Heisman to Russell -- in '07 (Saturday, of course, it's Smith's)

I've seen JaMarcus Russell throw away games. I've seen JaMarcus Russell throw absolute bullets.

Troy Smith is bound to complete his front-running journey to this season's Heisman. (AP)

At times the LSU quarterback has needed remedial decision making. At times he has saved the Tigers' season.

Today, he is my Heisman winner. In 2007. If the spectacularly talented, frustratingly flawed junior makes the right decision and returns to LSU for his senior season, the Tigers will be a favorite to win their second national championship in five years.

Troy Smith? Yesterday's news. It's hard to remember a player who went wire-to-wire to win the Heisman as Ohio State's quarterback did this year. While Smith will accept the trophy on Saturday, we're already looking ahead.

The suspense Saturday is really who is going to finish second. It's such a boat race that there should be a 10-way tie. None of my colleagues on the Heisman Hopefuls page even listed Russell in their final top seven. Silly rabbits.

My official Heisman ballot cast this week had Russell No. 2 and Hawaii's Colt Brennan No. 3. Three quarterbacks, what a surprise.

But neither team would have been much without them. Brennan threw for 52 touchdowns as the Warriors won 10 games. Russell is a bigger version of Vince Young (at 6-feet-6, 260) who goes into the Sugar Bowl as the nation's top-rated passer from a BCS conference school.

That would have been hard to believe on the night of Nov. 4 when Russell threw an interception so incredibly dumb that his coach Les Miles had to be screaming into his headset. Russell overshot his receiver into the waiting arms of Tennessee's Demetrice Morley, who ran 31 yards for a touchdown.

The game seemed to be over, but Russell rallied the Tigers for a stunning 28-24 victory. LSU turned it over four times, three on Russell interceptions. Still, Russell was standing at the end to throw the winning touchdown pass with nine seconds left.

By the end of the season, LSU (10-2) was playing as well as anyone. Its two losses were by four points at Auburn and by 13 at Florida. Many of Russell's decisions in both were of the dubious nature.

But down the stretch he seemed to get it, leading the Tigers to six consecutive victories. The kid deserves to be the All-SEC quarterback. Quarterback coach Jimbo Fisher deserves a medal for working out the brain cramps, for now.

Russell could do something stupid and go to the NFL. But take a tip for Peyton Manning and Matt Leinart, J. That extra year can make all the difference in the world. A year in which LSU should contend for the national championship.

My official Heisman ballot

1. Troy Smith, QB, Ohio State: Remember how tough Michigan's defense was supposed to be? Smith threw four touchdown passes. We have to wait 51 days between games to see him again, but it will be worth it. Florida's tough D is up next in the BCS title game.

2. JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU: All this, and the kid has a soul, too. Remember how he housed 20-something relatives and friends in his apartment during the Katrina disaster?

3. Colt Brennan, QB, Hawaii: Off-field trouble at Colorado eventually found him walking on at Hawaii. It was the best thing that ever happened to him. Playing under noted quarterback maker June Jones will probably get him an NFL shot.

Four more for you consideration

Michael Hart, RB, Michigan: Ran toughest in the big games. Might be Russell's main competition next year.

James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State: If he stays in school, this sophomore winner of the Nagurski Award (best defensive player) could be a three-time All-American.

Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas: Would have been higher, but in the season's two biggest games (USC and Florida) he was nicked up and rushed for a combined 115 yards.

Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia: The nation's speediest back officially has a fumbling problem.