There are five finalists in possibly the deepest, wide-open Heisman Trophy race ever. The award will be presented on Saturday at 8 p.m. on ESPN. Cheers & Jeers thinks Texas quarterback Colt McCoy will bring home the hardware, but who you got?
Toby Gerhart, Stanford RB
Season stats » 1,736 rushing yards, 26 rushing TDs, 149 receiving yards
Best game » Against Rose Bowl-bound Oregon, Gerhart had a season-high 38 carries for 223 yards and 3 TDs to lead Stanford to a 51-42 victory over the Pac-10 champions.
Worst game » Gerhart was held out of the end zone only one game this season — a 24-17 loss to Wake Forest on Sept. 12. The Stanford back rushed for only 82 yards in the loss.
NFL potential » He has one year of eligibility left, but has implied that he will enter the draft. The NFL has become more favorable to speed over power when it comes to running backs and Gerhart may even have to move to fullback. Expect the Stanford back and his Jamal Lewis-type running style to be drafted in the second to third round.
Mark Ingram, Alabama RB
Season stats » 1,542 rushing yards, 15 rushing TDs, 322 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs
Best game » In the SEC Championship Game, Ingram ran for 113 yards and a season-high 3 TDs while adding a big 69-yard reception. He was Alabama’s workhorse, rushing a season-high 28 times in the Crimson Tide’s 32-13 win.
Worst game » Ingram was held to 30 yards and just 1.9 yards per carry in the Iron Bowl. He was so ineffective against rival Auburn that he was on the sideline for most of Alabama’s game-winning drive.
NFL potential » He’s only a sophomore so he won’t be entering the draft, but winning the Heisman certainly wouldn’t hurt his draft stock for next year.
Colt McCoy, Texas QB
Season stats » 3,512 passing yards, 27 passing TDs, 12 INTs, 348 rushing yards, 3 rushing TDs
Best game » For most the season McCoy — Texas’ leading rusher in 2008 — was not effective on the ground. But against Texas A&M on Thanksgiving night the quarterback rushed for a career-high 175 yards and a TD and passed for 304 yards and 4 TDs in a 49-39 victory.
Worst game » Despite winning the Big XII Championship Game, McCoy threw for only 184 yards, 3 INTs and no TDs. He was sacked nine times by Nebraska and almost had the largest clock management mishap of the year as his final pass hit the ground with one second left — just enough time for the Longhorns to kick the game-winning field goal.
NFL potential » It’s a very deep quarterback draft with Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen declaring and could be even deeper if Washington’s Jake Locker enters the draft, but expect McCoy to be a first-round pick and the third or fourth quarterback selected.
Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska DT
Season stats » 82 tackles, 12 sacks, 1 INT
Best game » The defensive tackle waited until the biggest stage to have his best performance of his career. Suh spent the entire Big XII Championship Game in the Texas backfield and recorded 4 1/2 sacks and 12 tackles in a 13-12 loss to the Longhorns.
Worst game » On Oct. 17 against Texas Tech, Nebraska allowed a season-high 31 points in a loss and Suh recorded just four tackles in the game.
NFL potential » He may be the closest to a sure thing and is projected to be a top-5 pick.
Tim Tebow, Florida QB
Season stats » 2,413 passing yards, 18 TDs, 5 INTs, 859 rushing yards, 13 rushing TDs
Best game » Against rival Florida State on Nov. 28, Tebow went 17-for-21 passing for 221 yards and 3 TDs while rushing for another 90 yards and 2 TDs in a 37-10 Gators’ victory.
Worst game » Alabama was able to shut down Florida in the SEC Championship Game, holding the Gators to just 13 points. Tebow was forced to throw a season-high 35 times for 247 yards and threw a key interception in the end zone.
NFL potential » Tebow’s NFL position is uncertain, let alone where he will be drafted. Pat White was selected solely for the Wildcat offense with the 44th pick by the Dolphins last year and Tebow has a much better arm than White. Some team will take a chance on Tebow before the end of the second round.
