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posted October 9, 2007 at 19:15 in NCAA F Articles

Here is my evaluation of a baker's dozen candidates for the Heisman Trophy:

* DARREN McFADDEN, RB, Arkansas -- McFadden got back into action against FCS entry Chattanooga (formerly Tennessee-Chattanooga) on Saturday and rushed for 122 yards on 25 carries in the so-so 34-15 Hog win. For the year, he has gained 779 yards, averaging 156 a game, which is third in the country. McFadden averages six yards a carry, which is outstanding, but is nowhere near as good as backfield mate Felix Jones, who is rushing for over 10 yards an attempt. On Saturday he returns to real competition again, as Arkansas faces suddenly red-hot Auburn.

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* MIKE HART, RB, Michigan -- Hart came up big in Michigan's 33-22 win over Eastern Michigan, rushing for 215 yards on 22 carries, and catching three passes for 18 yards. He scored three TD's overall. On the year, Hart is just under the 100-yard mark, at 976. His 163 yards per game is the second highest figure in the country. This weekend he and the Wolverines tackle Purdue, which is ranked #24 in the latest USA Today poll. Michigan has now won four in a row and is creeping toward getting back in the national rankings, and is very much alive in the Big Ten race.

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The CJ Index: Stock RISING SLIGHTLY

* JOHN DAVID BOOTY, QB, USC -- Booty had a disastrous weekend all the way around - the kind players don't usually recover from. In USC's loss to 41-point underdog Stanford, he completed 24 of 40 passes for 364 yards and two TD's, but also tossed four interceptions, including one that was run back for a touchdown. Booty is only 39th in the NCAA's passing efficiency ratings, with 12 TD's and eight INT's, and 64.6% completions. He was likely the kind of player whose Heisman fate was going to be tied to his team's place in the national picture, and now that the Trojans have suffered one of the biggest upset defeats in history, his chances are very much in doubt. Next up for Booty is Arizona on Saturday.

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* COLT BRENNAN, QB, Hawaii -- Brennan had kind of a ho-hum afternoon against Utah State, completing 19 of 25 passes for 219 yards and a TD in his team's 52-37 win. He's the sixth-rated passer in the country; for the year, he's 73.4% accurate, with 16 TD's, six INT's and 1850 yards passing (8.94 yards per attempt). This are excellent stats, which keeps him in the race, and his team is still undefeated and in the Top 20. Brennan's Heisman drive is probably ahead of him, but he is losing opportunities to pad those stats. Maybe this will change Friday night against San Jose State.

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* TIM TEBOW, QB, Florida -- Tebow's team lost again on Saturday, as the Gators just missed pulling a mild upset over the #1-rated LSU Tigers. In that 28-24 defeat, Tebow ran for 67 yards and threw for two TD's, but he was just 12 of 26 for 158 yards and tossed an interception - his third of the season. Tebow has completed 65.5% of his passes for 1465 yards and a strong 9.83 yards an attempt. But he's losing some luster as his team is losing some games.

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The CJ Index: Stock FALLING SLIGHTLY

* BRIAN BROHM, QB, Louisville -- Brohm's Louisville Cardinals went down to their third defeat of the season on Friday, but you can't lay the blame at his feet. In the 44-35 loss to Utah, Brohm was 39 of 58 for 467 yards and four TD's, without an interception. His 2415 yards passing are second in the country, and his 20-4 TD-to-INT ratio is outstanding, to say the least. It may be getting to the point where he is a sympathetic figure, because he has done so well statistically, yet is victimized by his team's defense. He has a chance to open some eyes against undefeated and nationally-ranked Cincinnati on Saturday.

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The CJ Index: Stock RISING SLIGHTLY

* CHASE DANIEL, QB, Missouri -- No one made as dramatic a gain in this race last week as Daniel, the multi-dimensional Missouri QB who led the Tigers to a 41-6 romp over Nebraska. In the process, Daniel was 33 of 47 through the air for 401 yards and two TD's. He also gained 72 yards on the ground with two rushing touchdowns. Daniel stands 17th in the national passing efficiency ratings, completing almost 67% of his passes for 1712 yards and 15 TD's, with just four INT's. And unbeaten Missouri is #11 in both major polls.

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The CJ Index: Stock RISING SHARPLY

* STEVE SLATON, RB, West Virginia -- Even in an easy 55-14 win at Syracuse, Slaton took a dip, running for just 69 yards. he did managed to catch four passes for 51 yards, but didn't score a touchdown. In fact, Slaton has crossed the goal line just once in the last three games. On the season, Slaton has scored nine times, but is averaging just 104 yards rushing per game (625 total). His team faces Mississippi State in a week from Saturday.

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The CJ Index: Stock FALLING SHARPLY

* RAY RICE, RB, Rutgers -- Rutgers lost again on Saturday, this time to Cincinnati, and Rice had his third straight game without 100 yards rushing (94 yards). The bright side was that he caught four passes for 49 yards. For the season, Rice has 622 yards on the ground (124 per game) and 4.8 yards a carry.

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The CJ Index: Stock FALLING SHARPLY

* ANDRE WOODSON, QB, Kentucky -- Woodson had a tough outing for Kentucky last Thursday. In the 38-23 loss to South Carolina, he was 23 of 40 for 227 yards and two TD's, but he threw a key interception as his team was driving, and had both a fumble and a botched lateral returned for South Carolina touchdowns. Woodson has completed 65% for 18 TD's and two INT's, but it's those mistakes in nationally-televised games that do a lot of candidates in.

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* PATRICK WHITE, QB, West Virginia -- White got a little redemption in his team's 55-14 win over Syracuse. He ran for 89 yards and a touchdown and was 12-15 through the air for 148 yards and another TD. White has 411 rushing yards and seven rushing TD's. He's also thrown for seven scores, with one interception, and with 71.6% completions, he's up to #10 in the passing efficiency ratings.

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The CJ Index: Stock RISING SLIGHTLY

* DENNIS DIXON, QB, Oregon -- Dixon stands fourth in the nation is passing, completing just a shade under 70% with a 12-2 ratio and 301 yards rushing. he did not play last week but Oregon returns against Washington State on Saturday.

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The CJ Index: Stock UNCHANGED

* DeSEAN JACKSON, WR, California -- Jackson did not play last Saturday, but his Golden Bears have been elevated to #2 in the country after USC's upset loss, so if his team wins out they could find themselves in a national title game. This week cal faces Oregon State.

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(Charles Jay of TotalActionExtra.com once pulled a muscle striking the Heisman pose. After recovery, he became a regular contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)