| 21 October 2009
This article was originally written on October 21st, 2009 & will contain outdated information. SECRivals is preparing their Blogger Heisman ballot for BlueWorkHorse.com. We will be looking at our top three Heisman candidates this week ... who is on your list?
Looking at the Heisman race this season, there is no reason a defensive player could make a run at the award.
Let's face it ... the race for the Heisman this season is not exactly a race. It seems as if the playlist for the award is shuffled each week like a game of 52-card pick-up.
For example, look at Mark Ingram. While Ingram is a solid Alabama running back, if he does not go for 246-yards against South Carolina ... does he shoot to the number one slot on ESPN's panel? Yeah, I doubt it as well.
There is no break away threat (so far) for this award ... that is a fact. If there is no front runner after most teams have played six or seven games, what is the 'race' going to look like at the end of November?
Probably not much different unless a major network starts pushing their favorite player.
With that said, here are SECRivals' five players that are not on most people's Heisman watch list, but should be. The player's names are linked to their ESPN.com Stats. Listed alphabetically:
Pat Angerer
Linebacker, University of Iowa (Senior) 6'1" 235 pounds
24 solo tackles, 44 assists. One each: sack, forced fumble, and interception. Sixty-eight total tackles by week seven is absolutely next level.
Many teams try to run away from Angerer and he simply runs them down. Find a better football name in the FBS. Best Game: vs Penn State, Angerer recorded 14 total tackles (4 solo, 10 assists) and had an interception that he returned 38-yards.
Rennie Curran
Linebacker, University of Georgia 5'11" 222 pounds
39 solo tackles, 34 assists for a total of 73 tackles. Curran knows how to find the football.
His personal story is also simply amazing. According to articles, Curran's father tighed a week's pay to his church and prayed that his son be able to find a way to go to college ... a couple of week's later, Rennie was being heavily recruited.
Best Game: vs LSU Curran was responsible for 16 total tackles (seven solo, nine assists)
Jerry Hughes
Defensive End, Texas-Christian University (Senior) 6'3" 257 pounds
From his defensive end spot, Hughes has recorded 31 total tackles on the season (19 solo, 12 assists). Hughes' most impressive stat is his eight sacks on the year.
Best Game: vs Virginia, Hughes recorded 11 total tackles (six solo, five assists) and a sack.
Rolando McClain
Linebacker, University of Alabama (Junior) 6'4" 258 pounds
33 solo tackles, 17 assists. 6.5 tackles for loss. Leads the Bama team in tackles with 50. Two sacks, a forced fumble, and two interceptions. Has defended five passes, has three passes broken up, and seven quarterback hurries.
Best Game: vs Kentucky, McClain accounted for 13 tackles (nine solo, four assists) and returned an interception 21-yards.
Ndamukong Suh
Defensive Tackle, University of Nebraska (Senior) 6'4" 300 pounds
19 tackles, 17 assists. Also has three sacks and an interception. Thirty-six total tackles from the defensive line at this point in the season is strong.
Best Game: vs Virginia Tech, Suh totaled eight tackles (one solo) and defended four passes.
This list could go on and on ... literally, I am positive there are fifteen to twenty defensive players out there that are receiving zero publicity from the MSM who are better than the current top five.
Eric Norwood of South Carolina could win the award and he should have been in my top five. The Heisman voters should not be afraid to vote for a defensive player this year. Honestly, the offensive players' stats are not that great when compared to their previous seasons. If a defensive player could EVER win the award ... there has not been a better season than this one.
