Heisman hype: we're back again to tout the contenders for college football's biggest award, starting with Tennessee QB Casey Clausen

Football Digest, Oct, 2002 by Joe Donatelli

USELESS FACT: No Heisman winner's team has ever lost more than four games. Thought we'd throw that out there. Domey should have nothing to worry about.

KEY GAMES: at Florida (September 7); Florida State (October 12); at Tennessee (November 9).

CHARLES ROGERS, WIDE RECEIVER

MICHIGAN STATE, JUNIOR

Who is this Charles Rogers fellow and what is he doing on the Heisman hopefuls list.? Good question. Rogers is only the most dynamic offensive player in the Big Ten and the top wide receiver in the nation. He was last seen against Fresno State at the Silicon Valley Classic, hauling in 10 receptions for a school-record 270 yards and two touchdowns from quarterback Jeff Smoker, himself a Heisman long shot. Better ye, t, Rogers rushed for a score and returned a punt for a touchdown last season, providing the versatility that voters love.

USELESS FACT: Plaxico Burress and Andre Rison are both former Spartans receivers. Rogers, however, could go down as the best ever at his position in MSU history.

KEY GAMES: Notre Dame (September 21); at Michigan (November 2); at Penn State (November 23).

JASON GESSER, QUARTERBACK

WASHINGTON STATE, SENIOR

Props to Washington State for spoofing Joey Harrington's Times Square billboard by placing a giant poster of Cougars quarterback Gesser on the side of a grain elevator in Dusty, Wash. The poster reads: "Gess Who 4 Heisman?" Hey, at least it's not a leaf, right? We think Gesser will join Clausen and Grossman among the elite this season as he guides the Cougars to a Pac-10 title. He's smallish at 6'1", 200 pounds, but he's accurate in a Josh Huepel sort of way. Gesser is already attracting plenty of attention, and if he and the Cougars can avoid the type of distractions that befell super-hyped Oregon State last season, it could be a special year in Pullman.

USELESS FACT: USC running back Marcus Anen is the last Pac-10 player to win the Heisman (1981).

KEY GAMES: at Ohio State (September 14); USC (October 5); Washington (November 23).

The Darkhorses

THESE GUYS HAVEN'T RECEIVED as much preseason hype as some of the other contenders, but don't count them out. Any of the following players could wind up walking away with the Heisman Trophy. This is, after alt, the land of opportunity. Here's a look:

ANTHONY DAVIS, running back, Wisconsin. The best running back in the nation and a definite 2003 favorite. This player is the key to the Badgers offense.

DWONE HICKS, running back, Middle Tennessee State. The darkest of the darkhorses. That has less to do with his talent, however, than the fact that he plays for a relatively anonymous school. Hicks is a powerful runner with a nose for the endzone (20 touchdowns in 2001).

CHANCE KRETSCHMER, running back, Nevada. Kretschmer led the nation in rushing as a freshman (1,732 yards). How do you top that?

ELI MANNING, quarterback, Mississippi. Eli is putting up comparable numbers to those of big brother Peylon, who should have won the Heisman in 1997. Eli could garner sympathy votes, although he won't need them if Ole Miss contends for the SEC title.