And the Heisman winner is

Since they’ll be handing out the Heisman trophy Saturday night in New York, this will be the last of this season’s Heisman watch reports.  A week ago I said my choice wasn’t going to change in this last week, but I lied.  I didn’t mean to lie, it just happened.  A couple of players tried their best to sway my vote and one did.

Going into last weekend I said my top three were Colt McCoy, Toby Gerhart and Mark Ingram, with Ndamukong Suh making a push.  After watching Ingram and Suh play in the SEC and Big 12 championship games, I’ve changed my mind.

Ingram had a terrific all around game in Alabama’s upset of top ranked Florida,but he wasn’t the show.  His quarterback Greg McElroy was outstanding and the Tide defense shutdown Tim Tebow and the Gators offense.  Despite the fact he had a great game, he still didn’t pass Toby Gerhart in my book.

In the Big 12 title game, Nebraska nearly pulled off a stunning upset of Texas and the major reason was Ndamukong Suh.  He had four and a half sacks, seven tackles for loss, a career high 12 tackles and 2 QB hurries  in the game.  He hounded Colt McCoy on every play.  He beat double teams, he made tackles with one arm while being held by Longhorn linemen.  He dominated everyone who tried to take him on.

This isn’t the first time I’ve seen him play like this this season, but it came with a championship on the line.  Earlier in the season I said he was the best defensive lineman in the country just not the best player.  I was wrong.  He showed me on Saturday night that he deserves the Heisman.  He basically took it from McCoy’s hands.  

Colt had put his hands around it the week before with a tremendous performance against Texas A&M and you could say he still managed a championship drive in the final minute against Nebraska to keep the Longhorns unbeaten.  But I can’t honestly say that.  I think McCoy is an outstanding player and the best all around QB in the country over the last three years, but Suh is the best player this season.

My vote now.  Suh, McCoy and Gerhart, but it will be close.  Very close.