The race for the Heisman Trophy Award is underway and the top candidates are a couple of familiar faces to the college football scene. Although a tough, grueling season awaits this group of players, and names will drop in and out of the race, this bunch of five are poised to have standout seasons and be in contention for the prestigious recognition come December.
Matt Leinert, quarterback, USC
The junior signal caller for the Trojans is coming off an impressive 2003 season in which he had to fill the shoes of former Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer. In the process, the southpaw from Santa Ana, Calif., had one of the most productive years in school history by leading his team to a conference title and ultimately a Rose Bowl victory over Michigan. A season ago, Leinert completed 255 of 402 passes (63.4 percent) for 3,556 yards, 38 touchdowns and only nine interceptions.
Despite losing one of his favorite targets in wideout Mike Williams, Leinert possesses the talent and the players around him again this season to duplicate the success of a year ago. In his first game of the 2004 campaign versus Virginia Tech, Leinert completed 19 of 290 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns.
Jason White, quarterback, Oklahoma
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner from the 2003 season, Sooners senior quarterback Jason White is back to prove his 2003 season was no fluke. While setting a school-record 40 touchdown passes, White led Oklahoma to a 12-0 start to last year, before losing to Kansas State in the Big 12 championship game and LSU in the national title game to close out the year. Despite the disappointing finish, White racked up the recognition, including The Associated Press, Sporting News and CNNSI.com College Player of the Year, a consensus All-American, the consensus Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, the Davey O'Brien Award winner, the Sports Illustrated and Sporting News Player of the Year and the Jim Thorpe Courage Award winner. And the list goes on.
The numbers tell the story as he completed 278 of 451 passes for 3,846 yards and 40 touchdowns, but the biggest question is whether he will be able to stay healthy and duplicate similar statistics. In the first game of this season, White completed 21 of 31 for 238 yards and three touchdowns.
Darren Sproles,
running back, Kansas State
Arguably the fastest tailback in the nation, Sproles enters his senior season at Kansas State off of back- to-back 1,000-yard seasons, including a nation-best 1,986 yards a season ago. A consensus preseason all-American and first team all-Big 12 selection, Sproles is the school's all-time leading rusher with 3,661 yards despite only 217 yards during his freshman season.
The Olathe, Kan., native also finished last season as the nation's top gainer in all purpose yards as he set a Wildcat record with 2,735 total yards. The highlight of Sproles 2003 season came in the Big 12 championship game as he tore up the nation's top defense in Oklahoma to the tune of 235 yards on only 22 carries. In his first game this season, Sproles carried on where he left off a year ago as he notched 221 yards on 42 carries in a win versus Western Kentucky.
Cedric Benson,
running back, Texas
Another running back to keep an eye on this season will be Longhorns' senior Cedric Benson, a type of player comparable to former Heisman Trophy winner and Texas star Ricky Williams. Benson is the only NCAA Division I-A running back that has rushed for 1,000 yards the past three seasons and in the process has tallied 45 rushing touchdowns. Benson looks to follow up a season in which he ran for over 1,300 yards and boasted a 5.3 average yards per carry.
A consensus first-team All-Big 12 selection a season ago, Benson is the heart and soul of the Texas team this season. In his collegiate career the Longhorns are 15-0 when the tailback goes over the 100 yard plateau. The plan this year is feed Benson the ball and let him carry Texas to the Big 12 title. In his first game of the season last week, Benson carried the ball 15 times for 181 yards and two scores.
David Greene, quarterback, Georgia
Greene is another senior carrying a load of expectations on his shoulders this year. It is a good thing he's a 6'3' lefty quarterback, with size of Daunte Caulpepper. After stellar freshman and sophomore seasons, Greene's play diminished little a season ago despite increasing his total yard output. Touchdowns went down, interceptions went up and Greene's inability to move out of the pocket was exposed with an incredible 42 sacks.
However, the skills are still there and with a strong Bulldogs team returning this season, more will be asked of Greene to carry Georgia to the SEC title. By the numbers, Greene completed 264 of 438 passes last season for 3,307 yards, 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Compared to 2002, Greene finished with 2,924 yards, 22 touchdowns and only eight interceptions.
In his first game this season, Greene was nine of 14 for 161 yards and one touchdown.
Other players to watch:
Reggie Bush, running back, USC
The sophomore running back's 2003 numbers are 521 yards rushing and three touchdowns. He also caught 15 balls for 314 yards and four touchdowns.
Brad Smith, quarterback, Missouri
The junior signal caller for the Tigers is a threat both passing and running the ball. In 2003 he passed for over 1,900 yards while at the same time running for over 1,400 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Kyle Orton, quarterback, Purdue
The senior quarterback is coming off a fantastic season where he passed for 2,885 yards and 15 touchdowns. In his first game this season, he tallied 287 yards passing, four touchdowns and zero interceptions in a win over Syracuse.
Carnell 'Cadillac' Williams, running back, Auburn
The senior back burst onto the scene last year running for over 1300 yards and 17 touchdowns. Williams, the Tigers feature back this year, looked impressive in Auburn's opening day win over Louisiana Monroe rushing for 103 yards on 23 carries and recording a touchdown on a 9-yard touchdown reception.
