By PSH Staff
Published: December 5, 2006 PrintEmail
For the first time ever PSH will elect their own winner of the Heisman Memorial Trophy to one collegiate football player. Over the season a "Heisman Hype" Meter was conducted giving the members of PSH an idea what the members of our panel would vote. Well now it's time to cast the official ballot and award the Heisman Trophy to the Nation's BEST College Football Player.
The CANDIDATES
Ray Rice, Sophomore - Runningback, #27 - Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Ray Rice one of the the many Sophomore Runningbacks to be up for the award emerged as the workhorse for the surprising Rutgers team. He busted on to the Heisman scene after his undefeated Rutgers team started making noise not just in the Big East, but in the entire Nation. Rice had an incredible 131 yards and 2 touchdowns in Rutgers upset win against undefeated Louisville. This year, Rice has compiled 1,624 Total Rushing Yards and 19 Touchdowns off 331 Carries.
Colt is the nation's leader in all the big statistical categories. Passing Yards, Touchdowns and QB Rating. Is he the real deal? He plays for a WAC team that has an offense that lives on throwing the ball an insane amount of times. But he has only thrown 11 picks this year and his completion percentage is an outstanding 72%. Colt's year is highlighted by a 4 Game Stretch in which he threw 19 Touchdowns, 1,491 Yards and No Interceptions. More importantly his team has only lost three games to undefeated Boise State, SEC bowl team Alabama and a late charging PAC-10 surprising Oregon State. Colt Brennan's 53 Touchdowns is 2 shy of tying the single season Passing TD record of 55. He also has 4,990 yards and a 182.8 QB Rating.
Steve Slaton, Sophomore - Runningback, #10 - West Virginia Mountaineers
Steve Slaton topped his freshman campaign by leading all major conference team's in rushing yards. He is only second to Garrett Wolfe. He has a total of 2,073 yards from scrimage this year and his 18 TD's have helped West Virginia to a 2 loss season and second finish in the Big East. With his partner QB Pat White, Slaton has charged the Mountaineers offense with his big plays and quick moves. Slaton's longest play this year was a 67 yard reception against Pittsburgh. He is averaging an outstanding 7.1 rushing yards per play. Off 245 attempts, he has 1,733 yards and 16 Touchdowns.
Paul Thompson, Senior - Quarterback, #12 - Oklahoma Sooners
Rhett Bomar was declared in-eligable very close to the start of the season. With no other choice Coach Bob Stoops turned to the QB that started out the season last year and asked him to put his NFL aspirations at WR on hold. Paul Thompson like any senior leader did so and has taken his Sooner team to a Big 12 title and 2 loss season. Thompson has had a great season only throwing 8 picks and completing 60.9% of his passes. With a 144.6 QB Rating, Thompson also has 2,434 Passing Yards and 20 Passing Touchdowns.
Mike Hart, Junior - Runningback, #20 - Michigan Wolverines
Finally having a healthy pair of legs under him, Mike Hart began a stellar junior campaign at home with a Mike Hart type game, 31 carries and 146 yards. Hart never cracked 200 yards in a game like some of the other backs have, and he may not have as many touchdowns as others. But he is just as important to his team than the others. Hart led his #3 Wolverines to a 11-1 record and second place in the Big Ten. His workhorse build has carried him to a fumble-less season and has continued his historic mark of carries without a fumble lost. Mike has 1,515 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns off 301 carries.
Reggie Nelson is the leader of one of the nation's best defenses and the Title-Bound Florida Gators. The only defensive player on the list this year, he is racking up nominations in many defensive award catagories and figures to be a high pick in the NFL Draft. Nelson has been the best player in the Florida secondary, often making crushing hits and big plays that won't appear on the stat sheet. His play has set the tone for the season the Gators have had on the defensive end. Reggie has 48 tackles, 5 picks and 10 pass defelections.
Troy Smith, Senior - Quarterback, #10 - Ohio State Buckeyes
Troy Smith has been the consensious number 1 for just about every week. No one has been able to top the impact he has had on his 12-0 Big Ten Champion and National Title favorite Buckeyes. Troy has done it all this year, and has really shown how much of a pocket presence he can be. In what was a year dominated by him on his feet, he has turned it around from last year and shown the world he has the arm to get it done too, and it's given his Buckeyes two less loses and a trip to the title game. Troy has compiled 30 touchdowns, 2,507 passing yards and 167.9 QB rating and has amazingly only thrown 5 picks.
Ian Johnson, Sophomore - Runningback, #41 - Boise State Broncos
Ian Johnson is the workhorse for the only other undefeated team in the nation, The Boise State Broncos. The entrepeuner and beanie crocher has powered this Boise State offense to an undefeated season and a BCS Birth in the Fiesta Bowl. Ian missed one game this year because of a collapsed lung but he came back one week later and carried the ball 31 times for 147 yards. His biggest point is the touchdowns he has scored. With 6 multiple TD games he has accumulated 24 touchdowns, 1,613 rushing yards off 253 carries.
Darren McFadden, Sophomore - Runningback, #5 - Arkansas Razorbacks
Run DMC is the last sophomore sensation at Runningback. This monster of a back has done it all for his surprsing Razorback team and led them to a SEC Title Game and SEC Division Title. McFadden carried the ball, caught the ball and threw the ball in new offensive coordinator Gus Malzhan's wildcat offense. He has become the most important part of it lining up everywhere on the field making defenses wonder what he is going to do next. He has thrown for 72 yards off 8 attempts but has 3 touchdowns. He has caught 11 balls for 149 yards and a touchdown. But has ran for 1,558 yards and 14 touchdowns of 265 attempts.
THE RESULTS
Last: Each receiving 5th place votes Paul Thompson and Reggie Nelson
6th: Ray Rice receiving 4 total points.
4th: Tying for 4th place are the WAC candidates, Colt Brennan and Ian Johnson each with 7 points.
2nd: Tying for 2nd place with 19 points each, Darren McFadden and Mike Hart. McFadden had more 2nd place votes but Hart had more 3rd place votes.
