D1scourse.com

D1scourse Half-Dozen: Non-QBs/RBs who could win the Heisman

If a quarterback or running back probably needs to be on a top-10 team to have a shot at the Heisman, then it's a absolute necessity for someone playing a position that doesn't consistently produce contenders for the award.

Those would be anyone who isn't a quarterback or a running back. Since 1950, only three non-QBs and non-RBs won the Heisman (Tim Brown, Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson).

So, really, it's unlikely any of these guys will win the Heisman. But if there's to be a surprise candidacy, it could easily come from this list. And remember, this is not a ranking of talent or quality, but merely the chances a player can blend skill, stats and team success well enough to wind up on the Heisman radar.

1. WR Julio Jones, Alabama. He'll be on a high-profile team and most voters already know who he is. Who cares if he only had 596 yards receiving last year? If he has a breakout season, he could easily be the most notable receiver in the Heisman race. The best in the SEC? That would be. ...

2. WR A.J. Green, Georgia. Green will be at the mercy of another new starting quarterback in Athens, so that's a bit of a concern. But he'll be one of the focal points of the Bulldogs' offense, and should Georgia make a run to an SEC title (not impossible with Florida losing so much), he could be in the Heisman discussion.

3. DT Jared Crick, Nebraska. Thanks to former teammate Ndamukong Suh, folks might actually pay attention to Nebraska's defensive players from the start of the season this year. That means Crick, who had 9.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss to go with 73 overall tackles, could receive some Heisman hype if the Blackshirts continue their revival in Lincoln this fall and make a run at an unbeaten season.

4. WR Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma. Educated guess: Broyles will have the most statistically imposing season of any wideout. He had 1,120 yards and 15 touchdowns a season ago, and with quarterback Landry Jones a year older, Broyles could be on the receiving end of the most lethal pitch-and-catch combo in the country. If Oklahoma does contend for a national title, either Broyles or Jones could be touted for the Heisman; should Broyles match his 89 receptions from last year, here's betting he's the guy who generates attention.

5. DE Robert Quinn, North Carolina. So many Tar Heels to consider. Quinn, with his 11 sacks a year ago, is probably a better bet ahead of Bruce Carter, Quan Sturdivant or Deunta Williams. At the very least, consider him the preseason favorite for ACC defensive player of the year.

6. WR Jon Baldwin, Pittsburgh. If the Panthers air it out more with a new quarterback, Baldwin could benefit.  He had 1,111 yards and eight touchdowns last year, but teammate Dion Lewis will probably run his way into the discussion before Baldwin. Nonetheless, he's a guy to watch if the Panthers can beat Utah and Miami early and then make a run at a Big East crown.

Six more also considered: LB Bruce Carter, North Carolina, DE Adrian Clayborn, Iowa, WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame, LB Greg Jones, Michigan State, WR/KR James Rodgers, Oregon State, WR/KR Titus Young, Boise State

Coming tomorrow: Half-dozen nonconference games more than worth the price of admission

D1scourse Half-Dozen: Running backs who could win the Heisman

For those who didn't check out yesterday's discussion on the half-dozen quarterbacks who could win the Heisman, go back and read this.

Here's the cliff notes: Just one of the last 19 Heisman Trophy winners has come from a team that was ranked outside the top 10 in the AP poll at the end of the regular season.

So team success --- and the mere possibility of team success --- is just as important as skills and stats in trying to figure out who might come home with the Heisman in December.

As a result, the list of quarterbacks and today's list of running backs is not meant to be an outright ranking of abilities. Rather, it's simply a guess at the chances of (a) Guys to enjoy strong years; (b) Players to have those strong years for teams at least contending for a spot in a BCS game; and (c) The chances each player will get a hefty share of the credit for that success.

Onward:

1. Mark Ingram, Alabama. He's the incumbent winner, he's playing for a team many believe should be ranked No. 1 and he has more name recognition than anyone. If he comes close to matching his 1,658 yards and 17 touchdowns from a year ago, Ingram will surely be in the Heisman discussion. He already has the best head start of anyone.

2. Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech. Sure, Darren Evans could pilfer carries and eat into Williams' numbers. But Trent Richardson rolled up more than 700 yards last year and it didn't hurt Ingram. More likely than anything, Williams' candidacy depends on following one of the oldest rules in the book: "Don't flop, individually or as a team, in a high-profile opener." The Hokies will run. And run. And run. Williams had 1,655 yards and 21 touchdowns as a freshman, and he'll be a household name if Virginia Tech beats Boise State and can remain in the top five much of the season.

3. Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon State. Rodgers' chances could crumble based on team success alone; the Beavers, never known for being a great team in September, play Texas Christian and Boise State in the first three games. If anyone can overcome a stumble or two, though, it's the electrifying Rodgers, who will make the sort of runs folks will remember even if Oregon State doesn't play particularly well around him at times.

4. Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh. The diminutive sophomore scampered for nearly 1,800 yards and collected 17 touchdowns a year ago, and the Panthers should contend for a Big East crown. The nonconference schedule is dicey (at Utah, Miami, at Notre Dame) and could derail Lewis' chances regardless of how good he is. But if the Panthers stay relevant and Dave Wannstedt makes sure Lewis keeps getting the ball, then the Panthers will have a legitimate Heisman possibility on their hands. Would he be the best in the Big East? That depends on the output of ...

5. Noel Devine, West Virginia. From a Thursday night game, three Friday night contests and a trip to Louisiana State, Devine will enjoy plenty of significant platforms to show off his speed. He had 1,465 yards and 13 touchdowns a season ago, and with West Virginia breaking in a new quarterback (again), he'll be the center of the Mountaineers' offense. The non-LSU part of the nonconference schedule (Coastal Carolina, at Marshall, Maryland, UNLV) is friendly enough to give Devine a decent chance to get off to a good start.

6. LaMichael James, Oregon. As good as the running backs have been in Eugene since Chip Kelly installed his offense upon arrival in 2007, the quarterbacks (Dennis Dixon and Jeremiah Masoli) are the maestros who have made it work. James is exceptional --- he ran for 1,546 yards after stepping in for gridiron pugilist LeGarrette Blount early last season --- but it'll be curious to see how much credit he earns nationally for whatever success the Ducks can piece together.

Six more also considered: John Clay, Wisconsin; Montel Harris, Boston College; DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma; Bernard Pierce, Temple; Evan Royster, Penn State; Jordan Todman, Connecticut.

College football countdown: Nos. 21-25

Five more teams as the top of the list inches ever closer ...

No. 25 NOTRE DAME

Go ahead and underestimate Brian Kelly. Dare you.

For once, Notre Dame didn't simply elevate an assistant with no head coaching experience (Bob Davie) or pluck a fairly successful coach from an academically-oriented school (Tyrone Willingham) or just hand the keys to a storied program to a blustery NFL coordinator with virtually no background in the college game (Charlie Weis).

No, this time, the Irish went with a long-time coach at three schools who simply won. A lot. He went 34-6 in three years at Cincinnati, a run that's going to look downright impossible another 20 years down the road.

Unlike Willingham (who won six of his first eight games by 10 points or less) or Weis (who beat three ranked teams in his first five games on the job and then knocked off one more in another four-plus seasons), Kelly actually should get credit if Notre Dame surges this year. After a 6-9 record in one-possession games the last two seasons (some "decided schematic advantage," huh?), no one will complain if luck favors the Irish.

Kelly is fortunate to have a schedule designed for a bounceback season. The Irish play three true road games (Michigan State, Boston College and Southern California), and Western Michigan, Tulsa and Utah all pay a visit to South Bend in what might be Notre Dame's least glitzy home schedule in quite some time.

Kelly's a confident guy, willing to speak his mind --- but in a less abrasive way than Weis. That will help erase some lingering frustration from the last few seasons. But more than anything else, winning will do that. Kelly has exactly one losing season in 20 years as a head coach, and it's not likely for that total to double this autumn --- or in any year in the near future.

No. 24 WEST VIRGINIA

The Mountaineers have rattled off eight straight winning seasons --- the first time the program has done so since a 12-year stretch from 1914 to 1926 (there was a season lost to World War I in there).

Throughout this stretch, there have been periods West Virginia has gone through as a program. There was the "Hey, Rich Rodriguez got the team fast in a hurry" phase. Then came perhaps a hint of impatience in 2004, followed by the three straight 11-win seasons. 

Rodriguez, of course, bolted, and Bill Stewart managed a pair of 9-4 years. A third in a row could be in the cards.

The Mountaineers need to find a new quarterback (again), only this time they'll turn to a true sophomore rather than a fifth-year senior (Jarrett Brown). That's going to cause some early issues, and while the defense should be better this fall, Mountaineers fan could easily feel like their team is plateauing a rung below where it was only a couple years ago once this season is through.

No. 23 FLORIDA STATE

No, there wasn't some plan to trot out Florida State the same day Christian Ponder's new website was unveiled. Besides, Ponder --- as good as he is --- is going to account for only so much improvement on his own.

The issue in Tallahassee for the foreseeable future is defense. It was, to put things diplomatically, below average a season ago.

The most telling number: The Seminoles gave up 40 points three times in four weeks during one midseason stretch. Florida State had 40 hung on them three times total during one 16-year stretch (1987-2002).

An up-close look at the Seminoles in November revealed a startlingly shoddy defense. It was sort of like watching North Carolina's basketball team in 2002; sure, the trappings were basically the same, but the talent just wasn't there.

There's a new defensive coordinator (Mark Stoops) and plenty of new starters, which in this situation isn't all bad. If the Seminoles can just achieve adequacy on defense, Ponder and a veteran offensive line will take care of securing the program's first Atlantic Division title since 2005.

No. 22 PENN STATE

If there is a team whose expectations should be reined in simply because of its schedule, it is Penn State.

The Nittany Lions must visit Alabama, Iowa and Ohio State, all while breaking in a new quarterback and working with a revamped front seven on defense.

The schedule does bring a nice treat --- a "road" game against Indiana in Landover, Md. But effectively playing five conference home games (who really thinks FedEx Field will be a pro-Indiana environment on Nov. 20?) only does so much to make up for the brutal road the Nits will face.

The last five years were incredibly impressive in Happy Valley --- 51-13, with a couple BCS bowl appearances. Penn State probably won't make a trip to Pasadena on New Year's, but a 10-3 season isn't out of the question. That would include Joe Paterno's 400th career victory, a feat Nittany Lions fans can only hope comes during one of three midseason home games.

No. 21 PITTSBURGH

Tailback Dion Lewis is back for another romp through the history books. That's good.

Quarterback Bill Stull, who completed 65.1 percent of his passes last season and tossed 21 touchdowns against eight interceptions, is not back. That's not good.

Oh, and that guy on the sideline. He still scares the heck out of me. The Panthers have won their share of close games the last few years, but it's also worth pointing out the Panthers' last five losses have come by a combined 21 points.

Nonetheless, Pittsburgh has accrued plenty of talent in the last few seasons, and it's important to allot some of the credit for that to Dave Wannstedt. At this point, it's left the Panthers in as good a position as anyone in the Big East.

That's why, with a measure of reluctance, Pitt is the pick here to win the Big East. There's ample opportunities for a nonconference loss (Utah, Miami, Notre Dame) and it's difficult to imagine the Panthers hanging around the top 10. But it's a solid group, and a trip to the Orange Bowl is the next logical step for a program that's won 19 games the last two years.