2008 Heisman Watch: Percy Harvin

It’s the most prestigious individual award in all of sports, and Athlon's Heisman Watch spotlights the top 25 candidates to hoist the trophy. Florida receiver Percy Harvin is next on the 2008 list, which will be released in no particular order.

The 2008 Florida offense could finish as one of the best in college football history. With returning Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow under center and Percy Harvin returning on the outside, SEC defensive coordinators will have nightmares trying to gameplan for this team. According to head coach Urban Meyer, Harvin has bulked up in the offseason and should have added strength when he takes the field this year.

Harvin will be one of the nation’s top dual-threat options at the receiver spot this season. The junior rushed 764 yards last season while averaging a ridiculous 9.2 yards per carry. He also amassed just under 1,000 receiving yards — 858 — and posted four receiving touchdowns last season.

What’s even more impressive about Harvin’s statistics is the fact he missed two games with injury late in the year. However, he returned to rush for 157 yards and a touchdown against rival Florida State. In the 41-35 loss to Michigan in the Capital One Bowl, he rushed for 165 yards and a touchdown while catching nine passes for 77 yards and a touchdown.

In just two seasons, Harvin owns the Florida record for most career rushing yards by a receiver with 1,192 and the most rushing yards in a single season by a receiver with 764. He was also voted as the 2006 SEC Freshman of the Year, after collecting 855 total yards and five touchdowns.

Why he’ll be holding the hardware: Harvin will be a threat to score every time he touches the ball. Although Tebow is the most important player to the Gator offense, Harvin is a key cog and will be essential to developing a solid rushing game this season. Assuming he is 100 percent, don’t count him out from posting a 1,000-yard rushing and 1,000-yard receiving season.

Why he’ll be left out: The biggest case against Harvin’s Heisman campaign is Tebow. With Tebow returning, it may be difficult for Harvin to cut into his campaign enough to win the Heisman Trophy. Although Meyer has indicated he is recovering well from heel surgery, it is still a concern until he shows otherwise. With a plethora of candidates from the SEC East, Harvin will need to really stand out in key match-ups to steal votes away from Tebow or even Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno.

Final Analysis: Barring injury, the Gators stand an excellent chance to have two candidates in New York. Tebow enters the season as the favorite, but Harvin is certainly one who deserves a serious look — especially if he totals over 2,000 yards of offense. Look for this junior to be a top 10 Heisman candidate this season.

2007 STAT LINE

Other Links:

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