VanFulpen’s College Football Power Rankings

1 Alabama
Alabama is the defending National Champions and return the defending Heisman Trophy winner in running back Mark Ingram, their starting quarterback Greg McElroy, and their star wide receiver Julio Jones. The only problem is that they lost a lot on defense and only return two starters from last year’s team.

2 Ohio State
Ohio State brings back a number of players on defense that many thought would have left early for last years NFL Draft. On offense quarterback Terrelle Pryor is going into his third straight season as Ohio State’s starting quarterback, so look for him to improve his overall game this season. A big test will come in week two against Miami (FL), but the game is at home.

3 Oklahoma
Because of all the injuries last year a lot of players got a chance to play and get experience including quarterback Landry Jones who played most of the season last year because of quarterback Sam Bradford injured shoulder.

4 Florida
They lost quarterback Tim Tebow but replace him with John Brantley who is a better pure passer then what Tebow was in college. Florida has a lot of young talent on offense and defense and they will need to grow up in a hurry because they head to Alabama early in the season.

5 Texas
Sophomore quarterback Garrett Gilbert was baptized by fire in the National Championship game last year against Alabama but that should help him going into this season.

6 Boise State
Boise State returns 21 of 22 starters from last years team that went undefeated and beat TCU in the Fiesta Bowl but they have a huge test against Virginia Tech in week one of the season.

7 TCU
Andy Dalton is a very good quarterback and TCU should be favored in every game this season, and have NFL talent on both sides of the ball.

8 Nebraska
This will be Nebraska last season in the Big 12, before they make the move to the Big Ten and they will have a great shot at winning the Big 12 this season. They play Texas at home and if they are able to win that game they could go undefeated.

9 Iowa
Iowa is a senior lead team this season and will have a very good defense and the only team that could possible challenge Ohio State to win the Big Ten, and they play Ohio State at home this season.

10 Miami (FL)
Miami has a lot of talent and quarterback Jacory Harris could be a dark horse Heisman Trophy candidate. A huge test will come when they travel to Ohio State in week 2 of the season.

11 Virginia Tech
Running back Ryan Williams is one of the best running backs in the county and should have a huge season this year. Week one they play Boise State at FedEx Field in Washington D.C. if they are able to win that game they could get on a role.

12 Wisconsin
Wisconsin always has a physical football team that is able to run the football and play good defense and this season it is no different with running back John Clay and offense tackle Gabe Carimi leading the way.

13 Oregon
Oregon went to the Rose Bowl last season and should end up there against this season, but they did lose their quarterback Jeremiah Masoli who was kicked off the team and end up going to Mississippi to finish up his college career. LaMichael James was one of the most talented freshman running back in the county last season.

14 Penn State
Many people where surprised that running back Evan Royster returned for his senior season but Penn State is going to need his this season as they travel to Alabama in week 2 of the season and also have to go to Ohio State this year as well.

15 Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is the class of the Big East and has two of the most talented underclassmen on offense in running back Dion Lewis and wide receiver Jon Baldwin. Pittsburgh just needs to get the ball in both their hands as much as possible this season.

16 LSU
Quarterback Jordan Jefferson improved as the season went on last year and should be even better as a junior. They have a huge game week one against North Carolina in Atlanta.

17 North Carolina
There has been a lot of off the field issues this off-season with agents, but it looks like all players in question will be able to play this season. North Carolina has a number of NFL prospects on their team and play LSU in Atlanta the first week of the season.

18 Florida State
Bobby Bowden is gone but quarterback Christian Ponder is back for his senior season and that is good new for Florida State fans. They go to Oklahoma the second week of the season and still have to play Miami and Florida.

19 Arkansas
Quarterback Ryan Mallett should have another big season and then most likely will leave for the NFL Draft where he could possible be the number one overall pick next season.

20 Auburn
Quarterback Cameron Newton should be a big time player for Auburn and a star in the SEC, and is one of the biggest reason that Auburn should have an outstanding season this year.

21 Georgia
AJ Green might be the best wide receiver in college football right now. Georgia could possible be undefeated going into their game against Florida late in the season.

22 Oregon State
Running back Jacquizz Rodgers and wide receiver James Rodgers are big time player makers for Oregon State and they should be in the Pac-10 hunt right down to the end of the season. They open the season against TCU and also play Boise State this season.

23 Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech lost 4 juniors to the NFL last season and they will hurt them, but they still have quarterback Joshua Nesbitt and he is an outstanding running quarterback.

24 USC
USC can’t go to a bowl game for the next two season because of the Reggie Bush issues, but they still will have a very talented team this season.

25 Houston
Quarterback Case Keenum should put up ridicules passing number this season and his arm will keep Houston in every game this year.

Top Ten Heisman Trophy Contenders for 2010

The Heisman Trophy is most prestigious individual award to win in college football and possible in all of sports. It has the ability to change one young man’s life forever. Here are my top ten contenders for the award this season.

1. RB Mark Ingram, Alabama
Ingram is the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy again, and he will be playing for the number one ranked team when the season opens. But there only has been one back to back winner and that was Ohio State’s Archie Griffin back in 1974 & 1975. Also Trent Richardson will take some carries away from him as well.

2009 Stats: 1,658 rushing yard 17 rushing touchdowns, 32 receptions for 334 yards and 3 touchdowns.

2. QB Ryan Mallett, Arkansas
Arkansas will be a better overall football team this season, he plays in the SEC; he has a big arm and some good weapons around him, all points to him having a Heisman run in him. The only issue will be Arkansas needs to be one of the better teams in college football for him to get the hype he needs to win the award.

2009 Stats: 3,627 passing yards 30 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions.

3. QB Jake Locker, Washington
Locker is one of the best overall athletes in college football, the issue is that his team only won five games last year and be a Heisman Trophy winner you have to lead your team to more victories. Washington has a more experienced offensive line and some veteran receivers from him to throw to this year and the team should win more games then five.

2009 Stats: 2,800 passing yards 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. 388 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns.

4. QB Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State
Pryor is a great overall athlete and finished last season with a great Rose Bowl game and comes into the season as the established quarterback on a top five ranked team, all good signings to be an early favorite for the Heisman.

2009 Stats: 2,094 passing yards 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. 779 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns.

5. QB Kellen Moore, Boise State
Boise State will be one of top rank teams coming into this season and Moore is a huge reason for that. He finished 7th in last years Heisman voting, and could earn a trip to New York this year.

2009 Stats: 3,536 passing yards 39 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions.

6. QB Case Keenum, Houston
Keenum had a huge season last year, the nation’s leading passer who threw for 5,000 yards for the second consecutive season. He had plenty of Heisman consideration last season, and if the team does well again he will this season as well.

2009 Stats: 5,671 passing yards 44 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

7. QB Jacory Harris, Miami
Harris showed last season he has the ability to be a big time quarterback. With a game at Ohio State early in the season, he will have his chance to make his Heisman moment with a big win and if he plays great. Even if Miami loss there he should have them in contention for the ACC title and a BCS bowl game.

2009 Stats: 3,352 passing yards 24 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

8. RB Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon State
Rodgers is a big time talent and if Oregon State can mange to compete for the Pac 10 title and trip to the Rose Bowl again like they did last year then Rodgers has a good shot of making it to New York.

2009 Stats: 1,440 rushing yard 21 rushing touchdowns, 78 receptions for 522 yards and 1 touchdown.

9. QB Jerrod Johnson, Texas A&M
Johnson is a very talented quarterback and has a chance to be the number one pick in next years NFL Draft, but to win the Heisman he needs to have Texas A&M competing for the Big 12 title and needs to beat Oklahoma or Texas and possible both.

2009 Stats: 3,579 passing yards 30 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. 506 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns.

10. RB Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh
Last year, Lewis as a freshman finished third in the nation in total rushing yards. He will be a sophomore this season and the last three Heisman winners have been sophomores when they won it, so it is a possibility.

2009 Stats: 1,799 rushing yard 17 rushing touchdowns, 25 receptions for 189 yards and 1 touchdown.

2011 NFL Draft: QB’s

I know we less then a week from the 2010 NFL Draft being done, but here are my top 15 senior quarterbacks, some sleepers and my top 10 junior quarterback for the 2011 NFL Draft.

Most expect if Jake Locker of Washington has a great season to be the first overall player drafted in the 2011 NFL Draft, but he could be challenged by Ryan Mallett of Arkansas who is a red-shirt junior who thought about declaring early for this years draft, and would have been a first round pick. The most interesting prospect that I didn’t add to my list because he is a red-shirt sophomore and could possible declare early is Andrew Luck of Stanford. I don’t think Luck will declare early this season, but would be eligible so it is something worth watching.

Seniors
1. Jake Locker, Washington
2. Jerrod Johnson, Texas A&M
3. Christian Ponder, Florida State
4. Pat Devlin, Delaware
5. Case Keenum, Houston
6. Nathan Enderle, Idaho
7. Colin Kaepernick, Nevada
8. Andy Dalton, TCU
9. Kevin Riley, California
10. Ricky Stanzi, Iowa
11. Zack Eskridge, Midwestern State
12. Ben Chappell, Indiana
13. Greg McElroy, Alabama
14. Mitch Mustain, Southern California
15. Scott Tolzien, Wisconsin

Sleepers
Trevor Vittatoe, Texas-El Paso
Blake Bolles, Northwest Missouri State
Alex Tanney, Monmouth (IL)
Arvell Nelson, Texas Southern
Josh Portis, California (PA)

Juniors
1. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas
2. John Brantley, Florida
3. Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
4. Dayne Crist, Notre Dame
5. Nick Foles, Arizona
6. Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State
7. Jacory Harris, Miami (Fla.)
8. Cameron Newton, Auburn
9. Kirk Cousins, Michigan State
10. Aaron Corp, Richmond

VanFulpen’s Heisman Watch

Here are my top five for the Heisman and why they will win the award and why they won’t win the award.

1. RB Mark Ingram, Alabama, So.
Stats: Rushing - 1,004 yards 6.6 average 8 touchdowns. Receiving - 19 receptions 186 yards 9.8 average 3 touchdowns

Why He Will Win It: He is the best player on possible the best team in the country and has put up some good stats. He needs to improve those stats and have some big games down the stretch but right now he is the front runner.

Why He Won’t Win It: He is a true sophomore, and voters still like to vote for upperclassmen, even with the resent history of sophomore winning it like Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford.

2. QB Tim Tebow, Florida Sr.
Stats: Passing - 1,159 passing yards, 8 touchdowns 4 interceptions. Rushing: 673 yards 3.8 average 12 touchdowns

Why He Will Win It: He won it as a sophomore and was in the race to win it last year. He is one of the best players in college football history and his team has a chance to win back to back national championships and three out of his four years.

Why He Won’t Win It: He hasn’t put up the huge stats like he did when he won it as a sophomore and that is what the voters want to see.

3. QB Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame Jr.
Stats: Rushing - Stats: Passing – 2,050 passing yards, 16 touchdowns 2 interceptions.

Why He Will Win It: He from Notre Dame and he is having an outstanding season and the team still has a chance to go to a BCS Bowl game.

Why He Won’t Win It: He is from Notre Dame and has already lost two games this season against two of Notre Dames biggest rivals.

4. QB Colt McCoy, Texas Sr.
Stats: Passing - 1,806 passing yards, 14 touchdowns 8 interceptions. Rushing: 104 yards 1.8 average 1 touchdowns

Why He Will Win It: He is the quarterback for Texas who should win out the rest of their games and go to BCS National Championship game.

Why He Won’t Win It: He isn’t having the season he had last year and he didn’t win the Hesiman when he put up great stats.

5. QB Case Keenum, Houston Jr.
Stats: Rushing - Stats: Passing – 2,734 passing yards, 20 touchdowns 4 interceptions.

Why He Will Win It: He has put up some huge passing stats and his team has only lost one game this season.

Why He Won’t Win It: He plays at Houston and that will hurt him in the long run at his chances of winning the Hesiman.