6. Mike Hart, Michigan, RB, Sr.

	Diminutive RB Mike Hart should rack up the yards once again for Michigan. Robert Beck/SI
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2006 stats: 318 rushes, 1,562 yards, 14 TDs; 17 receptions, 125 yards

Heisman-o-meter: He's not flashy, but he's effective. Other running backs have bigger numbers and more SportsCenter-worthy highlights, but all this undersized (5-foot-9, 196 pounds) back does is move chains and win. Hart sat out spring practice while recovering from surgery to clean up his left shoulder, but he says the time off has helped freshen his body. Two other factors may make Hart a leading candidate come December: The Wolverines are rebuilding on defense, so the first-team offense may see more snaps late in games, and Hart's backup, Kevin Grady, is out for the season with a torn ACL in his left knee.

7. P.J. Hill, Wisconsin, RB, Soph.

2006 stats: 311 rushes, 1,569 yards, 15 TDs; 18 receptions, 197 yards, 1 TD

Heisman-o-meter: A surprise in 2006, Hill was a delight to watch. Though he is big back (5-11, 242) who likes to plow defenders, he has surprising wheels to get past tacklers. In the offseason he had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder (an injury that may explain why he averaged just 79.4 yards in his last five games) and sat out spring practice, but he should be ready for the start of the season. And with the Badgers likely to be in the national title picture for much of the season, Hill won't be hurting for attention.

8. Pat White, West Virginia, QB, Jr.

2006 stats: 118-of-179 passing, 1,655 yards, 13 TDs, 7 INTs; 165 rushes, 1,219 yards, 18 TDs

Heisman-o-meter: White, not Slaton, was the best Mountaineer in the West Virginia backfield during the second half of 2006. Maybe that was a result of Slaton's wrist injury or defenses keying on Slaton. Or maybe it was a result of White having some skills of his own. White is just as dangerous a threat running the ball as his backfieldmate, but he needs to become a more efficient passer if he wants to win the stiff-armed statuette.

9. Colt McCoy, Texas, QB, Soph.

2006 stats: 217-of-318 passing; 2,570 yards; 29 TDs; 7 INTs; 68 rushes, 170 yards, 2 TDs

Heisman-o-meter: This baby-faced assassin actually generated much Heisman buzz last season despite being a redshirt freshman. But then he got knocked out of the Kansas State game, Texas lost and that was the end of that. To help him absorb the kind of pounding a college quarterback takes, McCoy added 10 pounds of muscle in the offseason while still keeping the pinpoint accuracy he displayed much of last year. His numbers could take a dip if the Longhorns rediscover their power running game, a point of emphasis in the offseason. Texas does return every receiver this season, though, so here's betting that the 'Horns don't forget how to throw.

10. Ray Rice, Rutgers, RB, Jr.

2006 stats: 335 rushes, 1,794 yards, 20 TDs; 4 receptions, 30 yards

Heisman-o-meter: Ray Rice or Ian Johnson? I went with Rice by a nose, and honestly if you ask me again in five minutes I might go with Johnson. To me, it's that close. Both shifty and powerful, Rice proved to be a workhorse last season (no one in the country carried the ball more), and the workload did not diminish his effectiveness. Another victim of offseason surgery, Rice had a bone chip in his right ankle removed, but he's expected to be 100 percent soon. The question with Rice will be how well he runs without hard-nosed fullback Brian Leonard and two top linemen. Rice could also use a bit more help from quarterback Mike Teel to take some pressure off the running game.

Just missed: Ian Johnson, Boise State, RB, Jr.