NCAA Heisman Watch: The Doctor’s Top 10 November 29, 2011 — Week 13
By Editorial Staff
Thirteen weeks into the 2011 college football season and the December 10th award date is fast approaching.
Boise State’s Quarterback, Kellen Moore just keeps rolling, rolling, rolling along. Kellen completed 66.7% of his passes (24 out of 36) for 279 yards, 3 touchdowns and a 36-14 win over a pretty good Wyoming team. One more game left for Kellen to showcase his college football talent. Playing for Boise State takes votes away from Kellen Moore because many of the Heisman voters and media experts around the Country have a hard time recognizing true talent.
Stanford’s QB Andrew Luck benefits from playing at Stanford and this alone will probably give Luck unearned Heisman votes. Luck put up good numbers this past week leading Stanford over Notre Dame 28-14. Andrew completed 66.7% of his passes (20 out of 30) for 233 yards, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception. For the year, Luck has more than twice as many INTs as Kellen Moore.
Robert Griffin III, Quarterback Baylor, followed up a huge game against Oklahoma with a Taylor Martinez type game against Texas Tech. Griffin completed just 7 of 11 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown but did add 2 rushing touchdowns, gaining 62 yards on 14 carries before leaving the game with a possible concussion. Lucky for Griffin it was after his last game before the Heisman voting takes place.
Case Keenum, Quarterback Houston, has no rival in college football this year that can match his overall numbers: touchdown passes (43), passing yards (4,726) and completions (342). He has led Houston to a perfect 12-0 but I seriously doubt that he will get all the consideration he should because Houston only plays in Conference USA and not one of the holier than thou BCS automatic qualifier conferences.
Oregon’s LaMichael James is over-hyped. James plays in a conference that hasn’t learned the meaning of defense. James benefits quite a bit because of this lack of book knowledge. James is a pretty good college running back but like Luck is going to get Heisman votes because he plays at Oregon and not because he is the best college player of 2011. James has scored only about half as many total TDs as Wisconsin’s Montee Ball.
University of Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson led the Badgers demolition of Penn State (45-7) by doing what he has done all year, being efficient, not making mistakes and knowing when to pass and when to rush, knowing when to hold’em and when to fold’em. Wilson has gotten very little support from the national media despite his fantastic play. Why? Because he plays for Wisconsin team that gets no respect. Russell Wilson may not win this year’s Heisman but he should finish no worse than in the top 5.
Wisconsin Badger running back Montee Ball now only trails the great Barry Sanders in the NCAA record book for most touchdowns scored in a single season. Ball has crossed the goal line 34 times this year and has two games left to try and add to that total. Ball rushed for 156 yards against Penn State in about 3 quarters. Ball has scored at least two touchdowns in all 12 games this season and has scored three or more touchdowns seven times this year. He is second in the nation in rushing and first in rushing touchdowns (29) and total touchdowns (34). Ball has one more game before the Heisman Trophy is presented December 10th and if he puts up Ball like numbers in the Big Ten Championship game against Michigan State he deserves to be the recipient of the 2011 Heisman trophy!
Alabama’s running back Trent Richardson had his first 200 yard rushing game against a totally overrated Arkansas. Richardson is absolutely the beneficiary of the Alabama mystique. Because Alabama is touted as the best team in college football this year the voters are rewarding an individual player on the team when in reality it is Alabama’s defense more than its offense that has paved the way for Richardson’s chance at the 2011 Heisman.
Landry Jones, Quarterback Oklahoma, followed up last week’s zero passing touchdown performance against Baylor with another touchdown passing goose egg against Iowa State. Landry is at the bottom of the barrel of the Top 10 Heisman Watch. Only the fact that Jones plays for Oklahoma keeps him in the Top 10. His numbers were so mediocre last week I will not mention them here.
Oklahoma State’s Quarterback, Brandon Weeden, was on a bye and remains seventh in the Heisman Top 10 Watch.
There is no one left to watch for the Doctor’s two to watch!
Top 10 Heisman List by the Doctor’s Gut Feeling
| Rank | Name | School | POS |
1Montee BallWisconsin
RB
2Kellen MooreBoise State
QB
3Russell WilsonWisconsin
QB
4Case KeenumHouston
QB
5Robert Griffin IIIBaylor
QB
6Trent RichardsonAlabama
RB
7Brandon WeedenOklahoma State
QB
8Andrew LuckStanford
QB
9LaMichael JamesOregon
RB
10Landry JonesOklahoma
QB
Let’s see how the numbers stack up at the end of the year when the Heisman ballots are cast and counted.