2012 Heisman Watch: Week 6

The Heisman Trophy is college football’s most coveted individual award. Each week, Garnet Report’s Avery Wilks gives you the inside scoop on this year’s likely Heisman candidates.

Author’s Note: Dropping out of the race from last week’s Heisman Watch is Michigan State RB Le’Veon Bell.

10. Kenjon Barner (5-0)

sbnation.com

#24 RB, Sr., 5’11″, 195 lbs.

Week 5 Win @ Washington State

Barner exploded onto the scene last week with a huge performance against Washington State. Racking up 232 total yards against the helpless Cougar defense puts the senior in a position to compete with teammate De’Anthony Thomas for Heisman attention. While this could hurt both of their chances in the long run, it sure is fun to watch.

Next Game: The Ducks take on #23 Washington this Saturday at 10:30 p.m. Coming off an upset of then #8 Stanford, Washington will look to spoil the Ducks’ season as well. Though the Huskies are sure to give a great effort, I predict the Oregon offense will prove to be too much for Washington to handle.

9. Manti Te’o, Notre Dame (4-0)

#5 LB, Sr., 6’2″, 255 lbs.

Week 4 Win vs. Michigan

There’s nothing that warms voters’ hearts more than an inspirational story about a college kid who overcomes unimaginable adversity to enjoy great success on the field. In the past few weeks, there has been no better personification of this story than Manti Te’o. The week leading up to the Michigan State game, both Te’o's grandmother and girlfriend passed away, and the senior was given the option to return home to mourn. However, Te’o refused, making the trip to East Lansing to lead the resurgent Notre Dame defense to a great victory over the Spartans. All season, his play has been outstanding, and the future early first round pick hasn’t even started yet. If Notre Dame can stay undefeated in their return to national prominence, Te’o could stay on this list for longer than you think.

Next Game: Te’o and Notre Dame will have a this weekend, but will look to contain the Miami Hurricanes during this Saturday’s 7:30 game at Soldier Field in Chicago. Miami has been a pleasant surprise this year, but don’t expect Te’o or the rest of Notre Dame’s resurgent defense to give them room to breathe.

8. Johnathan Franklin, UCLA (4-1)

Zimbio.com

#23 RB, Sr., 5’11″, 195 lbs.

Week 5 Win @ Colorado

If someone had told me before the season that any player from UCLA would become a mainstay on this list, I would have probably chuckled a little bit. Nonetheless, Franklin has the potential to do just that, as he looks to be one of the premier rushers in the country early on. Both he and the Bruins will have several chances in the upcoming weeks to make a statement in the Pac 12.

Next Game: UCLA travels to face California next week at 10 p.m. Though Cal is (1-4) on the year, expect them to play UCLA tough, just as they have against Nevada, Ohio State, and Southern Cal already this year. This one will be closer than expected, but I think Franklin will prove to be the difference-maker in the Bruins’ win.

7. Aaron Murray, Georgia (5-0)

#11 QB, Jr., 6’1″, 210 lbs.

Week 5 Win vs. Tennessee

Winning a shootout against a historically tough SEC opponent will always help you in the Heisman Watch, and that’s just what Murray did Saturday, passing for almost 300 yards to put down Tennessee 51-44 last Saturday. It helps that Murray outplayed his counterpart Tyler Bray–also an All-SEC hopeful–and that Georgia is now one step closer to claiming a second straight SEC East crown. Murray hasn’t made his splash yet, but something tells me he’ll have a great chance soon.

Next Game: Murray will lead his undefeated Georgia team into Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday at 7 p.m., hoping to lock up the SEC East once and for all. A noteworthy game against a defense like South Carolina’s will surely thrust Murray further into the national spotlight.

6. Matt Barkley, Southern Cal (3-1)

#7 QB, Sr., 6’2”, 230 lbs.

Week 4 Win vs. California

Barkley has continued his spell of mediocrity, failing to pass for over 200 yards for the second time this season. With his second-straight two-interception game, Barkley has proven this season that the Heisman trophy is an open race–even if the national media did give him a head start. Southern Cal’s star quarterback still has plenty of time to get his season back on track though, as he’ll have several chances to prove his mettle in huge games–Oregon, Notre Dame–down the stretch.

Next Game: The Trojans return to the field this Thursday at 9 p.m. to take on Pac-12 foe Utah in Salt Lake City.

5. Braxton Miller, Ohio State (5-0)

USA Today

#5 QB, So., 6’2″, 210 lbs.

Week 5 Win @ Michigan State

With 315 total yards on the day, Braxton Miller was easily the driving force behind the Buckeyes 17-16 win over Big Ten foe Michigan State. Considering the rest of his team only amassed 68 yards, it’s safe to say Miller carried Ohio State against a stout Spartan defense last Saturday. If nothing else, Miller creates a lot of excitement on the field, so it’ll be a real treat watching him progress as the year goes on.

Next Game: Miller and Ohio State play host to #21 Nebraska Saturday at 8 p.m., who have won three straight after suffering an upset to UCLA. This will be a great battle of dual-threat quarterbacks, and Taylor Martinez with be dying to prove he’s the best in the Big Ten. Expect Miller to put on a show with his arm and legs, and Ohio State will remain undefeated.

4. De’Anthony Thomas, Oregon (5-0)

#6 RB, So., 5’9”, 179 lbs.

Week 5 Win @ Washington State

Outshone by fellow running back Kenjon Barner, Thomas didn’t make much of an impact in Oregon’s 51-26 runaway victory against Washington State. Thomas has done much more with fewer touches on the ball this year, so hopefully this was just a game where he couldn’t quite get the engines going. While his production hasn’t been noteworthy of late, Thomas’ incredible athleticism and speed keep him afloat on this Watch. Simply put, though he hasn’t exploded on to the scene yet, the smart money says he will this season…soon.

Next Game: Oregon will play host to #23 Washington at 10:30 p.m. Saturday night. Coming off an upset of then #8 Stanford, Washington will look to spoil the Ducks’ season as well. It’ll be up to Thomas and the rest of Oregon’s high-flying offense to put the Huskies away early.

3. EJ Manuel, Florida State (5-0)

#3 QB, Sr., 6’5″, 240 lbs.

Week 5 Win @ South Florida

Florida State faltered a little in their first road test of the season, shaking the Bulls 30-17 in South Florida on Saturday. Nonetheless, Manuel’s efficiency was key in the Seminoles win, as the contest was even closer than the scoreboard suggests. The more I look at Manuel’s Heisman candidacy, the better it looks–especially in the long run. Florida State has no real test anywhere on the schedule until the final week of the year, when #10 Florida rolls into town. If Florida State can avoid a catastrophe in their soft ACC schedule, the Seminoles could stroll into the BCS National Championship game without any real tests, possibly ensuring Manuel the easiest Heisman trophy ever won.

Next Game: This Saturday, Manuel and Florida State travel to Raleigh, N.C. to face N.C. State at 8 p.m. (3-2) with a mediocre defense, the Wolfpack will need to play the game of their lives to stay in it with the Seminoles for longer than a half.

2. Collin Klein, Kansas State (4-0)

#7 QB, Sr., 6’5″, 226 lbs.

Week 4 Win at Oklahoma

Remember what I said earlier this season about the Oklahoma game being Klein’s “ultimate shot at greatness?” It’s safe to say the senior from Loveland, CO, came through in a big way Saturday, leading his Kansas State team to a huge upset of then-#6 Oklahoma. Klein managed the game near-perfectly, never turning the ball over and accounting for over 200 yards of total offense. With an awkward throwing motion, a team that wasn’t relevant until recently, and a win in Norman against one of the biggest programs in college football history, Klein is the textbook example of an underdog success story. We all know everyone loves an underdog–especially the Heisman committee–so if Klein keeps the Wildcats in national contention, he’ll be a real threat to win the nation’s most prestigious award.

Next Game: Klein and K-State face in-state rival Kansas this Saturday. After stumbling to a three-game losing streak, Kansas won’t serve as much of a speed-bump to Klein’s season. Kansas State wins this one easily.

1. Geno Smith, West Virginia (4-0)

#12 QB, Sr., 6’3”, 214 lbs.

Week 5 Win vs. Baylor

Is this real life? Smith was incredible Saturday against an admittedly terrible Baylor defense, racking up video game-like statistics and leading his Moutaineers to the 70-63 shootout win in Morgantown, WV. In a game where the two teams combined for the most single game touchdowns in FBS history, Smith still managed to stand out, passing downfield with outstanding accuracy and consistency en route to breaking West Virginia’s single game record for passing yards. Smith had two more touchdowns than he had incompletions, despite airing it out 51 times. Honestly, I have nothing more to say. The numbers speak for themselves here, and Smith did a fantastic job of getting his name out with a performance like this one.

Next Game: Smith will lead West Virginia against #11 Texas in Austin at 7 p.m. this Saturday, hoping to claim WVU’s second straight Big 12 win. Though Texas is undefeated so far, the Longhorn defense has proven to be susceptible on defense, something Smith will be sure to exploit. West Virginia will roll.