Heisman Watch (Week 10)

1.  Collin Klein QB Kansas State
Last Week:  245 yards passing 0 TDs, 64 yards rushing 1 TD vs Oklahoma State (44-30)  Next Week: vs at TCU
Comments:  Klein was off to his typical big game, he had 310 total yards and a TD midway through the 3rd quarter.  However Klein took an awkward hit and never returned to the game.  It didn't look bad, but KState doesn't disclose injuries so it's up in the air how bad the injury is and if Klein is going to miss next weeks game.  However Klein was observed on the sideline laughing and not showing any ill affects.  So maybe they took him out just to prevent anything worse happening.  Because if Klein can't go, neither will this team.

2.  Kenjon Barner RB Oregon
Last Week:  38 carries for 321 yards rushing 5 TD vs USC (62-51)  Next Week:  at California
Comments:  If you didn't know Kenjon Barner before this week, you sure know him now.  In Oregon's route over USC Barner set a Oregon single game record with 321 yards rushing.  He also did it on 8 yards per carry.  That's impressive on it's own.  While teammate De'Anthony Thomas has gotten a lot more Heisman hype, it's been Barner who has been the one who has stood out game in and game out.  Barner had 1,295 yards rushing so far this season and 19 TDs.  With games against Stanford, Oregon State, and likely USC again look for Barner to have some more highlights when the spotlight is on.

3.  Manti Te'o LB Notre Dame

Last Week:  7 tackles, 1 pass breakup, 1 sack vs Pittsburgh (29-26)
Next Week:  at Boston College 

Comments: It wasn't the best games for Te'o and the Golden Domer's, but they escaped the Pitt game with a with and that's what really counts.  Te'o didn't have a huge impact statically with only 7 tackles and a sack.  But Te'o was always in the mix and helped the Fighting Irish buckle down in the second half and overtime to give their offense a chance to come back.  This next weekend they'll travel to Boston College where Te'o probably won't be on the field too much because BC isn't very good.  If Te'o wants to be the first defensive player to win the Heisman, he'll need a couple huge games coming up.  

4.  AJ McCarron QB Alabama
Last Week:   165 yards passing 1 TD, 1 rushing TD at LSU (21-17)  Next Week:  vs Texas A&M

Comments:  This wasn't McCarron's best game of the year, but when Alabama needed him to step up, he did so.  Down three with in the final minutes McCarron lead the Crimson Tide down the field before finding RB TJ Yeldon on a 28 yard pass to win the game.  The win allows Alabama to stay undefeated and keep their chances of an undefeated season alive.  McCarron although statstically wasn't good, keeps his slim Heisman chances alive.  Without that last TD drive, McCarron would have been out of the race.  But other former SEC Heisman Winners have won the award in the final weeks.  Can McCarron do that too?

5.  Braxton Miller QB Ohio State
Last Week:  226 yards passing 2 TDs, 73 yards rushing 1 TD vs Illinois (52-22)  Next Week: Bye
Comments:  Not a whole lot to say about this Miller this week.  The Buckeyes faced an Illinois team that has quit on the season.  Miller did what he needed to do and got out without getting injuried.  He had 299 combined yards and 3 TDs.  Miller continues to play at a high level, but there really isn't a whole lot of talk about it.  Having a bye next week doesn't help out either.  But there game against Michigan coming up could really do wonders for his Heisman chances.

Others to Watch

7.  Johnny Manziel QB Texas A&M
8.  Teddy Bridgewater QB Louisville 

Heisman Watch (Week 9)

1.  Collin Klein QB Kansas State
Last Week: 233 yards passing 2 TDs, 83 yards rushing 2 TDs vs Texas Tech (55-24)  Next Week: vs Oklahoma State
Comments:  After turning in a dominant performance against West Virginia, Optimis Klein continued the momentum and helped the Wildcats dominate top 20 Texas Tech.  Klein was his old self 316 total yards and 4 TDs.  Their win also propels the Wildcats up the rankings are in the thick of the National Title picture.  This also ehances Klein's Heisman bid.  Things should get easier for Klein and KState as they face off against an Oklahoma State team that is in all sorts of disarray.

2.  Braxton Miller QB Ohio State
Last Week:  143 yards passing 1 TD 1 INT, 134 yards rushing 2 TDs at Penn State (35-23)  Next Week: vs Illinois
Comments:  Would Braxton Miller's season be bigger news if Ohio State wasn't on propation.  If they weren't ineligible for post season?  But it's hard to ignore the season that he is having.  Against a Penn State team that was playing at a high level, Miller was just as good.  He had a combined 277 yards and 3 TDs.  Miller showed no ill affects from his injury he suffered against Purdue.  Miller continues to be the only offensive threat for the Buckeyes and continues to lead them to an undefeated record and if they were eligible they'd more than likely be top 10 in the BCS rankings.

3.  Manti Te'o LB Notre Dame

Last Week:  11 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT vs Oklahoma (30-13)  Next Week:  vs Pittsburgh 

Comments:  It seems like there is a defensive player every year that is in the final Heisman voting.  Ndamukong Suh finished 4th in 2009 while Tyrann Mathieu finished 5th last year.  This year it is Manti Te'o who is making a huge impact.  With Notre Dame having their best season in decades, it's Te'o who has been the leader on one of the best defenses in the nation.  This was evident against Oklahoma where Te'o was all over the field with 11 tackles a sack and even had an interception.  With Notre Dame continuing to be undefeated, it's clear that Te'o is their best player.

4.  AJ McCarron QB Alabama
Last Week:   16/23 208 yards 2 TDs vs Mississippi State (38-7)  Next Week:  at LSU

Comments:  Because Alabama has such a good defense and a stable of running backs that would make an NFL team jealous.  AJ McCarron has this misconception that he is just a game manager.  Any why not.  The Crimson Tide run the ball a lot and all the previous Tide QBs under Nick Saban have been game managers.  But McCarron isn't.  McCarron used last year's National Title Game as his coming out part and it's continued into this year.  McCarron averages 210 yards passing and it could more if Alabama opened up the offense.  McCarron has also thrown for 18 TDs while having 0 INTs.  McCarron probably won't win the Heisman, but he'll likely be a finalist.

5.  Geno Smith QB West Virginia

Last Week:  Bye  Next Week:  vs TCU
Comments:  West Virginia's bye week couldn't have come at a better time.  After cruising through their first 5 games, Geno Smith and the Mountaineers were rolling.  But after two blowout losses to Texas Tech and Kansas State, they now looking for answers.  Smith isn't out of the race quite yet.  But two bad weeks and a bye aren't helping him out either.  We do have to remember that RG3 won the award last year and the Bears had 3 losses.  So Smith just needs to take this weekend to get things back in the right direction and back to his old ways.

Others to Watch

7.  Kenjon Barner RB Oregon
8.  De'Anthony Thomas WR/RB Oregon