Heisman Power Rankings Week Five: Denard Robinson Still Ascendant
By Ty Duffy
Kellen Moore: If Michigan falters or Robinson gets hurt, sentiment should swing toward Moore. Chris Petersen will kneecap his yardage by removing him from blowouts, in every game from now to the end of the season. The only thing he’ll lead the country in is looking like the Mad Magazine guy. His hallmark will be efficiency. His number to watch will be TD-INT ratio, currently 11-1. The Heisman may be Boise’s consolation prize when it’s clear they can’t play for the national title.
LaMichael James: Get it done when it counts. He saw Mark Ingram’s commanding performance against Arkansas and raised him seven carries, 100 yards and a touchdown against Stanford. He missed the blowout of New Mexico and was slowed down by Arizona State, but he’s averaging 8.0 yards per carry nonetheless. Continuing his pace for a BCS-bound Oregon team should get him to New York.
Mark Ingram: Ingram was effective but unspectacular against Florida, in a game that, yardage wise, was a slugfest: 12 carries for 47 yards and two touchdowns. He may be the best running back in the country, but Trent Richardson will siphon his carries. Not even the mighty Tebow could overcome voters’ reticence to award a second trophy.
Cameron Newton: From laptop thief to Heisman hopeful, things work out when you’re really good at football. Newton flipped a switch in the second-half against Clemson. Since then, he’s been one of the most dominant players in the country. He has made a team no one rated a factor in the SEC. Pryor underwhelmed in his two toughest games. Newton was authoritative.
[Photo via Getty]