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By: Josh Dixson

As the college football season quickly approaches, new storylines are being written. Cam Newton is gone to the NFL, and now the collegiate world’s focus turns to a new (or in most cases old) crop of players that will vie for the coveted trophy handed out by the Downtown Athletic Club. Here are our predictions for the Top 5 Heisman Hopefuls for 2011-2012:

5. Kellen Moore – QB – Boise State
The only knock on Moore is that he plays in the WAC. That being said, Kellen is definitely one of the top five candidates for the Heisman this year. He’s been nothing short of stellar each season, and continues to improve. By the numbers alone, it’d be hard to find a better QB than Moore last year, as he threw for 3,845 yards, 35 TDs, and only had eight picks. If his team can make a run at the ever elusive undefeated season, Kellen will have a shot to strike the pose.

4. Trent Richardson – RB – Alabama
Richardson has spent his entire career in Tuscaloosa being outshined by a previous hoister of the Heisman Trophy. He plays on one of the best teams in the country, which should finish near the top of the pack this season. Now that Mark Ingram and QB, Greg McElroy, have moved on to the NFL, we expect Richardson to get plenty of carries and put up huge numbers. As a back up last season, Richardson ran for 700 yards and six TDs. Did we mention he did so on just 112 carries? A breakout season as a starter could mean hardware for Richardson.

3. Landry Jones – QB – Oklahoma
It’s hard to bet against a Sooner QB in the Heisman race. That’s why Landry Jones had to make our list. That and the fact that he had a superhuman season as a first-time starter in 2010. Jones threw for 4,718 yards and 38 TDs. With another potential Heisman candidate in Ryan Broyles as his goto WR, he should continue to improve this season. It shouldn’t take too much help from a team that could be the best in college football to get Jones a flight to New York.

2. LaMichael James – RB – Oregon
There’s no question about who makes the Oregon Ducks go, and go fast. The furious pace of the Duck’s offense helped James amass an absurd 1,731 yards and 20 TDs in 2010. In 2011, his team has a great shot of winning the Pac-12, as well as returning to the BCS title game. You can bet that we’ll see more of the same this year from the boys in Eugene, and James (barring injury) will be a lock to get an invitation from the DAC.

1. Andrew Luck – QB – Stanford
It should be no surprise that Cam Newton’s runner-up seems to be the clear cut favorite to bring the trophy home in 2011. Luck shocked everyone (outside of his circle) when he decided to return to Stanford to finish out his career, as the Cardinals are now under construction. They have a new head coach, and are looking for replacements to many parts of a team that won the Orange Bowl. If Luck can have a season like he did in 2010 (in which he threw for 3,338 yards, 32 TDs, and had a passer rating of over 170), and keep his team in the running for a BCS bid, he should be a guaranteed a seat at the ceremony.

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