The Heisman Trophy

Although Draft Headquarters unfortunately does not have a vote for the Heisman Trophy, I've decided to make it public who I would vote for if I did have one. With that said, below are my final three finalists, as required by each voter around the country. This is not a ranking who I think will win, but rather who I would vote for:

Honorable mention: Matt Barkley QB USC, Trent Richardson RB Alabama, Montee Ball RB Wisconsin, LaMichael James RB Oregon

3. Tyrann Mathieu CB LSU - The Honey Badger. A do-everything playmaker who has had more of a difference on defense and special teams than any other player in the country, Tyrann Mathieu is truly a special talent for the LSU Tigers. Ask yourself this: how often do you see a cornerback lead the best team in the country in tackles? That's exactly what Mathieu has done, recording 70 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks; in addition, the Honey Badger has forced SIX fumbles, intercepted two passes, and broken up another seven passes. That also doesn't include the fact that he has returned two punts for touchdowns while averaging an astonishing 16.2-yards per return on 26 returns, nor does it include the two fumble returns for touchdowns that he has managed to bring back from his four fumble recoveries. Mathieu, a true sophomore in just his second season in college, has had a tremendous impact on the Tiger defense this season and deserves to be honored as one of the top players in college football. While it is unlikely that he will win the award, he deserves to be invited to New York for the ceremony, the same way that Ndamukong Suh was two years ago.

2. Andrew Luck QB Stanford - The future No. 1 overall pick has had another marvelous season as the leader of the Cardinal. Throwing for 3,170 yards, 35 touchdowns, and nine interceptions with a 70.0% completion percentage, Luck has been the epitome of consistent, reliable, and efficient as the lead signal caller for Stanford. An underrated athlete, Luck has also rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns in 2011. A fantastic game manager capable of delivering the ball all over the field, Luck has led the Cardinal to a BCS bowl matchup with Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl. Having lost just two games the last two years (both to Oregon), Luck has proven to be one of the most valuable players in the country over the last two season. Luck appears to be in a close race with my No. 1 pick for the Heisman and could place second in the voting for the second-straight year, showing just how well he has played between the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Luck has a bright future ahead whether or not he wins the award this weekend.

1. Robert Griffin III QB Baylor - In 2011, no player in the country has come further as both a Heisman candidate as well as an NFL prospect than Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III. Throwing for 3,998 yards, 36 touchdowns, and just six interceptions with a terrific 72.6% completion percentage, Griffin has dazzled the college football world both with his strong arm, elite running ability, as well as his game-changing plays that led to Baylor's big wins over Oklahoma, Texas, TCU, Missouri, and Texas Tech. For a school like Baylor, that has been a doormat for Big 12 competition for the past decade, Griffin's emergence as a star and face of their program has been incredibly valuable. What this comes down to in my opinion is the true value of Griffin as opposed to the other candidates: where would Baylor be without Griffin? Would the Bears have been able to go 6-3 and finish in third place ahead of Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M, Missouri, and Iowa State in the Big 12 without him? Absolutely not. Instead, they are set to face Washington in the Alamo Bowl, giving Griffin another chance to showcase his talent on the national level. Whether or not he opts to declare for the 2012 NFL Draft, Griffin has proved to be the type of playmaker capable of amazing, overwhelming, and bewildering fans throughout the season, much the way that Cam Newton did with Auburn in 2010. Like with Newton last year, Griffin's play this season should earn him the Heisman Trophy in what is expected to be a very close race on Saturday night.