2008 Heisman Watch: Arian Foster

There has been no shortage of successful running backs on Rocky Top and with one year of eligibility remaining, Arian Foster has a chance to solidify his place in Tennessee history. The senior back is currently seventh in school history for most rushing yards in a career and needs 685 yards to break the record.

As a key member of the 2007 Volunteers’ SEC East championship team, Foster rushed for 1,193 yards — which ranked as the ninth best single-season rushing performance in school history. He also posted five 100-yard performances throughout the year, including a 139-yard outing against a tough Mississippi State defense.

Foster’s 1,193 yards in 2007 was the first 1,000-yard season in his career. In 2006, Foster rushed for only 322 yards and five touchdowns but was significantly hampered by injuries. However, in his freshman season, Foster rushed for 879 yards and five scores on his way to earning Freshman All-SEC honors.

Entering 2008, the Volunteers have a few changes on the offensive staff. Former Richmond coach Dave Clawson was brought onboard to replace departed offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe while Stan Drayton takes over as running backs coach for Kurt Roper, who joined Cutcliffe at Duke. The Volunteers aren’t expecting huge changes under Clawson, but there will clearly be an adjustment period while the players get used to his methods.

Why he’ll be holding the hardware: Assuming Foster can stay healthy, he should be able to equal or better last season’s numbers. The Volunteers have one of the nation’s top offensive lines, and Clawson will also use the fullback in more of the base formations. Foster will have his chance to make a Heisman statement early in the year with matchups against Florida, Georgia, UCLA and Auburn before November.

Why he’ll be left out: Although the Volunteers could surprise and win the SEC East, Foster is fighting with several other candidates from this conference. Florida’s Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin, along with Georgia’s Knowshon Moreno will all battle for votes from this region. Foster will likely need to outperform Moreno to jump into the top 10. If the Volunteers finish behind Georgia or Florida, it’s unlikely this senior back will have enough momentum to reach New York.

Final Analysis: The SEC has a stockpile of potential Heisman contenders and Foster should be considered a darkhorse to hoist the trophy in New York. The Volunteers have a solid offensive line and a developing quarterback meaning Foster will see plenty of work early in the year. He’ll be a steady performer throughout the season, but Foster must be brilliant — especially in games against Georgia and Florida — to earn any kind of Heisman consideration.

2007 STAT LINE

Other Links:

Athlon Sports' 2008 Heisman Watch
Read the Tennessee team preview
Watch the Tennessee preview video