Heisman Watch: Taking a very fast look ahead

If it's all about speed in college football these days, let's get serious. The call went out to the NCAA this week because if we're going to do this, let's get it approved from on high. Is it possible, they were asked, to stage a match race between the two fastest players in college football?

We set the parameters:

• No money from sponsors, so even Nike or Coke can get their grubby little hands on the promotion.
• No money for participants. Only the greater glory of finding the fastest player in the game.
• No profit. Any money from ticket sales or television goes to charity.

Turns out that bylaws 12.1.1.4.3 and 12.5.1.1 allow such charitable events involving student-sprinters, er, athletes. Who knew? Can't believe some marketing maven hasn't thought of such an event. At the least it could be a kickoff (or runoff) to a Heisman campaign because any list of candidates this year starts with a stopwatch.

Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr. has wheels that can't be matched. (AP)

Ted Ginn Jr. meet Reggie Bush. Ginn, Ohio State's super freshman, might be the fastest player in uniform (NFL included). That might be a dig at Bush, no slouch himself, who finished fifth in Heisman voting as a sophomore.

Call it the Trojan Trot (in the Coliseum) or Olentangy Tango (in the Horseshoe) -- 100 yards, goal line to goal line.

This is not Man v. Beast nor Seabiscuit vs. War Admiral. It's bipedal all the way. Wow, a bylaw Ohio State can legally take advantage of. All we need is a field, a starter and a ticket taker.

In this corner, Bush, an All-American returner with 4.4 speed. In this corner, Ginn, another 4.4 guy, who has the potential of doing everything at Ohio State except getting the program off probation. He's the best young talent in the game who tied the NCAA record with four punt returns for touchdowns as a freshman. Once Jim Tressel realized the talent he had, Ginn was turned loose. The kid averaged 14.9 yards per touch and scored five touchdowns in the final four games.

It doesn't have to be Ginn and Bush. It could be Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson and Michigan's Michael Hart. The point is, their legs and moves symbolize how the game has evolved. For every Matt Leinart there needs to be a Bush who can run under those passes. For every Maurice Clarett there needs to be ... a better lawyer.

Just kidding. Ginn brought a dimension that hadn't been seen since, well, Bush came to USC the previous year. He's a three-tool player, able to catch, run and return. While neither player's stats will be gaudy, there's a reason why they're both used all over the field.

Speed kills. Peterson might start as the preseason favorite after a season in which he rushed for 1,925 yards and finished second in Heisman voting. Yes, he was incredibly strong for a 19-year-old, but it's his 4.4 speed that separated him from the rest.

Supposedly, Michigan knew that Texas' Vince Young is something less than an accurate passer. Young was still able to use his feet to be the singular difference in the Rose Bowl victory.

Texas A&M's Reggie McNeal, whose feet might be better than his arm. USC returns five of its top six receivers. One of them, Steve Smith, caught three Leinart touchdown passes in the Orange Bowl.

There is a trend developing here. On your mark, get set ...

Top 10 Heisman candidates. Calm down. If you're guy isn't here, remember, it's only March. That's why we're putting them alphabetical order.

For more on the Heisman Trophy race, check out the previous Heisman Trophy winners.