CollegeFootballStars.com Announces its List of 2005 Heisman Trophy Candidates

CollegeFootballStars.com, exclusive home to the 2005 Player Guide and 2005 Ultimate Season Pass, recently announced its list of Heisman Trophy candidates for the upcoming 2005 season. All 10 players making the 2005 list are either a quarterback, a running back or a wide receiver.

(PRWEB) July 18, 2005 -- CollegeFootballStars.com, exclusive home to the 2005 Player Guide and 2005 Season Pass, recently announced its list of Heisman Trophy candidates for the upcoming 2005 season.

Since CollegeFootballStars.com (located at www.collegefootballstars.com) focuses on offensive players at the skill-positions, it should serve as no surprise that all 10 players making the 2005 list are either a quarterback, a running back or a wide receiver. A star defensive player may very well finish sixth or seventh in the voting. But since only one player has ever won the award without playing some type of offensive skill position (Leon Hart in 1949), CollegeFootballStars.com did not include a defensive player on its list.

According to CollegeFootballStars.com, the following 10 candidates have the best chance to win the prestigious award. This list is not a prediction of the final Heisman Trophy standings, but rather an analysis of the most legitimate favorites to hoist the trophy when it is awarded in December. Included with each candidate is a brief justification for each players inclusion.

1) Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma
History has proved that it is very tough for an underclassman to win the award. But Petersons unprecedented second-place finish as freshman last year grants him a front seat in this race. With only five offensive starters returning, Peterson will take over as the number one option in the entire Sooner attack.

2) Matt Leinart, QB, USC
Leinart will be this year's Jason White. He is the defending Heisman Trophy winner on a great team, but history has shown its tough to win the award in consecutive years.

3) Reggie Bush, RB, USC
Bush is without question the best athlete in all of college football, but a tough schedule and lack of touches (thanks to playing on a team with several other Heisman candidates) hurts his chances.

4) Chris Leak, QB, Florida
Leak will be playing a lot of games on national television in a system that will allow him to produce great offensive numbers (both factors are popular with Heisman voters). But last years version of Leak, Alex Smith, finished a distant fourth in the voting.

5) Laurence Maroney, RB, Minnesota
Without having to share carries with the departed Marion Barber III, Maroney could lead the nation in rushing.

6) Vince Young, QB, Texas
Young will be a candidate just because of what he did n the Rose Bowl last season. He will be a front-runner if Texas can get by Oklahoma. Thats a big if".

7) DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis
Williams, probably the nations best running back that not many people have ever seen play, should lead the nation in all-purpose yardage in 2005.

8) Omar Jacobs, QB, Bowling Green
Jacobs was the most productive player in Division 1A last season. He will lead a Bowling Green attack that is going to score touchdowns at an alarming rate. His lack of attention playing in the MAC minimizes his shot to win the award.

9) Brad Smith, QB, Missouri
Smith has the potential to be the most exciting player in the country not named Bush. His ability to run with the ball and pass should raise more than a few eyebrows this season.

10) Derek Hagan, WR, Arizona State
Playing with the talented yet unproven QB Sam Keller, the better-known Hagan will benefit from Kellers downfield passing ability and should rank ahead of Keller in the media race.

The CollegeFootballStars.com list of Heisman Trophy candidates is developed by the websites editorial staff. The criteria for being included is unique compared to that of other publications. To be included in the CollegeFootballStars.com list, a player must have a history of outstanding and consistent offensive production that establishes him as one of the nations elite performers. Furthermore, a player must also have a chance to equal, or preferably, improve that production in the upcoming season as a result of external factors such as strength of schedule (or lack thereof), history of injury, other returning players and depth on his team, coaching, and the offense scheme for which he plays.

CollegeFootballStars.com acknowledges, but does not heed, other factors such as how much media attention a player receives, BCS conference favoritism, ad campaigns, or marketing from a players sports information department. CollegeFootballStars.com feels strongly that a players on-field performance is what should ultimately decide who wins the award intended for the nations top college football player.

About CollegeFootballStars.com
CollegeFootballStars.com is a membership website that publishes both the Player Guide and the Season Pass before each season for college football fans. Both publications are unique because they focus on college football players, not teams. Founded by two life-long college football fans, the website boasts members from all over the world. For more information, logon to www.collegefootballstars.com.

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