Scout Results:
1 - Mark Ingram - 53
2 - Ndamukong Suh - 50
3 - Toby Gerhart - 49
4 - Colt McCoy - 39
5 - Tim Tebow - 19
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The Ballots:
Kennedy
1 - Mark Ingram
2 - Toby Gerhart
3 - Ndamukong Suh
4 - Colt McCoy
5 - Tim Tebow
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Wallace
1 - Ndamukong Suh
2 - Toby Gerhart
3 - Mark Ingram
4 - Colt McCoy
5 - Tim Tebow
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Huffman
1 - Toby Gerhart
2 - Ndamukong Suh
3 - Colt McCoy
4 - Mark Ingram
5 - Tim Tebow
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Trieu
1 - Mark Ingram
2 - Toby Gerhart
3 - Colt McCoy
4 - Tim Tebow
5 - Ndamukong Suh
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Fetters
1 - Toby Gerhart
2 - Mark Ingram
3 - Ndamukong Suh
4 - Colt McCoy
5 - Tim Tebow
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Bakas
1 - Mark Ingram
2 - Colt McCoy
3 - Toby Gerhart
4 - Ndamukong Suh
5 - Tim Tebow
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Simmons
1 - Colt McCoy
2 - Mark Ingram
3 - Ndamukong Suh
4 - Tim Tebow
5 - Toby Gerhart
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Greene
1 - Ndamukong Suh
2 - Mark Ingram
3 - Toby Gerhart
4 - Colt McCoy
5 - Tim Tebow
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Lichtenfels
1 - Colt McCoy
2 - Mark Ingram
3 - Ndamukong Suh
4 - Toby Gerhart
5 - Tim Tebow
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Zepeda
1 - Mark Ingram
2 - Ndamukong Suh
3 - Toby Gerhart
4 - Colt McCoy
5 - Tim Tebow
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Wallpher
1 - Ndamukong Suh
2 - Toby Gerhart
3 - Colt McCoy
4 - Mark Ingram
5 - Tim Tebow
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Jewell
1 - Toby Gerhart
2 - Tim Tebow
3 - Ndamukong Suh
4 - Mark Ingram
5 - Colt McCoy
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Alkire
1 - Ndamukong Suh
2 - Toby Gerhart
3 - Mark Ingram
4 - Colt McCoy
5 - Tim Tebow
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Bone
1 - Mark Ingram
2 - Ndamukong Suh
3 - Colt McCoy
4 - Toby Gerhart
5 - Tim Tebow
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Scott Kennedy, Director of Scouting: "It’s a tough choice for me between Toby Gerhart and Mark Ingram. If the award is truly for the Most Outstanding Player, it’s hard to ignore the Techmo Bowl numbers that Gerhart put up this year with 1700 yards and 26 touchdowns. Both of those numbers surpass the totals that Mark Ingram put up, but is it all about the total numbers?
On first inclination, I was ready to put Gerhart first on my ballot, but as I dug through the games to build his case, the argument for Ingram grew stronger. More than half of Gerhart’s touchdown (17 of 26) came within five yards or less. 10 of his touchdown runs came from two yards or less. His rushing touchdown numbers were very similar to Tim Tebow’s in 2007, but Tebow also had the passing stats to aid his candidacy.
By contrast, only eight of 18 (3 receiving) of Ingram’s touchdowns came from 10 yards or less. Ingram’s 17 yards per touchdown were much higher than Gerhart’s 10; showing me that Ingram was the bigger playmaker of the two. Had Alabama felt compelled to push for its first Heisman Trophy winner, Ingram would have had his stats padded against several of the weaker opponents on the Tide schedule. Against cupcakes FIU, UTC, and UNT Ingram had a combined 29 carries.
Ingram also proved to be more valuable as a receiver with 30 catches to Gerhart’s 10 (three to zero on touchdowns).
While Gerhart may have had some better raw numbers, I believe Ingram is the more rounded, more explosive and more outstanding player of the two."
Deserves to be in New York: Of course, if I were to vote for Most Outstanding Player in the country, my vote would still probably go to Eric Berry, the do it all defender for Tennessee.
Allen Wallace, National Editor: Ndamukong Suh dominated the college game more than any other Heisman finalist this year. He was an unbeatable force this year on the defensive line and the best at his position I have seen in quite some time. Demonstrates fantastic natural athletic ability and size, coupled a motor that just won't stop. Provides startling inside rush capability and can really cause havoc in the backfield. At the line of scrimmage, he's the proverbial immoveable object.
Deserves to be in New York: C.J. Spiller, Clemson. I would include record-breaking C.J. Spiller over Tim Tebow. Spiller is simply too dangerous of a weapon to be left out of the New York ceremony. Who knows where Clemson would be without him? He's capable of changing a game on any play and his multiple skills deserve recognition at the highest of levels.
Brandon Huffman, West Manager: Teams knew what was coming. They'd stack the box. They'd design their game plan to stop him. And they still couldn't. Almost single-handedly made Stanford relevant in college football again. In a league known for passing, Gerhart's running was the true star this season, not just in the Pac-10, but in the country.
Deserves to be in New York: Eric Berry, Tennessee. If it weren't for Suh, no defensive player would have been more deserving than him.
Allen Trieu, Midwest Manager: Ingram has come up big for this team all season. I didn't see a clear cut standout from the group and in that case, I think Ingram's performance in the SEC Championship game put him over the top for me.
Deserves to be in New York: Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati. One of the best players I saw all year on an undefeated team was Mardy Gilyard (Cincinnati). Not only as a receiver, but as a kick returner, he impacted games over and over again. Then, when his team needed it most, in a do or die situation against Pittsburgh, he came up big again.
Chad Simmons, Southeast Manager: It was a very close race for me between McCoy and Ingram. Both meant a lot to their respective teams, but when it came down to it for me, McCoy meant a little more. Texas struggled times, especially on defense, so McCoy had to put big points up to keep them on the way to the Rose Bowl. Also Texas did not have a strong running game, so without McCoy, the Longhorns definitely do not make it to the big dance this season. Ingram stepped up in big games for the most part and he is one of, if not the top back in all of college football right now. He made a strong case for the trophy in 2009, but he was more replaceable than McCoy, so my vote goes to the Texas quarterback.
Deserves to be in New York: C.J. Spiller, Clemson. No, he should not win the Heisman, but he should be there. There is no way Clemson gets to the ACC Championship game without him in the backfield. He was a dominant player, a threat to score when he ran the ball, when he received a pass, or when he returned a kick-off. Spiller was arguably the most exciting player in the game this year so I feel he should be there as one of the five finalists.
Bob Lichtenfels, Northeast Manager: McCoy is the quarterback and all the media folks seem to be enamored with QB's winning the award. Personally, I would vote for Suh, but we all know a defensive lineman isn't going home with the Heisman.
Deserves to be in New York: Case Keenum, Houston. This kid threw for 5,449 yards and 43 touchdowns. How can you put up numbers like that and not be considered? To top it off he completed over 71-percent of his passes.
Chris Fetters, Northwest: Gerhart should be the pick because he came out of nowhere and literally delivered every week with unbelievable effort and productivity. Jim Harbaugh's next contract should stipulate a percentage go to Gerhart, because Toby was key in turning Harbaugh into a legitimate FBS coaching talent. He was the most productive player in a major BCS conference, and has the numbers to back it up. Sorry Mr. Ingram, it's just the facts. You'll probably get a championship ring (you deserve one), but you weren't the best player in the country. Gerhart was.
Deserves to be in New York: Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati. His game against Pittsburgh was one for the ages, and it really just showcased what he's been doing all year long. Over 200 all-purpose yards a game? C.J. Spiller, James Rodgers and Golden Tate think that's crazy. And he's not just a fly-by-night story; Gilyard put up nearly the same numbers in 2008. He's been lighting up scoreboards for two years, and the Bearcats have a 23-3 record during that time - not to mention a current No. 3 ranking in the BCS standings.
Mike Bakas, Florida: Mark Ingram is the MVP for the best team and had as good a season as anyone on this list. His performance last Saturday was clearly the best of the offensive group.
Deserves to be in New York: C.J. Spiller, Clemson.
Bill Greene, Ohio: Suh was the best individual football player in college football in 2009. Isn't that what the award is for?
Deserves to be in New York: Kellen Moore, Boise State. Moore threw for 3,325 yards with 39 touchdown passes, and had a QB efficiency rating of 167.35, against THREE interceptions. Easier to make a case for Moore winning the award than McCoy or Tebow.
Alan Zepeda, Texas: Mark Ingram has performed big in big games, and last week he had a big day against the number one team in America on national tv, which is what you expect out of the Heisman Trophy winner.
Deserves to be in New York: Case Keenum, Houston. Yes he played against weak competition but the number he put up were eye popping and that team is nowhere as good without him.
John Wallpher, Maryland: Suh is the best defensive player in the country. To me you have to at least be the best at your position or side of the ball to even be considered "the best player in college football" which is what the award is supposed to be about. Non of the other candidates meet that requirement except for Suh.
Deserves to be in New York: C.J. Spiller, Clemson. He is the best offensive weapon in the game.
Matt Alkire, Northeast: The Heisman is supposed to go to the most outstanding player in college football and this season that player was Ndamukong Suh. He is one of the most dominating interior linemen I’ve seen play in a long time and while he won’t win the award because he’s a lineman, he’d definitely have my vote. In fact, he’s not even a lineman, he’s a 305-pound athlete. He’ll get his Heisman in the form of a 40+ million dollar contract in April.
Deserves to be in New York: Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame. Love or hate him, the quarterback played with turf toe on both of his plant toes for most of the season, had a steel plate under his foot and still managed 3722 yards passing with 28 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He made some absolutely amazing throws this season and if the Irish didn’t have a monumental slide at the end, he’d have been a finalist.
Andrew Bone, Southeast: A valuable piece to the Alabama team is playing for the National Championship. He ripped apart SEC defenses this year, and no back in the country faced his caliber of competition in the SEC. His performance against Florida’s top ranked defense should only vault him to the top overall spot.
Should be in New York: C.J. Spiller, Clemson. Spiller can score from any spot on the field. He is a game changer in special teams and in the running game. He is unstoppable once he gets in the open field.
 Toby Gerhart | Stanford | Running Back
Why he will win: Jumped firmly into the running rushing for a combined 401 yards against USC and Oregon in back-to-back weeks and was the most important player to turning around a program of anyone in the country.
Why he will not win: Winning the Heisman on a four-loss team simply does not happen in this day and age of what have you done for me lately.
Stats: Ranks first nationally in rushing touchdowns with 26, first in rushing attempts (311), and second in yards per game (145).
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 Mark Ingram | Alabama | Running Back
Why he will win: The best player on the best team in the country and delivered with a big performance against then-number one Florida last week.
Why he will not win: Has only rushed for more than 150 yards twice this year and is not ranked in the nation's top ten for rushing yards per game or in rushing touchdowns.
Stats: Has rushed for 1,542 yards and scored 15 touchdowns for Alabama.
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 Colt McCoy | Texas | Quarterback
Why he will win: Second year in the Heisman race and is the winningest quarterback in NCAA history. Led his team not only in passing yardage but rushing yardage as well.
Why he will not win: Has not played as well as he did last year statistically, and his play against Nebraska almost lost the Longhorns a chance at the national championship.
Stats: Threw for 3512 yards and 27 touchdowns with a 71 completion percentage. Holds national record for highest career completion percentage at 71.
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 Ndamukong Suh | Nebraska | Defensive Tackle
Why he will win: Racked up 12 tackles with seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in the Big XII title game last weekend in what is just a small sampling of his entire season.
Why he will not win: A defensive player has finished higher than fourth just twice since 1975.
Stats: His 82 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks are tops on the Nebraska defense. Also added 1 interception, 10 passes broken up, 24 quarterback hurries, 1 forced fumble, and 3 blocked kicks.
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 Tim Tebow | Florida | Quarterback
Why he will win: Unquestioned leader on the Florida offense, he has thrown for 8,803 yards and 85 touchdowns and rushed for another 2,900 yards in his career broke Herschel Walker's SEC record for rushing touchdowns in a career with 62.
Why he will not win: His stats have fallen off dramatically since winning the Heisman as a sophomore. Loss against Alabama in the SEC Championship game hurt as well.
Stats: Tebow has passed for 2,413 yards and rushed for 859 yards this year with 31 total touchdowns.
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