TEBOW RISES TO THE TOP

FROM ZOOK FREE ZONE:

Florida's Soph QB Tebow Becomes Consensus Heisman Front-Runner Ryan FergusonPosted Oct 23rd 2007 12:20PM by Ryan Ferguson Filed under: Florida Football, SEC, Heisman With his 5 TD performance against Kentucky, Tim Tebow did more than put Florida in the driver's seat for an SEC title berth. He became the consensus front-runner for the Heisman Trophy. CBS Sportsline's Top 5: 1. Tim Tebow (37 points) 2. Andre' Woodson (24 points) 3. Dennis Dixon (16 points) 4. Matt Ryan (13 points) 5. Ray Rice (8 points) What they're saying: "Despite playing for a two-loss team, Tebow is in everybody's top two. He has accounted for 27 touchdowns, including 10 rushing and came up big this week against Kentucky. The big question is -- can a sophomore win the award?" ESPN's Heisman Watch: 1. Tim Tebow 2. Matt Ryan 3. Andre Woodson 4. Dennis Dixon 5. Mike Hart What they're saying: "Tebow might not have won the Heisman this week, but he couldn't have been more impressive against Kentucky. He simply does it all. He threw for 256 yards (69 percent completion) for four touchdowns, and rushed for 78 yards and another score." Heisman Pundit: 1. Tim Tebow 2. Darren McFadden 3. Mike Hart 4. Matt Ryan What they're saying: "Tim Tebow is out in front right now. The unique circumstances of this year's race has shaken the Heismandments to their very core. It is looking more and more like he may be the first sophomore to win." The biggest threat to Tebow's brink-of-Heisman-history campaign? In my view, Mike Hart. If the diminutive RB can get back onto the playing field and make things happen for Michigan -- and the Wolverines defeat Ohio State to win the Big Ten -- voters might sigh with relief at some sense of normalcy in a wacky football season, and vote the little fella in. This has been a good year for SEC candidates. Including Tebow, three Southeastern Conference players are still in contention for the award; the other two are Andre' Woodson and Darren McFadden. 1. If UF wins out, which is a big IF, then TT will be the first sophomore ever to win the Heisman. Reason? No one can say he is a system QB like Grossman was in '01. Grossman, as a sophomore, was the favorite going into the first week of December and the Gators choked at home to UT. One game shouldn't ruin your chances but Grossman was considered, like Brennan, a system QB and therefore his candidacy was suspect. Why TT? Big time TV games, big time competition and a possible 11-2 team. Hard not to vote for him. Even my most ardent UGA and UT buddies admit he may be the best player in college football. However, if BC keeps this up, it would be hard not to vote for Matt Ryan. INTERESTINGLY, THERE IS NO CONSENSUS RUNNER-UP...