Cam Newton Takes Over The Heisman Race

By JOHN P. WISE
One Great Season

Remember in the preseason when a big, athletic junior quarterback who rocks a No. 2 jersey for a national powerhouse got all kinds of Heisman hype?

Me too.

And now, after seven games, Cam Newton is atop the list of midseason Heisman candidates.

Like Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor, another 21-year-old dual-threat, Newton is just as dangerous on the run as he is with his arm. Auburn's leader has carried the Tigers to a 7-0 start and No. 6 ranking in the latest OGS poll.

On a conference call with college football writers Monday afternoon, Newton surprised no one when he said despite his obvious place among Heisman candidates, he's more interested in preparing for Auburn's huge SEC West showdown with LSU Saturday.

But when asked if he paid much attention to the Heisman race before he took the driver's seat in it, he allowed a little more than typical jock-speak.

"I'd be lying to you if I said I didn't think about it, but as far as my teammates go, there's more glory for them because they're the ones who help me get the rushing yards and the passing yards and all that."

Newton has passed for 13 touchdowns and run for 12 more, including seven in the last two games. He led Auburn's 65-43 defeat of Arkansas Saturday with 328 total yards and four touchdowns. Newton has rushed for at least 171 yards in four games this year, numbers similar to those of Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, who was everybody's top Heisman choice until two weeks ago. Robinson has returned to earth in the Wolverines' last two games, losses to Big Ten rivals Michigan State and Iowa, and is also getting banged up as everyone predicted he would, considering his small-ish stature.

"I don't really keep up with the Heisman race as a whole, but as far as Denard Robinson goes, I hope for the best for a fast recovery for him," Newton said.

Fast is the only speed with which Robinson seems to be familiar, and it's also an accurate way to describe Newton's ascent to the top of the list of the best players in college football.

Comments

[RCobb'sTwitter]

Denard Robinson plays a garbage schedule and runs up stats on bad teams. Cam Newton should walk away with this. They shouldn't invite anyone else to New York. How bout some love for Randall Cobb?

[John P. Wise]

Well said, Ben.