2010
The 77th annual Heisman Trophy award winner was
announced on December 11, 2010, 5 PM PT at the Best Buy
Theater in New York City.
The finalists for the Heisman Trophy this year
included Auburn's Cam Newton, Boise State's Kellen Moore,
Oregon's LaMichael James, and Stanford's Andrew Luck. Cam
Newton of Auburn University won the Heisman Trophy for
2010 despite a lingering concern over an alleged
pay-for-play controversy involving Newton.
Auburn's QB Cam Newton
Cam Newton is probably the favorite heading into the
Saturday afternoon presentation but the question is, is
he eligible? Cam Newton is dealing with a pay-to-play
scandal, and at least for the moment the NCAA is
declaring him eligible for the Heisman trophy. Newton has
a combined 3,998 total yards and 48 touchdowns. Newton
holds the SEC's single season record for yards rushed by
a quarterback and is only the second quarterback to rush
for over 1,000 yards in SEC history. Many question
whether Newton is just a running back playing the
quarterback position, Newton has thrown just 6
interceptions to his 28 touchdown passes and has thrown
at least two touchdown passes in ten of his 13 games this
season. Cam Newton has orchestrated several comeback
victories in the 2010 season, including a comeback win
after falling behind 24-7 at halftime against Alabama in
Tuscaloosa during the Iron Bowl. After that game Newton
scored 6 total touchdowns against South Carolina to make
his Auburn Tigers the SEC Champions. In that same
performance Newton became just the second player in FBS
history after Tim Tebow to throw and run for 20-plus
touchdowns in the same season. Although his top
accomplishment of the 2010 season is Auburn's to a
perfect 13-0 record and earning a berth in the National
Championship game. Despite all the postitives surrounding
Cam Newton, the pay-for-play (potential) scandal is
hanging like a Sword of Damocles over his head and over
the entire Heisman selection process this year. If he is
chosen, could the Heisman be taken from him if the
investigation turns? Heisman voters may well have the
messy Reggie Bush problem in mind as they vote.
Oregon's RB LaMichael James
LaMichael James is the only Heisman finalist who is
not a quarterback. LaMichael James is expected to be the
runner-up in the 2010 Heisman, and will get more votes
from voters who don't like the Cam Newton situation.
James led the country with 1,682 yards and 21 touchdowns,
and averaged 152 yards per game. LaMichael James is the
go-to guy in one of the college football's top offenses.
Orgeon's offense lead the nation in scoring with nearly
50 points per game and was second in total yards. James
rushed for over 100 yards in 9 of the 11 games he played.
LaMichael James' numbers would likely be even better if
not for his suspension from the season's first game New
Mexico. Even without him, Oregon beat New Mexico 72-0.
Two things that will help LaMichael James in the Heisman
race: Oregon is undefeated and in the National
Championship game, and Cam Newton is mired in a
potentially damaging scandal.
Stanford's QB Andrew Luck
Andrew Luck had an amazing season, and is clearly one
of the top players in all of college football. Luck led
Stanford to a 11-1 record, as the Cardinal lost only to
the mighty Oregon Ducks and their high powered offense
(and Heisman candidate LaMichael James). Andrew Luck lead
the Pac-10 in pass efficiency and finished the season
with an incredible quarterback rating of 166.1. Luck
threw for 28 touchdowns, breaking a Stanford record of 27
held by Steve Stenstrom and NFL Hall of Famer John Elway.
Andrew Luck also rushed for 438 yards on the season,
including three runs of over 50 yards. Luck has thrown
for 3,051 yards and has completed 70 percent of his
passes. Luck is seen as a high NFL draft pick whether he
wins the Heisman or not.
Boise State's QB Kellen Moore
Kellen Moore's stats are off the charts and his
perfomrance forces Heisman voters to strongly consider
him for the award. kellen Moore threw for 3,506 yards,
owns a completion percentage of 71 percent, and threw 33
touchdown passes and only five interceptions. Moore is
second in the nation in passer efficiency, and threw at
least three touchdowns in eight of Boise States 12 games.
The only potenetial negative against Kellen Moore is
Boise State's loss to Nevada, a game that cost Boise
State a BCS bowl berth. Although Moore completed 20 of 31
passes for 348 yards and 2 touchdowns, the Broncos lost a
very important game, and that will likley influence
Heisman voters.
