2002 HEISMAN WATCH
COLLEGESPORTS.COM PICK: WILLIS MCGAHEE, RB, MIAMI
HEISMAN HYPE: With his record breaking 205-yard, six touchdown performance in Miami's wild 56-45 season finale victory over Virginia Tech, McGahee added the final piece to his Heisman puzzle. He now has that Heisman moment- the game that football fans will look back on years from now as the performance that put him above the rest. He already had everything else in place. He's clearly defined himself as the offensive leader of an undefeated championship contender. He's stepped up his play in Miami's biggest games and now owns Miami's records for all-purpose yards, rushing yards, total points and touchdowns in a season. His consistent big-time play throughout the season has shown that he truly is the driving force behind the Miami offense and the top man for the Heisman Trophy.
2002 STATISTICS
G Att YDS Avg TD Rec Yds TD
12 262 1,686 6.4 27 24 350 0
TOP CONTENDERS
BRAD BANKS, QB, IOWA

HEISMAN HYPE: Banks burst on to the radar when he overtook Seneca Wallace as the best quarterback in Iowa. Since then his stock continued to soar. In fact, Banks' phenomenal 25-4 touchdown to interception ratio is best among the Heisman hopefuls. The Hawkeyes are headed to the Orange Bowl and have stepped up as one of the best teams in the country; Banks is the biggest reason why.

2002 STATISTICS
G Comp Att Yds TD INT Rush Yds TD
12 155 258 2,369 25 4 73 387 5
CARSON PALMER, QB, USC
HEISMAN HYPE: Carson Palmer ended his career at the Coliseum with a Heisman Trophy performance as the Trojans rocked Notre Dame 44-13 behind his 425 passing yards and four touchdowns. Palmer is the hottest quarterback in the country leading the hottest team in the country. It may not be enough, though, as USC's two early losses left the Trojans out of the Fiesta Bowl picture and may be enough to put the Heisman in someone else's hands.
2002 STATISTICS
G Comp Att Yds TD INT Rush Yds TD
12 288 458 3,639 32 10 45 -126 4
KEN DORSEY, QB, MIAMI
HEISMAN HYPE: Plain and simple- Dorsey could easily be holding the Heisman at the Yale Club, but it won't be because he's the nation's best player this year. He's not even the best player on his team. If the Heisman voters give him the trophy, it will be as a career achievement award for his 38-1 record as Miami's starting quarterback. Dorsey had a decent game in the finale, regardless of his lame attempt to catch a pass (and the Heisman) that backfired into an interception and breathed life into the dormant Hokies. He logged 300 yards and two touchdowns, but Willis McGahee was the hero, as he has been for most of the season.
2002 STATISTICS
G Comp Att Yds TD INT Rush Yds TD
12 194 350 3,073 26 10 19 -20 0
LARRY JOHNSON, RB, PENN STATE
HEISMAN HYPE: Larry Johnson exploded on the Heisman scene with a vengence, becoming only the ninth player in Division I-A history to eclipse 2,000 rushing yards. The nation's leader in total offense has propelled Penn State from its doldrums and back to its normal place in the top 25 and in bowl contention. But Johnson hasn't exactly been a prime-time player for the Nittany Lions. He failed to crack the 80-yard barrier in each of Penn State's three losses at the hands of Big Ten rivals Michigan, Ohio State and Iowa- not the mark of a Heisman winner.
2002 STATISTICS
G Att YDS Avg TD Rec Yds TD
12 251 2,015 7.5 20 38 331 3