Cam new #1 for on ESPN Heisman watch list.

[Ranger12]

I scanned to make sure this had not been posted and did not see it, so my apologies if I overlooked it:
http://espn.go.com/college-football/heisman/

Robinson's stumble leaves race wide open
By Dari Nowkhah
ESPN TV

Editor's note: Each Sunday this season, Dari Nowkhah will offer his take on the Heisman Trophy race. Please note that the "Tracking The Candidates" section reflects voting based upon Week 5 results. An updated poll based upon Week 6 results will appear on Tuesday.

He didn't need to be great every week. He just didn't need this. And now, ladies and gentlemen, we have a Heisman race.

Sitting Saturday morning in a position well beyond his challengers in the Heisman Trophy conversation, Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson suddenly finds himself out of the lead. His first five performances this fall gave him a cushion. Performance No. 6 took it away.

For the first time this season, the Wolverines sophomore wasn't Superman. But that's fine. He doesn't need to rack up 500 yards of offense a game. He doesn't need to send jaws to the floor on every carry. He's done that. He needs consistent play. The ridiculous quickness that leads to ridiculous highlights are nice, but not every play has to be a Heisman moment. But every game should be one in which a Heisman hopeful helps his team. Even if it doesn't win.

Robinson didn't help his team on Saturday in Michigan's 34-17 loss to Michigan State. He hurt it. He threw three interceptions, one in the end zone and one near the goal line, killing drives and costing the Wolverines points. On the ground, where he's been most prolific, Robinson carried the ball 21 times for 86 yards (4.1 yards a carry) -- 95 yards under his average. Again, he doesn't have to be great every week. But Saturday, Robinson not only wasn't great, he wasn't good either.

Cam Newton wasn't only good. He was great. So great, he's my new No. 1. He's the man looking ahead at nobody, back at everybody. He's run past the field, just like he ran past Kentucky … literally. Newton had a career-high 198 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. He also threw for 210 yards in Auburn's three-point win. You might say, "Well, he did that against Kentucky!" But consider this: Two weeks ago, Newton ran for 176 yards (and three touchdowns) against South Carolina. Yes, that South Carolina. The team that just beat No. 1 Alabama and held defending Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and backfield mate Trent Richardson to 64 rushing yards combined! For the season, Newton has racked up 21 touchdowns (12 passing, 9 rushing). He is the reason Auburn has gone from a borderline Top 25 team in the preseason to a legitimate top-10 team now.

But who's No. 2? Robinson? No. He's slipped two spots in my book. No. 2 right now is Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor. He threw for a career-high 334 yards in Saturday's win over Indiana. He's more than a big quarterback who can kill you on the move (he has three 100-yard rushing games this season). He's becoming … gasp … a drop-back threat. His three passing touchdowns against the Hoosiers give him 15 on the season, against just three interceptions. He's a complete quarterback. He's consistently the best player on the field. And unlike Robinson, Pryor can still say he has lifted his team every week this season. I'm lifting Pryor to second on my list. Robinson sits in third.

Have you noticed anything here? This is becoming the year of the run/pass quarterback. With all due respect to Andrew Luck, Ryan Mallett and Kellen Moore, this race will likely be won by someone who can run. I've given you three fantastic athletes who are difficult to defend. But I'm not finished. I've got one more.

You cannot discuss the Heisman Trophy race at this point in the season without discussing the most explosive, game-changing freshman since Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson. Quarterback Taylor Martinez has legitimized this Nebraska team. Without him, the Huskers are the favorites to win the Big 12 North but lack the punch to knock out a team like Oklahoma in the conference title game. With Martinez, Big Red is back.

Impossible to defend, impossible to catch when he's past you, Martinez makes Nebraska much more than the Big 12 North favorite. He makes the Huskers the Big 12 favorite. Sooners fans should shake in their Schooner-lovin' boots at the thought of meeting Nebraska at Cowboys Stadium in December.

More than that, Martinez makes Nebraska a legitimate threat to win the national championship. Yes, he is that good. Thursday night at Kansas State, Martinez set the Nebraska record for rushing yards by a quarterback in a game (241). Eric Crouch (2001 Heisman Trophy winner) never did that. Neither did Tommie Frazier. Neither did Turner Gill, Scott Frost or any other great Huskers QB. Martinez ran for four touchdowns and threw for another. He's run for 12 touchdowns on the season. He's run right into the middle of the Heisman conversation -- a conversation that's suddenly more interesting because for at least one Saturday, "Shoelace" was tied up.

[AUChizad]

Fixed your link for you. I think you had a copy/paste error.
 

[Ranger12]

Something must have happened with the ESPN link, because I clicked to check it after I posted. That link you fixed it with was not the link to the article I posted, though it was under their Heisman Watch page. Oh well. Good thing I quoted the article in the post.