1. Denard Robinson (38 pts) – Shoelace’s lead has shrunk, but he still holds the top spot. Despite a less than stellar performance against instate rival Michigan State, he still accounted for over 300 yards and Michigan’s two touchdowns in the game. His accuracy in the passing game was suspect for the first time this season (3 Ints), but the sheer brilliance he exhibited over the first four weeks and his still-untouchable numbers allow him to be imperfect for a week.
2. Terrelle Pryor (26 pts) – Pryor probably threw for the most boring 335 yards in the history of college football this past week as the Buckeye’s routed a depleted Indiana Hoosiers team at home 38-10. Don’t get me wrong – 335 yards and three touchdowns passing is really nice, but Pryor was hardly breathed upon in the pocket for 60 minutes and was not a factor on the ground at all (-19 yds). Add in that Denard Robinson accounted for just under 500 yards and five touchdowns against a healthier Indiana team on the road last week, and your left with an impressive but rather ho-hum performance by Pryor.
3. Cam Newton (22 pts) – Auburn’s quarterback had to battle all the way to the wire Saturday night against Kentucky and he piled up some Heisman worthy stats in the process. You’d almost think his shoelaces were untied as he nearly turned in college football’s third 200/200 game of the season, passing for 210 yards and rushing for 198. If he goes huge again next weekend in a monster matchup against SEC West foe Arkansas, and Denard Robinson struggles against Iowa’s stout defense, Newton will be hard to keep out of the top spot.
4. Lamichael James (20 pts) – James had another huge game, this time against over-matched Washington State. After Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas went out with an injury early in the 2nd quarter, James took the game over rushing for 136 yards and two touchdowns to go with 87 yards through the air and another score. Oregon took advantage of Alabama’s loss and is in position to play for the title. If the Ducks keep winning and keep handing James the rock, he’ll be a sure bet to be a finalist come December.
5. Kellen Moore (10 pts) – Moore had another really nice game against a terrible team going 16-22 for 267 and three touchdowns. He’s going to continue to be in the discussion as long as the Broncos stay undefeated, but unless the guys ahead of him on this list all stumble pretty hard, he’s just not going to do anything “sexy” enough to actually win it in the end.
Edwards
1. Denard Robinson
2. Terrelle Pryor
3. Cam Newton
4. Kellen Moore
5, LaMichael James
Cook
1. Denard Robinsin
2. Terrelle Pryor
3. Kellen Moore
4. Cam Newton
5. LaMichael James
Thompson
1. LaMichael James
2. Denard Robinson
3. Terrelle Pryor
4. Cam Newton
5. Andrew Luck
Warzecha
1. Denard Robinson
2. Cam Newton
3. LaMichael James
4. Terrelle Pryor
5. Andrew Luck
Illegal Shift 
Posted by Craftony "The Greek" on October 12, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Come on Fellas! Give up the Denard love affair. Is he fun to watch? Yes. Is he the best college football player? Possibly. Will he win the Heisman? Absolutely not. It doesn’t matter what numbers he puts up or how good he is. His team sucks and will be lucky to go 8-4. Just ask Darren McFadden Who ate Troy Smith for breakfast his Sophomore year and pooped out Tebow his Junior year . It makes all the difference! He will struggle again this week as Iowa is way better than Sparty on D. Then there will be a few games where he could put up some more good numbers but then Wisconsin will beat him down and OSU will finish him off. I guess you are just saying he’s in the lead now, but they don’t vote now. Who you got in the end? I’m thinking James or Pryor again, depending on how their teams do.
Posted by Jacob on October 12, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Until he loses multiple games and stops racking up yards, he’ll stay at the top.
Posted by Warzecha on October 12, 2010 at 4:29 pm
I don’t mean to offend, as I am a Razorback fan as well, but the national sports media is much less hesitant to embrace a star from Michigan (multiple Heisman winners and a traditional football power) than it is from Arkansas. Tebow won it in his Sophomore year when the Gators went 9-4 and got beat by an underachieving Michigan team (remember Appalachian State? I do…) in the Citrus bowl.
I don’t know that Michigan can go 9-3 in the regular season (likely losses to Iowa, Wisconsin & Ohio State), but I think they could definitely go 8-4 and win their bowl game against another middle-of-a-BCS-conference team. Sure the bowl win would be too late and UM would have one more loss than Tebow’s Florida team come Heisman time, but Denard’s numbers will likely be better.
Posted by Jake on October 14, 2010 at 7:52 pm
Tebow won the Heisman before Florida got pounded by Michigan. It’s misleading to state it the way you do.
Posted by Craftony "The Greek" on October 12, 2010 at 4:54 pm
Yes, you will see a Tebow or Barry Sanders exception every now and then. It usually happens when there is not a dominating player on one of the contenders and the player puts up video game numbers. Tebow for example accounted for 55 TDs and was joined in NYC by McFadden, Brennen, and Daniels. All of them were from average teams at best. If Mizzou would have beaten Okie and got to the NC Daniels would have won. Another example I know you will remember, Charles Woodson does not win it if he’s not playing for the NC and Manning is.
Posted by Warzecha on October 12, 2010 at 5:52 pm
First – OK, even if I were to agree that guys like Tebow or Barry were exceptions….it’s not as though there is some other clear cut guy on a title contender at this point. Maybe Pryor becomes that, or even James, but they haven’t hit that level yet. Thus, Denard’s freakish numbers to date keep him VERY much alive for the prize in my mind. (But I’ll be the first to say that if he is straight shut down in those projected losses he should be out of true consideration…maybe invited to NYC if he is still over 1500/1500, but not a real threat to win)
Second – Tennessee was essentially playing for the national title in 1997 as well. They were ranked #3, playing #2 Nebraska. If they had won and Michigan lost to Washington State, Tennessee would have been crowned. However, they didn’t and Michigan did (thanks to a pick in the end zone by #2). Woodson won the trophy because he did things and impacted games in a way no defensive/special teams player ever had. So I don’t really think anything from the 1997 season is all that relevant. However, I do always appreciate a good 1997 Woodson reference.
Posted by Craftony "The Greek" on October 13, 2010 at 8:39 am
Actually I think we are actually in total agreement. The freakish numbers will keep him in the conversation. For what it’s worth, as an old corner and an Orange hater, I was pulling for Woodson all the way. He is still one of my all time favorite players in college and the NFL. What he is doing now at his age is simply remarkable. I think his selection by the Heisman trust was one of the few they actually got right.
Posted by Illegal Shift on October 13, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Great ESPN Insider article declaring Terrelle Pyror to be a complete fraud.
http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/insider/columns/story?columnist=joyner_kc&id=5680547
Posted by Tweets that mention Heisman Candidates Through Week 6 « Illegal Shift -- Topsy.com on October 14, 2010 at 12:38 am
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Brad Wiese, Illegal Shift. Illegal Shift said: Heisman Candidates update. Did Shoelace hold onto the top spot?http://bit.ly/9dNANi […]
Posted by Riley4COTY on October 15, 2010 at 11:38 am
WHERE is Quizz Rodgers from “the meaningful OSU”?
No list can be considered pertinent without Quizz on it. Seriously, are the voters paying attention?