Tebow returns to front of Heisman race,So Heisman Hopefuls Tracking the Candidates

So Heisman Hopefuls Tracking the Candidates

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas quarterback Colt McCoy has a key factor going for him in the chase for the Heisman Trophy: He's injury-free through four games.
One month into the season and the early list of Heisman contenders reads like an emergency room admissions log.
Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, last season's Heisman winner, hasn't played since injuring his shoulder in the first game. Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, the 2007 trophy winner, spent Saturday night in a hospital after a third-quarter concussion in the top-ranked Gators' win over Kentucky.
Other contenders such as California tailback Jahvid Best have been knocked down by a poor game. He had just 55 yards in a 42-3 loss to Oregon.
This strange Heisman season took another twist last week when Florida quarterback Tim Tebow took the hit seen 'round the world and suffered a concussion on the play. The Watch would like to wish Tebow a speedy recovery, but what does this mean for Gator's Heisman hopes? Well, we'd rather not worry about until, and if, he actually misses a game.
Lots of newcomers have crashed the list since the beginning of the season, including Houston quarterback Case Keenum and Cincinnati quarterback Tony Pike.
Tennessee safety Eric Berry is the lone defensive player on the list and is looking to become the first defensive player to win the Heisman since Charles Woodson won the award in 1997. USC's Rey Maualuga finished ninth in the voting last year.
Three sophomores are on the watch list -- Miami's Jacory Harris, Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers and Boise State's Kellen Moore. Virginia Tech's Ryan Williams, who is off to a hot start, is the lone freshman on the Watch list.
With all the rumors swirling around Oklahoma's Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford, Sooner fans must have taken comfort today in the first solid bit of news they've heard about the star quarterback's bum shoulder in weeks.
"He's progressing and all of his rehab has been positive," OU coach Bob Stoops said during the Big 12's weekly teleconference when asked about the chances of Bradford playing against Miami on Saturday. "We just have to feel he's comfortable and healthy enough that he can make the throws he needs to make."
OK, fine: the reality is that observers know little more today about Bradford's prospects to start this weekend at Miami than we knew last week. When it comes to injuries, though, that's about as "solid" as you'll get from the Sooners' head coach.
Having followed Oklahoma football under Stoops for 11 years now, I've given up on trying to read the tea leaves in these situations. Idle speculation is worthless; Bradford will either be out on the field at Landshark Stadium on Saturday night or he won't.