Peterson's the man

Regardless of age, Oklahoma tailback should win Heisman Trophy

In his team's biggest game of the season, Peterson came up huge with 225 yards against Texas. Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

Last week I solicited readers' opinions about what I should do with my Heisman ballot, and they responded to the tune of more than 1,000 e-mails. As promised, I will share below who I voted for and how I came to my decision, but first a small sampling of your nominations (keep in mind these are from before last weekend's games):

Jason White should be the Heisman winner because of his phenomenal accuracy (see touchdowns to INTs, completion percentage and yardage), and because he is the difference in big road games against ranked teams such as Oklahoma State and Texas A&M, where OU would probably have lost without his leadership and performance.
--Scott Williamson, Dallas

My vote for Heisman would be USC's Matt Leinart. It's amazing how he's kept his stats up despite losing his star receivers and most of his O-line. He is the leader of the No. 1 team for two years and is a better quarterback than Jason White and Carson Palmer, the past two winners.
--Scott, Chicago

Adrian Peterson, because he's had the best season of any player this year. Peterson's averaging 150 yards a game, and he's been at his best in OU's biggest games, rushing for 474 yards against Texas and Oklahoma State. So what if he's a freshman? He's the nation's best player.
--Marc Wilson, Atlanta

I went to Texas, so I am a little biased about Cedric Benson. What other running back averages 160 yards per game with eight or nine men in the box because the passing game is almost a non-factor? People forget the Heisman is about the best player in college football, not the quarterback for the best team.
-- Kim Wassmuth, Pflugerville, Texas

Alex Smith, Utah. The only top team without an elite running game, and he still has a 174.9 QB rating. Yards, TDs, INTs are almost identical to Jason White, and we all know Adrian Peterson has helped those numbers. Smith is a one-man show.
--Shane Parsons, Virgie, Ky.

These were the most common names mentioned, with various others supporting USC's Reggie Bush, Cal's J.J. Arrington, Auburn's Jason Campbell, Memphis' DeAngelo Williams, Louisville's Stefan LeFors and Bowling Green's Omar Jacobs. Not surprisingly, though, the most popular by far were Leinart and White.

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As of last week, I was primarily focused on the two renowned quarterbacks as well, furiously trying to figure out how I was going to decide between the two, nearly identical candidates. But last Saturday in the Georgia Dome press box, I had a revelation. Crowded around the TVs in the back of the room, I watched with other writers as Bush tore off one of his several amazing runs against UCLA. Later I would watch the opening drive of Oklahoma-Colorado as Peterson shredded the Buffs on one handoff after another, then later that night caught the highlight of his 32-yard touchdown in which, much like his 80-yard score against Oklahoma State, he broke through the line, spun around a defender, kept his balance and accelerated. Both unbelievable plays.

And so, I said to myself: Leinart (66.6 percent completions, 2,990 yards, 28 touchdowns, six interceptions) and White (65.3 percent, 2,961 yards, 33 TDs, six INTs) are both outstanding quarterbacks. But do I truly believe that either is, as the Heisman criteria specifies, the "most outstanding player college football player in the United States?" Or do I think they're the most outstanding players that happen to fit the recent Heisman mold? The answer would be the latter.

The fact is, Peterson (314 carries, 1,843 yards, 15 TDs) and Bush (221 touches, 2,233 yards, 15 TDs) are two of the greatest talents to grace the college game in many years, regardless of age or position. Marc from Atlanta mentioned it, but it's worth repeating: In his team's biggest game of the season -- in just his fifth collegiate game -- Peterson ran for 225 yards against Texas. Then he put up 249 against the Sooners' other biggest rival, not to mention 183 against Oregon, 172 against Colorado, etc., etc.

Bush is quite possibly the game's most electrifying, game-turning all-purpose player since Raghib Ismail (though Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr. may soon give Bush a run for his money). He may not fit the mold of a traditional running back, but the fact he can break off a big play in three different ways (running, receiving, returns) makes him that much more dangerous. The only reason to vote him lower is his little fumbling problem.

Then there's Alex Smith. Unlike Leinart and White, who are strictly drop-back quarterbacks, Smith is a throwback to the Heisman quarterbacks of yesteryear who literally does everything for his team. Smith managed to put up comparable passing numbers to Leinart and White (66.1 percent, 2,624 yards, 28 TDs, four INTs) while also running the option and other designed runs to the tune of 563 yards on the ground. Yes, you can argue he didn't face the same level of competition, but he also didn't have a Peterson or Bush in his backfield to deflect defenses' attention.

So, the Heisman ballot I turned in Monday night read:

1) Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma

2) Alex Smith, Utah

3) Reggie Bush, USC

Normally by now it's fairly obvious who's going to win (White last year, Carson Palmer the year before), or it's at least down to a final two (Charles Woodson/Peyton Manning). Based on early projections, though, this should be the most suspenseful ceremony in many years as it appears any of three players -- Leinart, White or Peterson -- could win it.

My own ballot notwithstanding, I would not be disappointed at all to see any of those three hoist the trophy. They're all deserving. If Peterson does not win, however, it better not be because voters decided, "Well, he's a freshman, he'll have other chances." Peterson, like Herschel Walker in 1980, is the best player in the country, regardless of age. He should be awarded as such.

Stewart Mandel covers college sports for SI.com.