NCAA Heisman Watch: The Doctor’s Top 10 October 18, 2011 — Week 7

Seven weeks into the 2011 college football season and some of the “Usual Suspects” are dropping out of the Top 10 Watch! The 2011 Heisman race should continue to be a close contest even though some big names have gone by the wayside.

QB Kellen Moore continues his pace towards 40 plus TD passes this season after throwing for 4TD passes 338 yards 0 INTs this past week in a 63-13 whipping of Colorado State.

Stanford’s QB Andrew Luck threw 4 TD passes for 336 Yards and 1 INT in 44-14 beating of an outmanned Washington State. Luck’s numbers are right on par with Boise’s Kellen Moore.

Michigan’s QB Denard Robinson had a horrible game in Michigan’s 28-14 loss to Michigan State and is on the verge of dropping out of the Top 10 Heisman Watch.

After the first three games of the season Baylor’s QB Robert Griffin III had more touchdown passes than incomplete passes and Baylor was looking very good but after six games that number has swung the other direction and Baylor looks as if they are on the ropes after a big loss to Texas A&M (55-28) even though Griffin had big passing numbers (430 yards 3 TD passes 28/40 with 1 INT).

South Carolina’s RB Marcus Lattimore is down for the count after a season ending knee injury and only 39 yards in 17 carries against Mississippi State.

Oregon’s RB LaMichael James is down for an eight count but stays in the Top 10 Heisman Watch on the strength of his three 200 yard rushing games. He will have to get back in action week 8 or he will drop out of the Top 10 just like Marcus Lattimore.

University of Wisconsin Quarterback Russell Wilson looked solid, solid, solid! Wilson was 12 of 17 passing for 166 passing yards and 1 TD plus had 2 rushing attempts for 42 yards and had a 25 yard touchdown reception on a pass by Badger running back Montee Ball.

Clemson Quarterback Tajh Boyd is on the upswing of a roller coaster ride as he had some big passing numbers this week against Maryland, 4 TD Passes 280 yards but only 7.1 yards per pass attempt.

Wisconsin Badger running back Montee Ball now has 17 total touchdowns and leads the nation in scoring (tied with Temple running back Bernard Pierce). Ball rushed for 142 yards on 14 carries against Indiana. He threw a 25 yard TD Pass to Badger QB Russell Wilson and also had a 46 yard reception.

Alabama’s running back Trent Richardson continues to pile up pretty big numbers in SEC competition, 17 carries 183 yards 4 TDs and 2 receptions for 30 yards against an out-classed Mississippi.

This week’s Doctor’s 2 to watch continue to be junior running backs Ray Graham of Pittsburgh and David Wilson from Virginia Tech. Mr. Graham leads the nation with 945 yards rushing in seven games (135 yards per game) with 9 rushing touchdowns. Mr. Wilson is now third in the nation in rushing with 903 yards (129 yards per game) but only 6 rushing touchdowns in seven games. Pretty good numbers until you match them up against LaMichael James and his five game average of 170.4 rushing yards per game with 10 total touchdowns and Trent Richardson’s 130.3 yards per game and 16 total touchdowns.

Top 10 Heisman List by the Doctor’s Gut Feeling

1Russell WilsonWisconsin

QB

2Robert Griffin IIIBaylor

QB

3LaMichael JamesOregon

RB

4Trent RichardsonAlabama

RB

5Andrew LuckStanford

QB

6Kellen MooreBoise State

QB

7Montee BallWisconsin

RB

8Tajh BoydClemson

QB

9Ray GrahamPittsburgh

RB

10Denard RobinsonMichigan

QB

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