No real favorite for annual top football honor

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With five weeks remaining in the college football season, there still is no clear-cut favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.

Sure, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and Alabama running back Mark Ingram lead the nation’s two top teams. But while each player’s numbers are near the top of their respective positions, neither Tebow nor Ingram necessarily are blowing away the competition.

Still, with such slim pickings, Ingram and Tebow top the latest edition of The State News’ Heisman Watch.

Mark Ingram, Alabama RB

Last week — 22 carries, 144 yards; five receptions, 30 yards.

Season — 175 carries, 1,148 yards, eight touchdowns; 24 receptions, 216 yards, three touchdowns.

Ingram’s 1,148 rushing yards are the fifth most in the nation, while his eight touchdowns rank significantly lower (tied for 37th). Still, the 5-foot-10, 212-pound sophomore has shouldered the load for the Crimson Tide in the nation’s most physical conference. That counts for something in the race for the bronze statue.

Tim Tebow, Florida QB

Last week — 15-of-20, 208 passing yards, one passing touchdown; 27 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown.

Season — 114-of-173, 2,041 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, five interceptions; 578 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns.

Tebow is the face of the No. 1 team in the country, so he’s obviously going to be one of the final three invited to New York City. His passing numbers are significantly down from his previous two seasons, but there’s no doubt he’s one of the greatest collegiate football players of all time.

Kellen Moore, Boise State QB

Last week — 28-of-41, 354 passing yards, three touchdowns, one interception.

Season — 181-of-268, 2,259 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, three interceptions; one rushing touchdown.

Moore leads the nation in passer rating (169.3), ranks second in passing touchdowns (27) and quarterbacks the No. 6 team in the country. Of course, Moore’s playing some not-so-stiff-competition in the Western Athletic Conference, so many voters take those numbers with a grain of salt. But leading an undefeated team as a sophomore is pretty impressive stuff.

Toby Gerhart, Stanford RB

Last week — 38 carries, 223 yards, three touchdowns.

Season — 233 carries, 1,217 yards, 16 touchdowns; seven receptions, 76 yards.

Gerhart won’t get much consideration because the Cardinal is a less-than-average football team (6-3 overall), but Stanford just knocked off then-No. 8 Oregon behind Gerhart’s 223 yards and three touchdowns, and also beat then-No. 24 Washington.

The 6-foot-1, 235-pound senior ranks second in the country in both rushing yards (1,217) and touchdowns (16), and this week gets another chance to lead the Cardinal to an upset against No. 9 Southern Cal.

Case Keenum, Houston QB

Last week — 40-of-60, 522 yards, three touchdowns.

Season — 325-of-458, 3,815 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, five interceptions; three rushing touchdowns.

For those stat-lovers out there, Keenum is your guy. The junior’s 3,815 passing yards lead the nation — the next closest is 2,991 — and his 28 touchdowns also are tops in the country. Sure, he doesn’t play in the toughest conference, but he has led the Cougars to a No. 13 ranking in the country.

Cash Kruth is the State News sports administration and women’s soccer reporter. He can be reached at kruthcas@msu.edu.

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