Guest Post: 2012 College Football Heisman Hopefuls

As the 2012 college football season approaches, many are engaging in the college football pastime of Heisman hopefuls speculation. Most of the people that are ending up on numerous watch-lists are quarterbacks or running backs, but the Heisman usually goes to the most popular skill-position player anyway. Much can happen between now and the awarding of the Heisman Trophy near season’s end, but these are a half-dozen Heisman hopefuls that are garnering early attention. Matt Barkley, QB, USC Matt Barkley is the senior quarterback for a Southern California team that is finally emerging from its postseason ban with some excellent pieces in place for a potentially special season. Matt Barkley is arguably the best of those pieces and is considered by many to be the early Heisman frontrunner for the 2012-2013 season. He became a hero to Trojan fans by deciding to come back for his senior season instead of bolting early for the draft, and Barkley may be rewarded with the Heisman if the Trojans have the kind of season expected by many. Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin Wisconsin running back Montee Ball also came back for his senior season, endearing himself to the Badger faithful. In spite of leading the nation in rushing yards and touchdowns last season, he never got much Heisman love. Big Ten players are often considered to be slower than their Southern and Western counterparts, so some people feel that playing in the Big Ten is a disadvantage for running backs in terms of gaining national respect. Ball only finished fourth in last season’s Heisman voting, but if he has an even better 2012 season than he had in 2011, voters will likely pay more attention to him. Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan Michigan QB Denard Robinson is often an electric and exciting player to watch, but he also tends to turn the ball over at the worst times. The elusive scrambler nicknamed “Shoelace” has had two consecutive seasons in which he passed for 2,000 yards and rushed for 1,000, so if he has yet another 3,000-plus yard year, then he may find himself in line to bring the Heisman Trophy back to Michigan. The competition usually comes down to the most impressive quarterback or running back, so Robinson as a dual-threat quarterback has the advantage of having some of the best—and worst—characteristics of both. Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina South Carolina’s star running back was electric as a freshman, bursting onto the scene during his first season of SEC football. He was poised to have an excellent sophomore campaign last season before tearing his ACL midway through the season, ending his season—and any Heisman talk for the year. South Carolina’s coaching staff claims that Lattimore is 100% and will have no trouble with his ACL this season, but many people feel that Lattimore may not be able to be as productive as the Gamecocks want to believe. If Lattimore can get over his injury, he could have a special junior year in which he brings home the Heisman. Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia The last time college football fans saw West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith, he was helping his team pile 70 points on Clemson. West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorson believes in putting up large offensive numbers, so this could be another productive year for Smith. Also beneficial to Smith’s Heisman bid is his team’s jump from the Big East to the Big Twelve; most college football fans and Heisman voters will take stats earned in the Big Twelve more seriously than stats gained in the Big East. Tyrann Mathieu, DB, LSU While the idea of a defensive player winning the Heisman is often a futile one, the most popular defensive player this year is Tyrann Mathieu, LSU’s star defensive back. The so-called “Honey Badger” has a reputation for being a dynamic player on both defense and special teams and is the early defensive player frontrunner for this year’s Heisman due to his status last year as a Heisman Trophy finalist. Since no defensive player has won the Heisman since 1997, however, the odds are not in Mathieu’s favor. By Don Phan - Just another sports enthusiast.