as the starter, but after winning the job in October, he performed like a Michael Vick knockoff, rushing for almost 1,000 yards and leading the ‘eers to a Sugar Bowl upset of Georgia.

9. QB Sam Keller, Arizona State – Or Rudy Carpenter, last year’s passing efficiency leader. The two are interchangeable, although Keller has the edge now that his injured hand has healed. Combined, the two threw for 37 touchdowns and 4,438 yards last fall. If either gets 80% of the snaps, those numbers plus an ASU run at the Pac-10 title equals Jake Plummer: The Sequel.

8. RB Steve Slaton, West Virginia – West Virginia football is hot these days, and kids like Slaton and QB Pat White will be the beneficiaries of the unprecedented national exposure. Slaton was magnificent in his 2005 debut, shaking off early-season anonymity to finish with 1,128 yards on the ground and 19 touchdowns in just over half a season.

7. RB Michael Bush, Louisville – Bush entered Louisville as a blue-chip quarterback. He’ll leave with just about every school rushing and scoring mark. He was a scoring machine last year, reaching the end zone 24 times in just 10 games, something he’s capable of duplicating in this year’s combustible Cardinal offense.

6. WR Ted Ginn, Jr., Ohio State – Forecasters predicting a Heisman in Ginn’s future may have been a year off. He never mounted a challenge in a disappointing sophomore season, but 2006 figures to be more promising. Ginn, coaches say, has really stepped up his game in the off-season and on speed alone, he’s a candidate for six every time the ball is in his hands.

5. QB Brian Brohm, Louisville – By just about every measure, Brohm is the prototypical franchise quarterback, a future first-day draft choice. He makes all the throws, can escape pressure and is heady way beyond his years. Now a seasoned veteran, Brohm is back from the knee injury that curtailed his sophomore season, and poised for a blowout year as Bobby Petrino’s triggerman.

4. QB Chris Leak, Florida – Urban Meyer’s in his second season at Florida. Leak’s in his second season with Meyer. Expectations for 2006 will be soaring in Gainesville. If nothing else, last year proved Leak was not a perfect match for the spread-option, but he’s still a terrific quarterback, who found a way to account for 3,000 yards and 26 touchdowns in last year’s up-and-down season.

3. QB Troy Smith, Ohio State – Smith has had a soap opera career in Columbus that’s about to reach a crescendo at a most opportune time. Last season began with him being suspended for the Miami (OH) opener and ended with a career-high 408 total yards against Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl that launched his Heisman campaign a few months earlier than anticipated.

2. RB Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma – The line didn’t block. The passing game couldn’t keep defenses honest. And a banged-up Peterson was uncharacteristically ordinary for much of the 2005 season. If QB Rhett Bomar makes the necessary strides to keep the heat off the running game, count on something closer to 2004, when Peterson ran for 1,925 yards and nearly became the first freshman to ever win the Heisman.

1. QB Brady Quinn, Notre Dame – Quinn is by far the top returning Heisman vote-getter, but that alone doesn’t make him this year’s pre-season favorite. He flourished beyond anyone’s expectations in his first season under Charlie Weis, throwing 32 touchdowns and setting all kinds of Irish passing records. With a year in the vault and WR Jeff Samardzija back, he might be even better in 2006. And unlike Oklahoma’s Adrian Peterson, whose quest rests on the development of others, Quinn is firmly at the controls of his destination.