The SECs Top Ten Heisman Hopefuls

These are the top guys in the conference, and each one of them could find themselves getting enough press to wind up in New York in January.  This is my list, although most of these guys are on somebody’s watch list.  Here’s my list:

1. Tyler Wilson, Arkansas-It’s hard to bet against quarterbacks in the Heisman race when you consider that only one winner since 2000 has played any other position.  (I know that Reggie Bush technically won the award in 2005, but he doesn’t have it now, does he?)  Wilson has a strong receiving corps and an offensive system that lends itself to big numbers.  The return of Knile Davis should help keep defenses honest.
2. Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina-In his two seasons as a Gamecock, Lattimore has accounted for 2,609 total yards, 2,015 of which came on the ground.  He has done all that in only 20 games due to an ACL injury ending his year early in 2011, but his average of 130.45 total yards per game tells the story on this big back.  Running backs are usually the second most likely to win a Heisman, and Lattimore is arguably the nation’s best.
3. Tyrann Mathieu, LSU-The “Honey Badger” finished fifth in the Heisman voting last year.  Mathieu is an elite punt returner and does a little bit of everything on defense.  He plays corner, but he plays it like an in-the-box safety.  At 5’9” and 175 pounds, he is probably the pound-for-pound hardest hitter in the conference.  This season, he may get a chance to increase his special teams numbers as a replacement for Morris Claiborne is needed on kick returns.
4. Tyler Bray, Tennessee-Bray had the second best offense per game average in 2011, but it should have been even better than the 273.3 yards per game he wound up with.  Through the first five games, Bray averaged 303.8 yards per game.  Bray has the talent and the receivers to put up huge numbers, but the team needs to win to give him a real chance.
5. Eddie Lacy, Alabama-Could this be the next great Alabama back?  Maybe.  Lacy has accumulated 151 carries, 1080 yards, and 13 touchdowns over the last two years.  That’s a 7.15 yard per carry average!  Nick Saban typically likes leaning on a single back to carry the majority of the load, and Lacy may be that guy for 2012.
6. Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas-Hamilton has put up big numbers in his limited opportunities over the last three seasons.  He has accumulated 85 receptions, 1,519 yards, 13 touchdowns, and a 17.9 yard per reception average.  Hamilton could meet those numbers in this season alone!  He should be option number one for Wilson, and number two might not even be close given Marquel Wade’s uncertain status with the team.
7. Justin Hunter, Tennessee-Hunter might be the SECs most explosive receiving threat…maybe.  The sample size is still a little too small to say this definitively, but his 33 receptions, 729 yards, 9 touchdowns and 22.1 career yard per reception average tease at the kind of impact he could have over a full season.  The problem is Da’Rick Rogers, Cordarrelle Patterson, Mychal Rivera, decent receivers out of the backfield, and a gifted group of freshmen receivers who could steal receptions away from him.
8. James Franklin, Missouri-Were he on an established SEC team, Franklin would likely be in the top 3.  Missouri can’t win enough games to propel him to that level in 2012.  Franklin will likely finish with between 3,500-4,000 yards of total offense and 35-40 total touchdowns, but six or seven wins isn’t enough to launch a legitimate Heisman campaign.  He could have a real shot in 2013 if he returns for his senior year.
9. Knile Davis, Arkansas-Davis has three major roadblocks to his Heisman campaign: Tyler Wilson, Cobi Hamilton, and an offensive line that will struggle to get enough push against the best defenses in the SEC.  He will still break 1,000 yards, and he could even match his numbers from 2010, but it still won’t be enough to steal the votes he needs from his teammates.
10. Aaron Murray, Georgia-Murray keeps having challenges thrown his way.  This year, he loses 1,495 yards and 14 touchdowns of receiving production.  Most of those players are no longer with the team, either due to graduation or dismissal, but a big chunk of productivity could be reintroduced if Malcolm Mitchell is moved back to receiver from defensive back.  Another potential drain on his numbers is the rushing attack.  This isn’t a better unit without Isaiah Crowell, but they might be healthier mentally.  Newcomers Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley are gifted rushers, and there is still plenty of returning talent in the backfield.  The offensive line has also lost three starters and looks considerably weaker than a year ago.  These elements could combine to kill his Heisman campaign before it begins.

There are other players who could launch a campaign, and this list certainly isn’t the final word on the Heisman race within the SEC.  These are, however, the top names in the race from my perspective.