An Incredibly Early Heisman Analysis

Although it's still quite early in the season, it's physically impossible to prematurely make football predictions, especially when they're about college football. Double especially if they're in reference to an end-of-season award.

The Heisman trophy is arguably the most highly prized single player award in all of football. Its storied history not only tells the tale of the best players in the history of the game, but also of college football itself. The list of the trophies winners and runners up paves a path that begins more than 70 years ago.

It's not very hard to see why the race for the Heisman is so highly hyped and closely monitored. So let's take an early look at the landscape of the current crop of candidates who will all play a part in the next chapter of the game we all know as football.

In no particular order:

Tim Tebow, QB, Florida Gators

2008 stats: 30 completions on 49 attempts for 393 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT

Tim Tebow was a favorite before the season even started, although with good reason — he won the Heisman trophy in 2007! However, no one has won back-to-back Heisman trophies since Buckeyes RB Archie Griffin did it back in 1974-75. It's certainly not out of his reach, but Tebow is going to have to catch fire soon — it's going to take an awfully impressive performance for the Heisman trophy voters to pick him two years in a row.

Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State Buckeyes

2008 stats: 13 attempts for 111 yards and 1 TD

Many were disappointed when Chris "Beanie" Wells was unable to play against USC this past weekend (myself included). It was the perfect stage for him bust out a big game on. Despite still being plagued by his toe injury, Wells has proven that he has the talent and work ethic to put up Heisman-caliber numbers once he gets healthy. He'll need to bounce back and bounce back quickly, but it wouldn't surprise many people should he do so.

Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia Bulldogs

2008 stats: 46 attempts for 306 yards and 7 TDs

Although Knowshon Moreno's stock rose more and more with every new RB that declared for the NFL draft after the 2007 season, it wouldn't really have mattered if all of them stayed in school. This is the same player whose freshman season was so impressive (1,334 rushing yards, 14 TDs) that he was compared to Bulldogs legend Hershel Walker after all. Also, he has arguably the coolest first name in all of college football.

Chase Daniel, QB, Missouri Tigers

2008 stats: 65 completions on 90 attempts for 973 yards, 10 TDs, 1 INT

Not only is Chase Daniel making a charge to past Tim Tebow in the Heisman race, but he's also looking to get his team to pass Tebow's in the rankings, as well. With a tough conference game in Tennessee next up on Florida's schedule, we may very well see Daniel pass Tebow in both of those categories when all said and done on Saturday night.

Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech Red Raiders

2008 stats: 24 receptions for 395 yards and 5 TDs

Michael Crabtree may lose credibility when the team he plays for is taken into account, but he more than makes up for it with tops in the nation performances. He is on pace for close to 1,900 yards and 20 TDs, which if accomplished, would be his second straight year with at least that amount. Putting the Heisman trophy aside for a moment, just make sure you keep an eye or two on this kid's career in general.

Evan Royster, RB, Penn State Nittany Lions

2008 stats: 38 attempts for 306 yards and 6 TDs

Just as the Nittany Lions are rising their way up the college football rankings, their sophomore RB Evan Royster is doing the same on many people's Heisman watch lists thanks to his nose for the end zone. He's definitely a wild card in the race, but if he can string some big games together and help the Nittany Lions keep winning, there's no reason to believe that he wouldn't be in the general conversation for college football's top prize.

Jeremy Maclin, RB, Missouri Tigers

2008 stats: 12 receptions for 223 yards and 4 TDs

You couldn't hear Jeremy Maclin's name this past offseason without hearing it paired with Chase Daniels'. The team was one of the top duos in all of college football last year and while Maclin has gotten off to a slow start when compared to what's been expected of him, he's on pace for around 1,000 yards and 16 TDs. And that's being completely conservative and assuming he doesn't catch fire for the rest of the season. While Daniels is doing absolutely everything right so far this season and would likely be the one to win the trophy on the Tigers if any did, Maclin is a WR remember, and is a monster performance on national television away from being moved to the top of everyone's list.

Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma Sooners

2008 stats: 64 completions on 81 attempts for 882 yards, 12 TDs, 2 INT

While Tebow and Daniels have hogged most of the spotlight in terms of Heisman caliber QBs this season, Sam Bradford has been quietly having himself one diamond of a season. Never mind that he's piloted his team to the number two ranking in the country. At the moment, he's on pace to dwarf Tebow's passing numbers from last year and do it on one of the top teams in the nation, no less. He's definitely a dark horse candidate for the prize.

It is a bit early to make some actual predictions, but if you had a water gun to my head, I'd say that the voting will finish with Daniels winning, Bradford in second, and Moreno in third. Feel free to leave your own predictions and/or make fun of mine in your replies!