By Jason Hickman
MaxPreps.com
College football's Heisman Trophy is arguably the greatest individual award an athlete can receive in the United States. The Trophy's tradition and history is unparalleled, and the pomp and circumstance surrounding its presentation produces storylines and drama that even the most heated in-state rivals would struggle to duplicate on the field.
With that in mind, we pose the question - what if the Heisman Trophy was awarded annually to the nation's top high school football player? Who would be the top candidates in 2006? Just for fun, we set out to answer that question.
Quarterbacks and running backs have traditionally held an upper hand in the Heisman race, taking the Trophy home in 17 of the past 20 seasons. This list has been created with that in mind, and although the bronze statue doesn't go to a senior every year, we've limited our list to members of the class of 2007. The last 15 winners have come from BCS conferences, so putting that into a high school perspective, it means that even a running back who rushes for 6,000 yards and 75 touchdowns would have a difficult time winning if he was playing eight-man football in Nebraska.
The Favorites
Jimmy Clausen, Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.)
Nobody will enter the 2006 season under more of a microscope than Oaks Christian quarterback Jimmy Clausen. The 6-3, 200-pound signal caller made a very public commitment to the University of Notre Dame at the College Football Hall of Fame and will become the third Clausen brother to play major college football. But there is a reason for the hype. Clausen completed 67 percent of his passes as a junior for 2,778 yards and 30 touchdowns while leading his Lions to a 13-0 record and Section title.
Noel Devine, North Fort Myers (North Fort Myers, Fla.)
At 5-8, 175 pounds, Devine may not be the biggest running back in the country, but he is without question the most electric. The North Fort Myers speedster averaged 11.1 yards per carry last fall en route to a 1,933-yard, 24-touchdown season. He capped his junior campaign in spectacular fashion by rushing for 398 yards and four touchdowns against Bishop Verot.See Noel Devine in Action
Caleb King, Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.)
Unfortunately for opponents on Parkview's 2006 schedule, the King hasn't left the building just yet. Caleb King has racked up over 4,500 all-purpose yards and 39 touchdowns over last two seasons, including a 2,700-yard rushing campaign as a junior. The Georgia back's signature performance in 2005 came against Central Gwinnett, an October game where he toted the ball 42 times for 315 yards and a touchdown. King surpassed the 200-yard mark in nine of 13 contests last year.
Willy Korn, Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.)
A year ago, an ESPN-televised game made Tim Tebow of Nease High School in Florida a national name. Willy Korn will have the same opportunity in August when he leads Byrnes into battle against Belle Glades, Fla. As a junior, Korn threw for over 4,000 yards and also rushed for 10 touchdowns. The future Clemson Tiger is a winner, as well, helping Byrnes capture state titles each of the past three seasons.
Ryan Mallett, Texas (Texarkana, Texas)
Any legitimate Trophy contender needs to play well on the big stage, and the top signal caller in Texas will have a couple of opportunities to do so. Ryan Mallett will lead his Texas High team into high-profile showdowns with John Tyler at the East Texas Football Classic, and Findlay, Ohio (the same school that produced Ben Roethlisberger) as part of the Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge. The Michigan commitment threw for 2,279 yards and 21 touchdowns as a junior, earning District 12-4A most valuable player honors.
Dark Horses
Pat Bostick, Manheim Township (Lancaster, Pa.)
Bostick is widely regarded to be the top signal caller in Pennsylvania after throwing for 2,810 yards and 34 touchdowns as a junior. The 6-4, 220-pound Pittsburgh commitment is efficient, too, completing 61 percent of his pass attempts and throwing just six interceptions. Bostick led Manheim Township to an 8-3 record last season.
Austin Box, Enid (Enid, Okla.)
Already committed to Oklahoma, Enid's Austin Box dominates on both sides of the ball. Operating at the quarterback position, Box used his arm and legs to produce over 2,200 yards and 28 touchdowns. Defensively, the 6-3, 215-pound safety/linebacker is a bonecrushing hitter and is expected to join the Sooner defense when he dons the Crimson & Cream. Box is also a highly-regarded baseball prospect.
Kodi Burns, Northside (Fort Smith, Ark.)
Fans in Arkansas believe Kodi Burns is the Natural State's version of Michael Vick. That's a lot to put on a young man's shoulders, but Burns is used to carrying the load. As a junior, the do-it-all signal caller accounted for over 3,000 passing and rushing yards and 31 touchdowns. Burns led Northside to an 8-5 record in and the second round of the state playoffs in 2005.
John Clay, Racine Park (Racine, Wis.)
Wisconsin's Player of the Year as a junior, running back John Clay is a lock to put up big numbers again in 2006. Despite Clay's 6-2, 220-pound frame, speed is considered his greatest asset and he put it to use in racking up 2,032 yards and 30 touchdowns last season.
John (J.J.) Diluigi, Canyon (Canyon Country, Calif.)
Diluigi was the all-purpose sparkplug for Canyon's Section Championship team in 2005, leading the Cowboys to a 13-1 record. Headed to Brigham Young University, Diliugi rushed for 1,870 yards and 36 touchdowns while catching 33 passes for 519 yards and six more touchdowns in his spare time. If that wasn't enough, the 5-9, 175-pound back had another 517 yards in the return game. Dilugi's signature performance came against Saugus in October, where he piled up 327 all-purpose yards on 20 touches (16.3 yards per touch).
Chris Forcier, St. Augustine (San Diego, Calif.)
Forcier blossomed at the quarterback position over the second half of the 2005 season, taking his game to another level in the playoffs and leading St. Augustine to a Section title. In three postseason contests, Forcier passed for 1,009 yards and eight touchdowns. Against Valhalla in the opening round, the UCLA commitment threw for a season-high 433 yards and five touchdowns in a 49-48 shootout victory. For the season, Forcier totaled 2,634 yards and 32 touchdown passes.
Aaron Hernandez, Bristol Central (Bristol, Conn.)
Aaron Hernandez is listed as a tight end on the Bristol Central roster. But that can't be right, can it? No tight end at any level has ever had a season like Hernandez had in 2005, snatching 67 passes for 1,807 yards and 24 touchdowns. Tight ends flat out don't average 26.9 yards per reception. Hernandez did. The future Florida Gator also had a nine-catch, 376-yard game against Newington - a performance that would be sure to catch the eye of voters for any trophy.
Kellen Moore, Prosser (Prosser, Wash.)
Kellen Moore may not have the name recognition other players on this list enjoy, but no quarterback in the country was more productive than the Prosser passing phenom in 2005. Moore tossed for over 4,500 yards and a state record 66 touchdowns while completing 67 percent of his attempts. Moore surpassed the 300-yard mark 10 times as a junior, with a season high 431 yards and seven touchdowns coming in a pair of games against Selah. Prosser went 13-2 and reached the 3A title game.
Jason Munns, Southridge (Kennewick, Wash.)
Munns' numbers were tempered by the fact Southridge blew out opponents by an average of almost four touchdowns per game in 2005. But tossing for 2,178 yards and 32 touchdowns against just eight interceptions is nothing to be ashamed of, and the 6-6, 230-pound gunslinger had some incredible performances along the way. Against Battle Ground in October, the future BYU Cougar completed 11 of 12 pass attempts for 272 yards and five touchdown passes. In the qualifying round of the state tournament against Central Valley, Munns put on a show by completing 21 of 27 passes for 312 yards and four touchdowns.
Bradley Stephens, McAllen (McAllen, Texas)
Bradley Stephens is the total package, on the field and off. In addition to his 4.0 grade point average, the shifty running back has racked up over 5,550 rushing yards in his first three years at McAllen. As a junior, Stephens totaled 2,432 yards and 32 touchdowns, earning first team All-State honors at the 5A level.
Matt Simms, Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)
Matt Simms isn't on this list because his father played for the New York Giants, or because his brother was a star at Texas and is now with the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Simms has made his own mark with Don Bosco's Ironmen and is a very good quarterback on a very good team. As a junior, Simms threw for 2,744 yards and 30 touchdown passes against just 12 interceptions, completing 61 percent of his attempts in the process. Don Bosco Prep was 11-1 in 2005, averaging nearly 40 points per game.
Golden Tate, Pope John Paul II (Hendersonville, Tenn.)
Another jack-of-all-trades running back, Tate accumulated over 2,800 yards for Pope John Paul II, earning the "Mr. Football" title for Tennessee's Division II. Tate piled up 1,072 rushing yards and 864 receiving yards, reaching the end zone 25 times. He also served as the punter, averaging over 38 yards per attempt.
Tyrod Taylor, Hampton (Hampton, Va.)
The Virginia communities of Hampton and Newport News can boast one of the strongest recent quarterback traditions of anywhere in America. Located just six miles apart, the lower Chesapeake Bay cities have produced names like Allen Iverson, Ronald Curry, Michael Vick, and Marcus Vick over the past 15 years. Next in line is Hampton High's Tyrod Taylor. Taylor combined for 2,500 yards total offense and 32 touchdowns as a junior, leading the Crabbers to Virginia's Group AAA title. National powers like Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech would like to make their campus Taylor's next stop.
Marc Tyler, Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.)
If Tyler played for any other high school team in the country, he would be listed among the favorites. But Tyler shares the spotlight with teammate Jimmy Clausen, forming a lethal run-pass combination that helped Oaks Christian put up an average of 53.6 points per game last season. Tyler, who has already committed to USC, rushed for 2,196 yards and 39 touchdowns, while also hauling in 28 receptions for 413 yards and three more trips to the end zone.
Shane Vereen, Valencia (Valencia, Calif.)
Like fellow Southern California running back John Diluigi, Valencia's Shane Vereen can do it all. You can't ask a player to do more than Vereen did as a junior, as the 5-11, 170-pounder rushed for 1,638 yards and 28 touchdowns, caught 52 passes for 898 yards and seven more touchdowns, and added another 269 returns yards (2,805 all-purpose yards). He also played a little defense, recording 43 tackles, three interceptions, and even a sack. Vereen's best performance of the 2005 season may have come in the season-opener against Bishop Amat, where he rushed for 164 yards, hauled in four passes for 121 yards, and then found time to throw a 47-yard touchdown pass.
Photo: Oaks Christian (Calif.) quarterback Jimmy Clausen will be the trigger man for one of high school football's most potent offenses in 2006 (Photo by Rick Rowell).