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. Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno is next on the 2008 list, which will be released in no particular order.

The Bulldogs have watched plenty of successful running backs pass through Athens, but it’s been a long while since any of them created a buzz quite like Knowshon Moreno. Moreno invoked memories of Herschel Walker with his terrific 2007 season. In 13 games, he rushed for 1,334 yards and 14 touchdowns while catching 20 passes for 253 yards.

In recognition of his huge season, he was voted as the SEC Freshman of the Year, named to the SEC All-Freshman team and voted to the All-SEC first team by the coaches. Moreno’s 1,334 yards ranked second in Georgia history for freshmen and fourth overall in the SEC.

Even more impressive about Moreno’s freshman year is the fact he was not a full-time starter until midway through the season. He began the year behind teammates Thomas Brown and Kregg Lumpkin on the depth chart, but strong performances and injuries eventually gave him a shot at the starting nod.

Although he was not the starter early in the season, Moreno made an impact by rushing 14 times against South Carolina for 104 yards. Upon gaining the starting job against Vanderbilt, he pieced together a string of five games with 100 or more rushing yards. In a 42-30 victory against Florida, the 5-foot-11 back notched 188 yards and three touchdowns and followed it up with 196 yards and three touchdowns against Troy.

Why he’ll be holding the hardware: With the Bulldogs expected to be one of the top 10 teams this year, Moreno has to be considered among the top candidates. Even though Moreno’s statistics were impressive, he has room to improve. The sophomore back really picked up steam in October and with more carries at the beginning of the year, look for his numbers to possibly improve.

Why he’ll be left out: All of the candidates are chasing Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and several are fighting for votes within the same region. Although Moreno’s numbers were impressive in his freshman year, head coach Mark Richt has indicated he will continue to get other backs time on the field. Keep an eye on redshirt freshman Caleb King. Although he’s yet to take a snap, King could threaten Moreno’s carries. The offensive line will also feature four sophomore starters, a definite concern going into this year.

Final Analysis: Even though Moreno could lose a few carries to King and the offensive line may be a concern, expect him to have another 1,000-yard season. How far he can go in Heisman voting will hinge upon the Bulldogs’ run at a national title. If the Bulldogs are among the top five teams and claim the SEC title, he should get a serious look for the Heisman. However, if the Bulldogs fall behind Florida, it’s hard to imagine Moreno getting the nod over Tebow. Look for a top 10 finish in Heisman voting and a trip to New York isn’t out of the question either.

2007 STAT LINE

Other Links:

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