Heisman Watch, Week 6

Each week I will give you my top 5 candidates and some other guys who are rising and falling. I waited until this week to unveil my first list because I didn’t want to jump to conclusions too soon. Again, I don’t subscribe to any preconceived notions on what school or what position a person has to play in order to win, the trophy belongs to the player who has played the best this season. All that being said here are my top 5 candidates (in no particular order):


Eric Norwood, OLB/DE South Carolina- If you haven’s seen this young man play you are missing something special. He is a weird player, he really isn’t a LB or and End but his motor runs 100% on every single play. Defensive statistics don’t always tell a story but Norwood has 6.5 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 2 passes defended, a forced fumble, 2 blocked kicks and leads his team in tackle through 5 games. He is truly a special college player and right now there isn’t a better defensive player in the country.


Case Keenum, QB Houston- He has been the most accurate and explosive QB in the country so far. Keenum’s worst game os the season this year was in week 1 against Northwestern State when he through for 359 yards. Each week his yardage numbers have gone up, this week throwing for over 500 yards and 5 TD’s in a road loss at UTEP. He is completing over 66% of his passes and has good legs rushing for over 100 yards and 2 TD’s this season.


AJ Green, WR Georgia- If you haven’t yet, just watch one quarter of Bulldog football and Green will do something spectacular. If you get the ball near him he will snag it. He has great size, speed, athleticism and the best hands in the country. His number aren’t huge (30 rec. 527 yards, 5 TD) but he makes his most spectacular plays in the end zone. Two catches that come to mind are one against the Gamecocks were he went up against a double team and snagged the ball out of the air and this week against LSU on a fade route, he leaped and reached right over the defenders head (who had perfect position on him) and snagged the ball away for a TD.


Jimmy Clausen, QB Notre Dame- He is the highest rated passer in the country, and for a reason, right now he is the best. Clausen has been the star for the Irish this year with his pinpoint accuracy and his ability to make dramatic comebacks. Even without his best WR this week he found ways to complete balls even under relentless pressure from Washington. He is completing 68% of his passes for over 10 yards per attempt and has 12/2 TD/INT.


Tate Forcier, QB Michigan- I am what you call a paradox, sometimes in sports obsessed with numbers and other times think they are overrated. In the case of Tate Forcier I have few numbers to back up his candidacy. As true freshman he is the unquestioned leader of his team and its best player, especially in the crunch. As a true freshman he has lead three game tying/go ahead drives in 5 games. Though his team lost in overtime this week his drive was legendary, running for 2 first downs and throwing for 2 others before tossing the game winning TD, exhausted because his team had no timeouts, Forcier couldn’t even stand up in the huddles.


FALLING
Greg McElroy, QB Alabama- Rough game at Kentucky this week
Eric Berry, S Tennessee- Hasn’t made the game changing plays the past two weeks
Jahvid Best, RB California- Struggled in 2 blowout losses to Pac-10 opponents
RISING
Golden Tate, WR Notre Dame- Emerging as a big play threat
Jake Locker, QB Washington- Best Dual threat QB in the country
Joe McKnight, RB Southern Cal- Becoming the go to guy on Southern Cal’s
offense