Runners chase Heisman glory
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – In 1994, Colorado’s Rashaan Salaam beat out Penn State’s Ki-Jana Carter for the Heisman Trophy. Neither running back went on to do much in the NFL, but that race remains notable for an interesting bit of trivia.
It’s the only time since 1981 that no quarterback finished in the top two in the Heisman voting.
Fast forward to 2007, and it just might happen again. Last season’s best running backs – including Heisman runner-up Darren McFadden of Arkansas – are all returning for another shot at the hardware.
“You see Darren McFadden has been on every magazine and you see how he practices. That is what excites you,” said Razorbacks coach Houston Nutt, who expects defenses to gang up on his star tailback. “Everyone knows who No. 5 is. When he gets off the bus, somebody’s going to be watching him.”
Last year, hardly anyone could contain McFadden. He rushed for 1,647 yards and finished second to Troy Smith in the voting for college football’s top honor. Just behind, though, was West Virginia running back Steve Slaton, fourth in the Heisman race as a sophomore and a first team All-American with McFadden.
The second-team All-Americans are also back – Ray Rice of Rutgers and Mike Hart of Michigan. Rice was a workhorse last season, leading the nation in carries as the Scarlet Knights went 11-2.
“I don’t think about workload,” Rice said. “I didn’t really feel it. I just go out there and play my game.”
The most memorable moment of last season might have belonged to another running back. Ian Johnson of Boise State scored the winning two-point conversion in the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma on a Statue of Liberty play, then proposed to his girlfriend on the field. Johnson is back after rushing for more than 1,700 yards last year.
From 1972-83, every Heisman winner was a running back. Times have changed, of course. Spread offenses have become more popular, and passing games are increasingly complex.
So can all these great runners steal back the spotlight from the nation’s signal-callers? McFadden got off to a good start last year – by lining up at quarterback a bit. Arkansas featured a formation in which McFadden would take direct snaps from the shotgun. He could run, hand off or even pass – he went 7 of 9 for 69 yards with three touchdowns and an interception.
“I’ve always been a versatile player that plays different positions,” McFadden said. “I’ve never just been in one position.”
One reason McFadden is so effective is Felix Jones, another 1,000-yard rusher for the Hogs last season. Jones might be the Southeastern Conference’s second-best running back.
McFadden and Jones might be the nation’s top running back pair. Or maybe it’s Clemson’s James Davis and C.J. Spiller, who combined for more than 2,100 yards rushing last season.
Davis and Spiller finished third and fourth in rushing in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Ahead of them were Georgia Tech’s Tashard Choice (105.2 yards per game) and Virginia Tech’s Branden Ore (94.8). Those two are also back.
Even the Pac-10 – land of sunshine and prolific passers – has a few running backs with All-America ability.
Oregon State’s Yvenson Bernard (1,307 yards rushing last season) returns along with Arizona State’s Ryan Torain (1,229) and Oregon’s Jonathan Stewart (981).