The Doctor’s Top 10 Heisman or Bust Watch September 27, 2011 — Week 4

Michigan’s QB Denard Robinson had a great game rushing but a second straight game of less than mediocre passing. Robinson gained 200 yards on the ground and scored 3 TDs but was only 8 of 17 passing for 93 yards with 2 interceptions against San Diego State.

Baylor’s QB Robert Griffin III put up some big big numbers in week 4, albeit against the likes of Rice. Still, almost 90% completion with 5 TD passes is not a bad outing against a Division I school.

South Carolina’s RB Marcus Lattimore slipped a little this past week against that SEC power Vanderbilt only rushing for 77 yards and 3.9 yards per carry. Another week like this and he’s out of the Top 10.

Oregon’s RB LaMichael James looked really good in week 3 and he looked better again in week 4. James put up 288 yards, against a non-existent Arizona rush defense, on 23 carries at a clip of 12.5 yards per carry. He averaged 60.5 yards per game in his first two games but 246 per game in his last two. Can he continue putting up these kinds of numbers against real competition? His first two games of the year seem to say no.

University of Wisconsin Quarterback Russell Wilson continues to be nothing but impressive. Wilson is solid, solid, solid! The Badger QB had another 3 TD passing game, another game completing over 70% of his passes and another easy Wisconsin victory. If Russell Wilson can do the same against Nebraska this week, as he did against South Dakota this past week, he has the potential to carry the Badgers through the Big Ten season and into the BCS Championship game. Of course, anything can happen to any player and team once they’re into conference play. Barring any missteps along the way, we could see Wilson become a first round NFL draft pick in 2012.

Nebraska’s Taylor Martinez is a better than average runner but a less than average quarterback. Can his running keep him in the Top 10 of the Heisman Watch? It is beginning to look less and less likely. Taylor had his best passing game of the year against Wyoming but it was only for 157 yards, 1 TD and a 57.1 completion percentage.

Clemson Quarterback Tajh Boyd is a diamond in the rough. He is only a Sophomore and if he stays at Clemson for another year or two you could easily see his name in the Heisman talk each year. Very good passing numbers and an unbeaten team adds up to Heisman consideration.

Wisconsin Badger running backs Montee Ball and James White are quietly keeping in the Heisman mix by doing just enough to be poised for some big media hype should they have their breakout games at the start of the Big Ten conference season. Montee is among the NCAA leaders in scoring and James White is virtually a couple of steps away from having had several 50 to 60 yard runs added to his totals. Let’s see what the 2011 Big Ten season brings for these two underclassmen. Both are still in the Heisman hunt.

This week’s Doctor’s 2 to watch are Boise State wide receiver Tyler Shoemaker and Missouri running back Henry Josey. All Josey has done is gain 533 yards rushing on only 43 carries. That is an amazing 12.4 yards per carry! And, while Tyler Shoemaker has only made 11 receptions, 6 of his receptions have been for touchdowns. Shoemaker will need to bump up his receptions quite a bit and continue scoring a touchdown for every other catch he makes. Missouri’s Josey just needs to do the same for the rest of the season as he has done in the first four games and he should get an invite to the New York Athletic Club.

Top 10 Heisman List by the Doctor’s Gut Feeling

Russell Wilson Wisconsin

QB

Kellen Moore Boise State

QB

Robert Griffin III Baylor

QB

Denard Robinson Michigan

QB

LaMichael James Oregon

RB

Tajh Boyd Clemson

QB

Montee Ball Wisconsin

RB

Henry Josey Missouri

RB

Andrew Luck Stanford

QB

Marcus Lattimore South Carolina

RB

Let’s see how the numbers stack up at the end of the year when the Heisman ballots are cast and counted.