Stumping for the Freshman Candidate

Like many Heisman Trophy voters, Herschel Walker is waiting until after this weekend to fill out his ballot.

But the 1982 Heisman winner already has decided one thing: He couldn’t care less that Oklahoma’s Adrian Peterson is a freshman.

“This is for who you think is the best this year, not who has played the longest,” Walker said. “Adrian Peterson is as qualified as anyone else.”

Walker, Peterson and the Heisman have been discussed together quite often this fall because Peterson is having the biggest impact as a freshman since Walker burst onto the scene in 1980.

As great as Walker was that fall, he finished only third in the Heisman voting. No freshman -- heck, not even a sophomore -- has won it, in part because of the argument that underclassmen haven’t paid their dues yet.

“What does dues-paying have to do with winning the Heisman Trophy?” Walker asked. “It’s not for what you did two or three years ago, it’s for what you did this year. You’re on the same field as the older guys, so why in the world should you not be able to win it just because you’re young?”

Peterson and several other top Heisman challengers have one last chance Saturday to try swaying the 923 voters, including Walker and the other 51 living winners. The top-three picks are due Wednesday afternoon and the big announcement comes three nights later.

Walker has narrowed his choices to Peterson and his OU teammate, senior quarterback Jason White, last year’s Heisman winner; USC junior quarterback Matt Leinart and sophomore running back Reggie Bush; and Texas senior running back Cedric Benson.

California quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Auburn quarterback Jason Campbell and Utah quarterback Alex Smith, all juniors, are also being considered by many voters.

Benson and Smith are the only ones among that group not playing this weekend. The rest have games with BCS berths and national championship hopes on the line, adding the kind of stakes voters take seriously.

Another undecided voter is one of the likely finalists, White. He said this week his choices are “coming down to the wire,” although he’s indicated he’ll go with Peterson.

“I have a pretty good idea who’s been playing well this year and definitely deserves to be on the ballot,” said White, who would join Ohio State’s Archie Griffin as the only two-time winners.

Freshmen were ineligible to play from 1958-72, helping fuel the pay-your-dues philosophy. Then Walker suited up for Georgia eight years later and began changing attitudes.

He ran for 1,616 yards and 15 touchdowns, both the most ever by a freshman, and had four 200-yard games. Oh, one more thing of note: He led the Bulldogs to a national championship.

But the Heisman went to South Carolina’s George Rogers, who led the nation with 165 more yards than Walker. While Walker considers Rogers a worthy winner, he’s still rankled about also finishing behind Pittsburgh defensive lineman Hugh Green.

Walker put up better stats as a sophomore, but was understandably second to USC’s Marcus Allen, the first 2,000-yard rusher. Walker finally won as a junior, easily beating John Elway and Eric Dickerson.

“I still question if I should’ve won it that year,” said Walker, who turned pro instead of returning as a senior. “I don’t know if I won it or if they felt sorry and gave it to me.”

While other players have been good straight out of high school, none have been as Walker-like as Peterson.

He has 1,688 yards through 11 games -- 72 more in the same number of games as Walker -- with 12 touchdowns. Both averaged 5.9 yards per carry, with Peterson leading the nation in attempts.

And he didn’t even start five games.

Peterson still ran for at least 100 yards in his first nine, with the streak ending mainly because of a dislocated left shoulder. He’s topped 200 three times, including two of the Sooners’ toughest games: a showdown against Benson and rival Texas, and against another rival, Oklahoma State.

Next up is the Big 12 championship Saturday against Colorado. A win likely puts Oklahoma into the BCS national title game, which would give Peterson yet another chance to match Walker.

With 176 yards against the Buffaloes, Peterson would break the freshman rushing record held by Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne. Dayne took it from Walker, but was an afterthought in the Heisman voting that year.

Other standout freshmen who were ignored include Pittsburgh’s Tony Dorsett (then-record 1,586 yards) in 1973 and San Diego State’s Marshall Faulk (23 total touchdowns) in 1991.

If Walker puts Peterson first on his ballot, it wouldn’t be the first time he’s gone with an underclassman. He put Virginia Tech freshman quarterback Michael Vick first in 1999 and had Pitt sophomore Larry Fitzgerald on top last year.

Fitzgerald finished second, while Vick was third, matching Walker and Georgia Tech running back Clint Castleberry in 1942 for the best by a freshman.

“I think this will probably be one of the closest races there’s been in a long time,” Walker said. “Anyone could win it.”

Even a freshman.