Ingram Takes The Lead In Latest HeismanPundit.com Heisman Poll

October 23rd, 2009 by Vince Mullins

Guest post from Chris at HeismanPundit.com

Mark Ingram should be excited to be getting Heisman hype as a sophomore (Icon SMI)

Alabama running back Mark Ingram is the new leader in the latest edition of the HeismanPundit.com Heisman Poll released on Tuesday (Oct. 20).

The sophomore from Flint, Mich., surged into the top spot following his 246-yard rushing performance against South Carolina. The weekly survey of 13 Heisman voters from around the country gave Ingram 48 points and four first-place votes as he supplanted Florida’s Tim Tebow (45 points, six first-place votes), the poll leader for the first eight weeks of the season. If Ingram’s lead holds, he’ll become the first Alabama player–and third-consecutive sophomore–to win the Heisman.

“Mark Ingram has emerged as the leader in my opinion because of he’s played so well, especially in the last three games,” said one voter. “The Heisman goes to the most outstanding player and at this point I don’t see anyone who’s more outstanding. Great performances against good opponents impress me most, and he’s had big games against Virginia Tech, Mississippi and South Carolina.”

The voting by the panel once again indicated a wide open race for the most prestigious award in sports, as a season-high 17 players appeared on their ballots. Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen place a distant third in the poll (19 points, one first-place vote), while Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh (14 points) and Cincinnati’s Tony Pike (13 points, one first-place vote), rounded out the top five.

The HeismanPundit.com Heisman Poll and column appears weekly in the print edition fo the Orlando Sentinel and in various Tribune Company media outlets.

HeismanPundit.com Heisman Poll, 10/20

1. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama–48 (4)
2. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida–45 (6)

3. Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame–19 (1)

4. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska–14

5. Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati–13 (1)

6. Case Keenum, QB, Houston–11

7. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas–10

8. Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame–9 (1)
9. Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State–7

10. Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State–6

Others Receiving Votes: Jacory Harris, QB, Miami–4; Matt Barkley, QB, USC–3; Dion Lewis, RB, Pitt–2; Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU–1; Dan LeFevour, QB, Central Michigan–1; Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama–1; Eric Berry, DB, Tennessee–1

About the Poll

The HeismanPundit.com Heisman Poll is made up of 13 Heisman voters from across the country. They vote for five players each week. Tabulations are made on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis, with five points awarded for a first-place vote, four points for a second-place vote and so on. Last year’s final Heismanpundit poll was the most accurate in the country, picking five of the top six finishers in the Heisman vote, including the winner.

Members of the panel include: Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel, Teddy Greenstein and Brian Hamilton of the Chicago Tribune, Olin Buchanan and Tom Dienhart of Rivals.com, Jenni Carlson of The Oklahoman, Bruce Feldman of ESPN.com, J.B. Morris of ESPN the Magazine, Austin Murphy, B.J. Schecter and Stewart Mandel of Sports Illustrated, plus Dick Weiss of the New York Daily News. Chris Huston of HeismanPundit.com coordinates and also votes in the poll.