Cobb for Heisman

Recent talk about the best players in college football by analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. and others has led to some grumblings in Big Blue Nation. Why isn't Randall Cobb mentioned as a Heisman candidate. For anyone who has watched him play, it is hard to argue that he isn't one of the best players in college football. Many if not most believe he will leave Kentucky with the unofficial title of "best player in school history". So here is the question I'll try to answer. What would have to happen for Randall Cobb to win the Heisman, either this year or next?

1. The Cats go at least 9-3, if not 10-2. Here is the great limiting factor that is well out of Cobb's exclusive control. The Heisman is not a team award, but the winner is overwhelmingly more likely to come from a very good team. Since 1981, only five players whose team lost more than 2 games won the Heisman, and most came from football royalty schools: Tim Tebow, Ricky Williams, Ty Detmer, Tim Brown, Bo Jackson.

This isn't just about penalizing players who don't win. It is about exposure. If UK is in the Top 10 or 15 late in the season, it is going to get that good ESPN slot, rather than being on regional SEC Network or Fox Sports South. If we are in contention in the SEC East, our highlights are automatically on Sportscenter. There is no Heisman if you aren't a feature player on the Worldwide Leader week after week.

2. Score at least 20 touchdowns. Desmond Howard is the last non-QB or RB to win the Heisman. He did it back in 1991 in what I think would have to be a blueprint for Cobb's chances at the award. Howard did not get to 1000 receiving yards. That is important, because with all Cobb is asked to do, I don't see him having a 1000 yard season this year or next. What Howard did was find the end zone in myriad ways. Coincidentally, this is Randall's specialty. Howard's 1991 campaign featured 19 receiving TDs, 2 rushing and one each on a kickoff and punt.

3. Go bezerk in one game. As I mentioned, Cobb does so many things that his yardage numbers in any one category are never going to jump out at voters, at least not over the course of a season. But having eye popping numbers in a single game is a different matter. A review of Cobb's career indicated that he has only gone over 100 yards in rushing twice and has never had a 100 yard receiving game. A 300 yard combined game of rushing, receivng and returning is in play for Randall, and would probably be impressive enough to do the trick.

4. Have a signature play. Cobb's greatest physical asset (besides his heart) is his balance. It is uncanny. For Cobb to get the Heisman, he'd need to have one play that shows this off, spinning off someone's back without his knees touching the ground, flipping and keeping his feet, something that makes everyone in the country say "whoa".

5. Some luck and a bad bounce or two for other contenders. If Michael Crabtree doesn't haul in a pass with 7 seconds left against UT, Colt McCoy wins the Heisman instead of Sam Bradford. There is an element to winning the Heisman that is out of any one player's hands.

OR, in lieu of at least some of these requirements, Cobb could instead play some defense. Babe Ruth was the best baseball player of all time. You want to know why? Make your argument for Willie Mays, Hank Aaron or Ted Williams and then hear my trump card. In addition to being no worse than a top 5 hitter of all time, Ruth went 94-46 as a pitcher and was 3-0 with a 0.87 ERA in two World Series appearances. I win. If the Cats could win 9 games next year while lining Cobb up as a full-time corner, he gets a couple of picks in addition to an expected offensive output, it would be time to hand him the trophy. Before you jump all over me, I realize this isn't going to happen and I'm just joking. Kinda.