Last week, the Maxwell Football Club released a list of 41players to watch for this year's Maxwell Award, an honor given tothe country's top college football player. Among those 41 names isa certain Memphis Tiger named DeAngelo Williams.
Dennis Dodd from CBSSportsline.com also namedWilliams as a Heisman trophy hopeful, also given to the nation'stop player.
But awards, especially the Heisman, are highly publicized honorsgiven to highly publicized players. The voting is done by membersof the media and former Heisman winners, many of whom have neverseen some of the candidates they are asked to make decisions about.With that said, the Heisman is what it is, and those variables arepart of the process and must be taken into consideration here aswell.
Heisman Scale (in footballs)
()()()()() Why play the season? Give that guy the hardware!
()()()() A definite frontrunner
()()() Heisman challenger, if things go well
()() A heavy media campaign is in order
() Act of God, anyone?
Matt Leinhart, QB, USC () () () ()
This is your co-favorite. Last season as a sophomore, Leinhartthrew for 3,556 yards, 38 touchdowns and just nine interceptions.He also plays on a national championship contender, which will keephim highly visible. Oh yeah, he also gets to throw to MikeWilliams, which can make a lot of quarterbacks look good.
However, West Coast players tend to have trouble winning theaward because many
of the East Coast voters never see them play. This might be oneof those few years where it doesn't matter
Mike Williams, WR, USC () () ()
Last season, Williams caught 95 balls for 1,314 yards and 16 TDsthat led to his entering the NFL draft. However, when a court ruledthat an NFL imposed age limit is legal, Williams was forced toreturn to school for his junior season.
It should be fun to see how he responds to that NFL denial.Having Matt Leinhart throwing you balls, however, ought to ease thepain a little.
Ironically, that same quarterback may be a deterrent to winningthe Heisman.
Leinhart's ability to spread the ball around and amass his owngaudy statistics will make Williams' relative production a littleless impressive.
Darren Sproles, RB, Kansas State () () () ()
This is my co-favorite with Leinhart. Last season, Sprolesrushed for 1,986 yards, making him the most elusive back in collegefootball, and it is likely he will have the numbers again this yearto make a Heisman run.
Sproles can put up ridiculous numbers. Last season, in a stretchof four games, he went over 200 yards rushing in three of them. Buthe isn't consistent, which may factor in some voters' minds. Casein point, last year's bowl game with Ohio State. Sproles rushed forjust 33 yards. If he's consistent, watch out.
Brad Smith, QB, Missouri () ()
As a native of Missouri, I know Brad Smith, and he's like ayo-yo on a string.
He's the most elusive quarterback in college football sinceMichael Vick. Smith is the heart and soul of the Missouri offense.No player in college is more valuable to the success of his team.Two years ago, he became the first freshman (and second player) torun for 1,000 yards and pass for 2,000. Last season, he missedrepeating the feat by 23 passing yards. In 2003, Smith also ranked12th in country in rushing.
The problem with Smith is he is not a quarterback prototype. Hispassing ability is marginal, and he doesn't look comfortable in thepocket. Add the fact that Smith doesn't have proven receivers tothrow to and that Missouri is not a top-10 caliber program, and itmakes his quest for the Heisman a difficult one.
DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis () (
First off, Williams has to stay healthy. If he does, he willhave another greatyear. This guy is worth the ticket price to watchhim play. He's the most consistent back in college football,posting 10 consecutive 100-yard games last season. Think PriestHolmes with a little more speed. He doesn't have the vision,patience or hands out of the backfield yet, but it is safe to saythat if the season goes well for him, Williams will go in the toptwo rounds of the NFL draft.
However, the Heisman is a long shot. He plays in a non-BCSconference for a traditionally bad football school. As it stands,he will have only two nationally televised games to display histalents to a large audience. Williams also plays in a passingoffense, which virtually guarantees that Sproles will have betterrushing numbers for run-happy K-State. Voters will have to lookthrough the numbers to see Williams value, a difficult task if youdon't see him play.
