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2009 Heisman Trophy: Top 10 Contenders
by James Izzard
8/8/2009
Arguably the most coveted individual award in collegiate sports if not all of sport, Last years three finalists are all back and will all be in contention for the award again along with a host of other great players, the diner looks ahead at who the contenders are for the 2009 Heisman Trophy.
The Top 10 Contenders
 1. Tim Tebow QB (Florida) The 2007 winner and 2008 finalist will be looking to win a second trophy. Playing for a Gator team that returns 18 starters and are red hot favourites to repeat their 2008 national championship triumph, he will get every opportunity to shine. Tebow is a pure competitor, a football player number 1 and a quarterback number 2. As Tebow looks to develop his passing to impress NFL stats look for his passing stats to increase but his rushing statistics to falter slightly.
2. Colt McCoy QB (Texas) Colt McCoy surprised a lot of people in 2008 as he combined his accurate arm with efficient scrambling ability and was Texas’ leading rusher last year combined with his 3859 passing yards and 34 Touchdowns. If he has similar numbers this year and Texas can pip the two Oklahoma sides to the Big 12 than he has every chance of winning the award.
3. Sam Bradford QB (Oklahoma) Last years winner will have to repeat last years efforts and more to win back to back awards, having lead Oklahoma to 5 wins in a row where they scored 60 or more points this will be no easy task. Bradford is the stereotypical all American quarterback, who will no doubt be gracing our television sets on Sundays after a stellar college career.
4. Jevan Snead QB (Mississippi) Ole Miss were somewhat of a surprise package last season, largely down to this ultra talented player. A quarterback with huge potential and with weapons to cause havoc. Numbers may be an issue playing in the SEC, but if Snead can get Mississippi to the SEC title game look for him to on the plane to New York.
 5. Jahvid Best RB (California) The first non quarterback to make my top 10 Best is the fastest player I have ever seen. If he can avoid the niggling injuries he suffered in the last campaign Best could surpass his 1,394 yards and 13 TD’s he accrued last year. He will make plenty of highlight reels with the explosiveness he possesses.
6. Jeremiah Masoli QB (Oregon) Consecutive Pac 10 players and perhaps the first surprise name on my watch list. Masoli’s progression was impressive towards the end of the last season as he put up outstanding numbers against strong opposition. Part of an explosive offence with LaGarrette Blount, Masoli could be a real contender.
7. Terelle Pryor QB (Ohio State) The Big 10 conference has been somewhat maligned after a couple of down years, but don’t underestimate Ohio State and in particular Terelle Pryor, he is a terrific athlete and he will have free reign of the Buckeye offence, a win against USC in week 2 and this guy will suddenly be one of the front runners for the award, maybe this year is a year too early but Pryor definitely deserves a spot on everybody’s watch list.
8. Jarratt Brown QB (West Virginia) With Pat White now a Miami Dolphin, Brown reverts back to his quarterback position after a spell at receiver, Pat White was always mentioned in these kind of discussions and Jarrett Brown is of the same mould. An outstanding backfield to compliment him, Jarrett Brown could have a very big year.
9. Dez Bryant WR (Oklahoma State) The first and only wide receiver I have in my top ten. Dez Bryant is a ‘Michael Crabtree’ type catching monster, leading all the receiving categories last season if he does the same on a talented cowboys team we could be hearing his name a lot in the next 6 months.
10. Eric Berry S (Tennessee) Can Berry be the first defensive player to win it since it since Charles Woodson in 1997, doubtful but I couldn’t resist having the best defensive player in the nation in my top 10. Berry is an exciting player and should have a standout season in the SEC, whether it will be enough to get an invite to New York remains to be seen.
Notable Mentions
In no particular order here are a few more names that should not be ruled out:
LaGarrette Blount RB (Oregon)
Daryll Clark QB (Penn State)
Jimmy Clausen QB (Notre Dame)
Taylor Potts QB (Texas Tech)
CJ Spiller RB (Clemson)
DeMarco Murray RB (Oklahoma)
Jacquizz Rodgers RB (Oregon State)
Taylor Mays S (USC)
Juice Williams QB (Illinois)
Mardy Gilyard WR (Cincinnati)
Gerald McCoy DT (Oklahoma)
Evan Royster RB (Penn State)
Jonathan Dwyer RB (Georgia Tech)
Aurrelious Benn WR (Illinois)
Michael Floyd WR (Notre Dame)
Small School Studs
These guys have very little chance of winning the award but all have potential to have statistical fantastic seasons and will be worth watching in the forthcoming season:
Bo-Levi Mitchell QB (SMU)
 Dan Lefevour QB (Central Michigan) (right)
Rusty Smith QB (Florida Atlantic)
Vai Taua RB (Nevada)
Bryce Beall RB (Houston)
James Starks RB (Buffalo)
Joe Webb QB (UAB)
Dennis Pitta TE (BYU)
MiQuale Lewis RB (Ball State)
DeAndre Brown WR (Southern Mississippi)
Case Keenum QB (Houston)
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