September 23, 2009

Olin Buchanan
Rivals.com College Football Senior Writer

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Trends end. But when?

Eight of the past nine Heisman Trophy recipients have been quarterbacks. And with previous winners Tim Tebow of Florida and Sam Bradford of Oklahoma topping a long and impressive list of accomplished quarterbacks on rosters this season, most observers assumed the trend would grow to nine out of 10. Even a running back as explosive as California's Jahvid Best only seemed to have an outside shot.

But for a player with great speed, getting outside is advantageous. Best demonstrated that by rushing for 131 yards and five touchdowns in a 35-21 victory over Minnesota on Saturday.

"He's probably the fast running back I've ever played against," Minnesota linebacker Lee Campbell said. "You had to keep him corralled. ... When he got outside, he's gone."

Best's big game against the Gophers - combined with pedestrian showings by top contenders Tebow and Texas' Colt McCoy - established him as the new front-runner in the Heisman race.

Back in days of yore - the 1970s and '80s - running backs typically won the Heisman. From 1973-83, a running back was the recipient of college football's most prestigious individual award. But in the mid-'80s teams started passing more frequently, and with the proliferation this decade of spread offenses, the focal point has shifted away from running backs to quarterbacks.

But now the quarterbacks are chasing Best. As the Minnesota defense can attest, catching him won't be easy.

Olin Buchanan is the senior college football writer for Rivals.com. He can be reached at olin@rivals.com.