Heisman time

[bsmooth]

Well the list is out and I was pleasantly surprised to see a defensive player on there. I would love to see a defensive player finally win this thing otherwise the Heisman is just the offensive equivilant to the Outland award and not the award for the best player.

Tim Tebow added another Heisman first to his long list of accomplishments just by being selected a finalists for this year's trophy.

Tebow became the first player to be invited to the Heisman Trophy presentation ceremony three times when the Florida quarterback — along with Colt McCoy, Mark Ingram, Toby Gerhart and Ndamukong Suh — was named a finalist Monday for college football's most prestigious player of the year award.

"Having the chance to go back to New York means a lot to me," Tebow said in statement. "It is a special honor but it wouldn't be possible for me to have this opportunity without my teammates and coaches."

The Heisman Trophy will be awarded Saturday in Manhattan. The presentation ceremony has been televised since 1981 and since 1982 at least three players have been invited to attend.

The last time as many as five players were invited to New York was 2004, when USC quarterback Matt Leinart won the award.

Tebow, who was the first sophomore to win the Heisman in 2007, is trying to become the second two-time Heisman winner, joining Ohio State's Archie Griffin. Tebow finished third in the voting last year, while getting the most first-place votes.

He's also the first player — and sixth overall — to finish in the top five of the Heisman balloting three times since Georgia tailback Herschel Walker did it in the early 1980s.

McCoy was the runner-up last season to Oklahoma's Sam Bradford and has led No. 2 Texas to the BCS national championship game this season.

Ingram has rushed for 1,542 yards and scored 15 touchdowns for No. 1 Alabama.

Stanford's Gerhart, meanwhile, has run for more yards (1,736) and scored more touchdowns (26) than any player in the nation.

And Nebraska's Suh had 4 1/2 sacks in an attention-grabbing performance against Texas in the Big 12 title game. He is the first defensive player to be a finalist since 1997, when Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson became the first full-time defensive player to win the Heisman.

Tebow and McCoy entered this season as heavy Heisman favorites, but neither has played as well as last year and neither will go into Saturday's presentation as the clear front-runner.

Tebow returned for his senior season to try and lead the Gators to a third national title in four seasons, but he won't reach that goal. After being No. 1 almost all season, Florida lost to Alabama 32-13 in the Southeastern Conference title game on Saturday and was knocked out of the national championship race.

The loss likely damaged Tebow's chances at a second Heisman, too. He has passed for 2,413 yards and rushed for 859 yards this year, but he hasn't been quite as productive as he was the past two seasons.

Like Tebow, McCoy also returned for his senior season to make a championship run. He has Texas a victory away from its first national title since 2005, but his numbers also have fallen off compared to '08.

McCoy has passed for 3,512 yards with 27 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also nearly threw away the Longhorns' national championship hopes on the second-to-last play of the Nebraska game, coming within a second of letting the clock run out before Texas could attempt the winning field goal in a 13-12 victory.

McCoy could become the first player to win the Heisman the season after finishing second since Walker did it in 1982.

If there is a favorite, it seems to be Ingram.

Hesimanpundit.com, which polls 13 voters throughout the season, had Ingram on top of it's latest results, just ahead of Gerhart.

Ingram could become Alabama's first Heisman Trophy winner. He gave his Heisman campaign a late boost by running for 113 yards and scoring three touchdowns in the SEC title game against Florida.

"I'm looking forward to the experience and appreciate the opportunity to represent our team at the Heisman ceremony," Ingram said in a statement.

Gerhart also ended his season with a flourish, running for 205 yards and three touchdowns and throwing a touchdown pass in a victory against Notre Dame.

"I am most pleased that my efforts along with those of so many others this year have put Stanford Football back on the national map," Gerhart said.

But nobody finished stronger than Suh, who put together one of the most dominant defensive games in recent college football history in Nebraska's near-upset of Texas.

"It is good to see that the Heisman voters have recognized the true impact a dominant defensive lineman like Suh can have on a football game," Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said.

Suh finished the season with 12 sacks in 13 games.

Among the top players who didn't make the cut were Clemson's versatile tailback C.J. Spiller and Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I think Ingam's performance in the SEC Championship Game sealed it for him.  To play like he did on that big stage against the top defense in the nation should weigh heavily in his favor. 

I had McCoy winning it up until the Big 12 Championship Game.  He stunk up the joint in that game.

[Denver_Bronco]

My heart says Ingram, but my head says Gerhart.

I am sure Ingram will win it, but Gerhart was the most consistent player from beginning to end, the ENTIRE season.

[Denver_Bronco]

Gerhart:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/gamelog?playerId=188524

Ingram:
http://espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=379061

[StL FinFan]

DB is right.  It should be Gerhart but it will be Ingram.

[stinkfish]

I'm pulling for Gerhart

[gocowboys31]

The best player in college football is C.J. Spilller. How he wasn't invited is an insult. The guy is the most dangerous and explosive player in college football. I guess they missed his performance in the ACC title game.

[CF DolFan]

Doesn't many of the votes go in prior to this past weekend?

[Denver_Bronco]

Doesn't many of the votes go in prior to this past weekend?

Yes they did.

[Denver_Bronco]

The best player in college football is C.J. Spilller.

CJ Spiller is electric, but you can't even convince me that he belongs there. Look at his stats. He had at least 4-5 irrelevant games....AND that's giving leeway....

http://espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=192151

[Sunstroke]

The best player in college football is C.J. Spilller.

I think the best player in college football right now is Ndamukong Suh...

I expect Ingram to win the Heisman though.

[Rick]

I think the best player in college football right now is Ndamukong Suh...

I agree 100% Stroke!  If a defensive player ever were to win the Heisman, it should be Ndamukong Suh!  He had an outstanding year.....but that Big 12 Championship game against Texas...Suh played one of the best football games I have ever seen by a D-linemen!  The kid is a monster! 

If Suh dosen't win the Heisman, Toby Gerhart SHOULD win it. 

[bsmooth]

Why does the Heisman never go to a defensive player? I keep seeing where people post in various place that it is basically an offensive award.
Suh had a sack in 12 of 13 games while being double and triple teamed all season and he sacked Colt more times solo in the Big 12 championship game than almost all of the opposing teams facing Texas this year did

[StL FinFan]

Maybe this is the year a defensive player wins.  I only remember one.

[Philly Fin Fan]

Maybe this is the year a defensive player wins.  I only remember one.

You only remember one, cause there has only been one! (Charles Woodson)