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Heisman Watch: Nobody does it better

terry bowden

Matt Leinart (Sr., QB, USC)
Last week: 23-of-39 (59%), 315 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT in 45-13 win at Oregon
Season totals: 200.4 rating, 59-of-87 (68%), 1028 yds, 10 TD, 2 INT
Next: at Arizona St., 3:30 p.m. ET

The Trojans got off to a slow start, but Leinart ended up with a superb performance. He stayed completely in control while bringing the Trojans back from a 13-point deficit.

Reggie Bush (Jr., RB/KR/PR, USC)
Last week: 267 all-purpose yds, 2 TD in 45-13 win at Oregon
Season totals: 212 all-purpose yds/game (third in nation), 6 TD
Next: at Arizona St., 3:30 p.m. ET

After watching the USC-Oregon game, I'm convinced Bush is the best player every time he steps on the field. I ordered the game on pay-per-view just so I could watch him. No matter who wins the Heisman, nobody is a better player than Bush.

Vince Young (Jr., QB, Texas)
Last week: Did not play
Season totals: 39-of-60 (65%), 544 yds, 5 TD, 4 INT; 202 rush yds, 1 TD
Next: at Missouri, noon ET

Gerald Riggs Jr. (Jr., RB, Tennessee)
Last week: 24 rushes, 89 yds, 2 TD in 30-27 OT win at LSU
Season totals: 64 rushes, 285 yds, 2 TD
Next: vs. Mississippi, 12:30 p.m. ET

His numbers weren't eye-opening, but he had two late touchdowns to help the Vols rally and win a game they had to win.

Chris Leak (Jr., QB, Florida)
Last week: 25-of-32 (78%), 319 yds, 4 TD in 49-28 win at Kentucky
Season totals: 173.5 rating, 81-of-114 (71%), 1037 yds, 9 TD, 0 INT
Next: at Alabama, 3:30 p.m. ET

Chris Leak kept himself and the Gators in the hunt. Not only has he thrown for a high percentage, he also hasn't thrown an interception.

Reggie McNeal (Sr., QB, Texas A&M)
Last week: 13-of-24 (54%), 317 yds, 2 TD, 86 rush yds in 44-31 win over Texas St.
Season totals: 196 rating (4th in nation), 36-of-64 (56%), 776 yds, 8 TD, 1 INT; team-high 286 rush yds (11 yds/rush)
Next: vs. Baylor, 12:30 p.m. ET

Another worthy performance. He's staying in the hunt.

Laurence Maroney (Jr., RB, Minnesota)
Last week: 46 rushes, 217 yds (plus 59 rec yds) in 42-35 (2OT) win vs. Purdue
Season totals: 113 rushes, 698 yds (leads nation), 6 TD
Next: at Penn St., 3:30 p.m. ET

Maroney definitely helped his stock. He's leading the nation in rushing for an undefeated, big-conference team.

DeAngelo Williams (Sr., RB, Memphis)
Last week: 30 rushes, 223 yds, 3 TD in 37-31 (OT) loss at Tulsa
Season totals: 74 rushes, 513 yds (2nd in nation in ypg, 6 TD
Next: vs. UTEP, 8 p.m. ET

Williams did nothing to hurt himself. He's slid up just behind Maroney in rushing, and that's despite a so-so game in the Tigers' opener. Maroney and Williams are two of the best pure runners in the nation.

Omar Jacobs (Jr., QB, Bowling Green)
Last week: 18-of-36 (50%), 220 yds, 5 TD in 48-20 loss at Boise State
Season totals: 159 rating, 75-of-130 (58%), 1106 yds (2nd in nation in ypg), 13 TD (T-2nd in nation), 2 INT
Next: vs. Temple, 4 p.m. ET

Jacobs lost ground. No quarterback gets a trip to New York with a losing record.

Drew Stanton (Jr., QB, Michigan State)
Last week: 20-of-26 (77%), 259 yds, 5 TD in 61-14 win at Illinois
Season totals: 201 rating (leads nation), 79-of-108 (73%), 1184 yds, 13 TD (T-2nd in nation), 2 INT
Next: vs. Michigan, noon ET

Stanton has moved himself into the Heisman race and put Michigan State in the thick of the Big Ten championship challenge. He's the best-kept secret in the country at quarterback.

D.J. Shockley (Sr., QB, Georgia)
Last week: 21-of-36 (58%), 312 yds, 2 TD in 23-10 win over Mississippi St.
Season totals: 166 rating, 58-of-97 (60%), 959 yds, 8 TD, 2 INT
Next: at Tennessee, Oct. 8

Shockley sat on the bench for four years, but he now is leading Georgia in the competition for the SEC championship game. He also leads the conference in passing efficiency.

Brady Quinn (Sr., QB, Notre Dame)
Last week: 25-of-37 (68%), 327 yds, 1 TD in 42-24 win at Oregon St.
Season totals: 145 rating, 95-of-154 (62%), 1181 yds, 10 TD, 2 INT
Next: at Purdue, 7:45 p.m. ET

Sam Keller (Jr., QB, Arizona St.)
Last week: 19-of-36 (53%), 365 yds, 4 TD in 42-24 win at Oregon St.
Season totals: 175.5 rating, 88-of-147 (60%), 1443 yds (leads nation), 16 TD (leads nation), 2 INT
Next: vs. USC, 3:30 p.m. ET

Look at those touchdown and yardage numbers. Imagine if Keller shines against USC.

Cody Hodges (Sr., QB, Texas Tech)
Last week: 25-of-32 (78%), 227 yds, 3 TD in 63-7 win over Indiana St.
Season totals: 199.5 rating, 80-of-106 (75.5%), 1117 yds (leads nation in ypg), 12 TD, 1 INT
Next: vs. Kansas, 7 p.m. ET

Hodges still needs to play against somebody, but he should be on the radar.

Slip sliding away

  • Adrian Peterson (Soph., RB, Oklahoma)

  • Ted Ginn Jr. (Soph., WR/PR, Ohio State)

  • Drew Tate (Jr., QB, Iowa)