2012 Heisman Trophy Contenders: Post-Week 9

Each week, the Athlon editors and others who closely follow college football vote on the most prestigious award in the sport. A 13-man conglomerate of college football gurus from Athlon Sports and other publications cast their votes for their top Heisman Trophy candidates. The votes will be tallied and the results will be posted as the Athlon Sports Heisman Watch List every week of the regular season.

Voting: Each first-place vote receives 10 points. A second-place vote receives nine points. So on and so forth with a 10th-place vote receiving one point. Here are Athlon's guest voters:

Barrett Sallee: Bleacher Report SEC Lead Writer (@BarrettSallee)
Jim Young: ACCSports.com (@ACCSports)
Blair Kerkhoff: Kansas City Star (@BlairKerkhoff)
Chris Level: RedRaiderSports.com (@ChrisLevel)

1. Collin Klein, QB, Kansas State (12 first place votes)
Season Stats: 117-165, 1,630 yards, 12 TD, 2 INT, 122 att., 634 yards, 16 TD
For the third time in four games, Klein led his team to at least 55 points against a ranked opponent. The KSU quarterback scored four total touchdowns, passed for 233 yards and rushed for 83 yards. He has now rushed for at least two scores in four straight games and hasn't thrown an interception since Week 3. CK7 is the No. 2-rated passer in the nation at 175.47, trailing only A.J. McCarron. Next Game: Oklahoma State

2. Manti Te'o, LB, Notre Dame (1 first place vote)
Season Stats: 80 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 5 INT, 1 sack, FR, 3 PBU
The Irish held the Sooners to their lowest scoring (13 points) and yardage (379) outputs of the season. And Te'o played a huge role. In fact, should Te'o win the stiff-armed trophy, it will be his performance in the spotlight on the road against Oklahoma that won him the award. He posted 11 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, one monster sack, and one outstanding, diving, game-clinching interception. There is much left to be accomplished in South Bend, but this was a signature performance from the star linebacker. Next Game: Pitt

3. Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State
Season Stats: 112-198, 1,527 yards, 12 TD, 6 INT, 166 att., 1,093 yards, 12 TD
After a huge hit that cost him the fourth quarter against Purdue and resulted in a trip to the hospital, Miller was up to his old tricks again this weekend. He rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns in the easy win over Penn State and the Ohio State quarterback now leads the Big Ten in rushing (121.4 ypg). It was his sixth 100-yard effort of the season. He also threw for 143 yards and another touchdown through the air as well. Next Game: Illinois

5. Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
Season Stats: 216-291, 2,414 yards, 26 TD, 2 INT, 35 att., 56 yards, TD
The numbers are still elite level for the Mountaineers' passer and hopefully the bye week gave Smith and company some time to regroup and rebuild their lost confidence. There is still much to play for with five conference games remaining. Next game: TCU

6. Kenjon Barner, RB, Oregon
Season Stats: 141 att., 974 yards, 14 TD, 13 rec., 158 yards, TD
Next Game: at USC

7. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
Season Stats: 173-269, 2,216 yards, 16 TD, 6 INT, 117 att., 793 yards, 13 TD
Next Week: at Mississippi State

8. Matt Barkley, QB, USC
Season Stats: 171-262, 2,266 yards, 25 TD, 8 INT, 27 att., minus-56 yards
Next game: Oregon

9. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Season Stats: 133-194, 1,483 yards, 18 TD, 5 INT, 57 att., 378 yards, 3 TD
Next Game: at USC

10. Marqise Lee, WR, USC
Season Stats: 76 rec., 1,129 yards, 10 TD, 15 KR, 426 yards, TD, 44 yards rushing 
Next Game: Oregon

by Braden Gall

Follow @bradengall

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