Before the season starts on Thursday most college football sites will have already presented their set of 5-10 players they view as “Heisman Hopefuls.” This group will undoubtedly include Florida QB Tim Tebow, Georgia RB Knowshon Moreno, Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree, Ohio State RB Chris Wells, Missouri QB Chase Daniel, and West Virginia QB Pat White. But what about “the others?”

At this time last year Chase Daniel wasn’t a nationally recognized name. You’d be hard pressed to find his name on any preseason Heisman lists. But leading his team to an undefeated record (against anyone not named Oklahoma) earned his spot among the big boys. So who will be this years Chase Daniel?

Here are my 10 “Heisman Possibles” for 2008 (in no particular order):

Heisman Possible: Clemson QB Cullen Harper

Harper’s teammates James Davis and C.J. Spiller are receiving all the accolades but the senior quarterback may be the most underrated at his position in the country. Clemson is the preseason favorite to come out of the ACC and a big season for Harper could get him an invite to New York. He opens the season with the biggest game of week one against a very good Alabama team. All eyes will be on that game and Harper could do a lot to become a house hold name with a strong performance against Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide.

Heisman Possible: South Florida QB Matt Grothe

South Florida’s QB Matt Grothe will invite everyone back onto the USF bandwagon with another surprise season. The Bulls came out of nowhere last year behind Grothe but this season have some expectations to live up to. If he can play as clutch as he did early last season, he may have an outside shot to be this season’s Jason White.

Heisman Possible: Arizona State RB Keegan Herring

Herring has often been over shadowed by fellow Pac 10 running back Joe McNight but make no mistake Herring is as talented as they come. Arizona State has big plans this season and with head to head matchups against McNight and Heisman candidate Knowshon Moreno, Herring can demand he be included in Heisman talk with his play on the national stage.

Heisman Possible: Penn State WR Derrick Williams

Derrick Williams was a highly coveted athlete coming out of high school. Once thought of as the top player in his class Williams hasn’t lived up to the hype. With all the tools and skills to be one of the premier players in the country Williams could follow up his excellent junior season with a trophy winning senior year.

Heisman Possible: Pittsburgh RB LeSean McCoy

If you haven’t seen this guy play shame on you. McCoy enjoyed a very special season in 2007 which included being named First-Team All Conference and First-Team Freshman All-American. He won’t have the luxury of “sneaking” up on Big East foes this year but worked hard in the off-season gaining strength and quickness; scary news for Pitt opponents. If McCoy can avoid the sophomore slump that bites a lot of college athletes, he will be considered one of the top players in the country.

Heisman Possible: Texas QB Colt McCoy

The other McCoy. After a sensational freshman season McCoy took a considerable step backwards in 2007. Some say he takes too many hits. Others say his frame is just too small to take the pounding. I say, in 2008 McCoy critics will have to publish “blogpologies.” If Texas wins the Big 12 McCoy will be a favorite to win the Heisman. His team will lean on his experience and grit to fight through the now tougher Big 12. At a school with football pedigree, McCoy could be the third Longhorn to give the nation the stiff arm.

Heisman Possible: Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford

I can’t have the Longhorn quarterback on this list if I don’t also include Oklahoma’s counterpart. Sam Bradford was a blessing in disguise for Oklahoma last year. Waiting until a week before the season opener to hear he was the teams starter, Bradford took advantage of coach Stoops decision. He set a NCAA freshman record for passing touchdowns in a season. With DeMarco Murray lined up behind him he should see plenty of opportunities to make big plays.

Heisman Possible: BYU QB Max Hall

With quarterbacking in his blood, nephew of Cowboys great Danny White, Max Hall is receiving a lot of praise after a very nice sophomore campaign. Hall originally signed with Arizona State but when losing the starting job to Rudy Carpenter transferred to BYU. Now entering his third year of eligibility he has a talented enough team around him to mess up the BCS system and collect individual awards.

Heisman Possible: Virginia Tech CB Victor “Macho” Harris

If a corner can win the Heisman he’s going to come out of the ACC. Between Wake Forest CB Alphonso Smith and Virginia Tech’s Macho Harris wide receivers in the ACC are wishing one of them had in fact gone pro. Harris, who had declared for the NFL draft last season only to change his mind, sometimes gambles too often giving up the big play. But this gutsy style also puts him in position to make the big play himself. He has the attitude, he has the experience, and he has the coach who knows how to utilize talented corners.

Heisman Possible: Alabama WR Julio Jones

Think a freshman wide receiver can’t take college football by storm? Ask Michael Crabtree. Julio Jones has freakish abilities and much like Randy Moss can find the ball at it’s highest point and beat the defensive player to it. Everything I read about Jones coming from summer workouts suggests he’s even better than advertised. If Jones puts up insane numbers and takes the Tide to the SEC Championship game I think Julio Jones could be right there with Crabtree in Heisman discussion. Side note: Jones was recruited hard by Texas Tech. Could you imagine defending that?

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