MKRob Sports

1. Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama Crimson Tide

Richardson has emerged as my top Heisman candidate after Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III lost his first game of the season to the Kansas State Wildcats. Richardson led the No. 3 Crimson Tide over the No. 12 Florida Gators 38-10 rushing for 181 yards on 29 carries and two touchdowns. He also added two catches and 27 yards in the receiving game as well.

Richardson in my opinion is the best running back in college football and might be the most NFL ready back as well. Richardson looks like he’s been on an mma workout plan since he’s been at Alabama.

At 5’11″ 224lbs he has every attribute of an NFL running back from the chiseled frame to the breakaway speed that the they are looking for at the next level. Richardson should win the Heisman if the Crimson Tide go undefeated and he continues to have games like this throughout the season. Moving forward he will face No. 1 LSU and will really need to show up big to lock the Heisman up.

2. Russell Wilson, QB, Wisconsin Badgers

Wilson, a transfer from N.C. State, looks like he fits in very well with the Badgers offense so far this season. Badgers running back Montee Ball had a much better performance this week finishing with 151 yards on 30 carries and four touchdowns but Wilson held up his end at quarterback finishing with 255 yards passing yards and two touchdowns and also adding his own rushing touchdown on six carries and 32 yards.

The No. 7 Badgers destroyed former dark horse Heisman candidate Taylor Martinez and the No. 8 ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers 48-17 in Madison at Camp Randall Stadium. Wilson is top 10 in just about every passing category but the one that’s most impressive to me is him being second in the nation with a passer rating of 216.9.

Wilson got through his biggest test of the season and looks to have an easy schedule throughout the rest of the season. Watch out for Wilson as the Heisman race heats up.

3. Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma Sooners

Jones has filled in very well in place of now St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford so far in his career. Jones has been in the Heisman race every year since he’s been the starter and this year is no different. The Sooners decimated the Ball State Cardinals 62-6 on Saturday with Jones leading the way passing for 425 yards and five touchdowns.

Jones doesn’t have the statistics that most quarterbacks have but he has led Oklahoma to a 4-0 record and is ranked No. 2 in the nation. Jones statistics will pick throughout the season when he faces weaker opponents such as Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State but may have more chances to gain votes when he faces No. 17 Texas next week and other top 25 ranked teams Texas A&M, Baylor and the final game of the year, No. 5 Oklahoma State. Let’s see if Jones can make it through that tough schedule to a Heisman Trophy.

4. Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan

Robinson had a down week as far as statistics but is still a strong Heisman candidate. The No. 19 Wolverines annihilated the Minnesota Golden Gophers 58-0 on a total team effort by Michigan. Robinson finished the game with 220 yards total (169 passing and 51 rushing) with two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown.

Robinson was heavily in the Heisman race last season but lost all hope when the Wolverine defense faltered on a number of occasions along with some bad interceptions thrown at the end of the season. The 2011 season looks like a much better defensive team which gives Robinson a much better chance to win it.

The No. 19 Michigan Wolverines will have some easy opponents coming up until they face the top ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers on November 19th, a game in which Robinson will get a chance to steal some Heisman votes that week with a great performance. Watch out for Robinson as the season goes along.

5. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford Cardinal

Luck finished as the Heisman runner-up to Cam Newton last season and looks to win it this year and is making his case so far with a versatile performance against UCLA on Saturday night.

Luck went 23-27 passing for 227 yards and three touchdowns, rushed for 11 yards and made one-handed catch along the sidelines early in the game.

So far this season, Luck has led the Cardinal to a 4-0 record and a No. 6 ranking in the nation, putting him in prime position to make another run at a Heisman Trophy. Luck’s biggest test will come against 2010 National Championship runner-up Oregon Ducks on November 12th and Luck will need a monster game to take home the Heisman in 2011.