It makes sense. A Michigan running back leading the Big Ten's best rushing
attack should be a Heisman candidate.
The problem is, the last and only Wolverines running back to win the award
was Tom Harmon in 1940.
Michigan senior Anthony Thomas fits the description -- big back from a big
school that came up big for the Wolverines on Saturday. Thomas' career-high
228-yard game might have been the main reason Michigan was able to rally and
beat Illinois 35-31.
Quarterback Drew Henson got a lot of attention for rallying Michigan from a
21-7 deficit but there had to be someone to hand it off to. The 6-foot-2,
225-pound Thomas is the nation's No. 4 rusher and No. 2 in the Big Ten
averaging 162.5 yards per game.
What's better is No. 9 Michigan (3-1) has rebuilt its title hopes after
losing to UCLA and is still in line for the Rose Bowl.
There's always room for a workhorse on the Heisman Watch.
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| Charles Woodson was the last Michigan player to win the Heisman in 1997.(Allsport) | |
In fact, it is a
preferred trait. Former winners Steve Owens, Barry Sanders, Eddie George and
Ricky Williams come to mind. There's always room for a Wolverine as well.
Desmond Howard (1991) and Charles Woodson (1997) each have won the award in
the last 10 years.
What little flair Thomas displays is in his nickname, "The A-Train." He has
quietly rushed for more than 100 yards in each of Michigan's four games.
What wasn't quiet was the outcry after Thomas' game-winning touchdown
Saturday.
Replays showed Thomas had fumbled the ball away at the
Illinois 3 on the previous carry. Officials ruled the ball did not come
loose until after Thomas was tackled. Replays showed his knee was not down when
the ball came loose. That's what super slow motion will do to an otherwise
brilliant performance.
Thomas' pounding style is probably not as flashy as TCU's LaDainian
Tomlinson or even Wisconsin's Michael Bennett -- the nation's top two
rushers -- but he could end up as the most productive back in Michigan
history. Thomas is 109 carries and 1,007 yards away from breaking Jamie Morris'
career records in both categories.
At his current pace he should get there. Whether Michigan will follow his
lead should be determined largely by Saturday's showdown against Wisconsin.
Rising this week: Eric Crouch, QB, Nebraska; Drew Brees, QB, Purdue; T.J. Duckett, RB, Michigan State; Michael Bennett, RB, Wisconsin; Woody Dantzler, QB, Clemson;
Falling: DeShaun Foster, RB, UCLA.
Finally, this week's envelope please:
- Michael Vick, QB, Virginia Tech -- Gets a mild test this week at Boston College
- Chris Weinke, QB, Florida State -- Could throw for 600 yards in a five-day span after getting 221 yards against Louisville on Saturday. Maryland is up next on Thursday.
- Anthony Thomas, RB, Michigan -- The man to call when you're in the red zone.
