Afternoon Kickoff 7/24 (Footblog)

Another Friday here on the Afternoon Kickoff, and this will be the last Afternoon Kickoff until next Thursday because of Big Ten media days in Chicago early next week.

This week, Friday's list is the Top 10 Preseason Heisman Candidates. Sorry Eric Berry, but only skill position players make the list.

10. Dan LeFevour, QB, Central Michigan
Realistically, LeFevour doesn't have any chance at all of winning the award. It's probably safe to say that no player from the MAC will win the Heisman in the near future, but the Chippewas' quarterback is as good as any the MAC has had in recent years -- a list that includes Byron Leftwich, Ben Roethlisberger and Chad Pennington, among others.

9. Daryll Clark, QB, Penn State
Clark's numbers won't be as flashy as some of the top guys, but if he has another efficient season and Penn State wins the Big Ten with an 11-1 or undefeated record (given the schedule, it's not out of the question), a senior quarterback like Clark will certainly be in the Heisman discussion.

8. Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech
Dwyer checked in as the No. 1 tailback in the country in this blog last week, but it's unlikely Georgia Tech will find itself high enough in the national picture to get Dwyer the award. With that said, the Yellow Jackets boast a much more experienced offensive line this season and Dwyer should put up monster numbers in the second year of the Paul Johnson option era.

7. Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
It's very difficult for a receiver to win the Heisman, and this year will likely be no exception. But Bryant is probably every bit as good as former Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree. Bryamt caught 87 passes for 1,480 yards and 19 touchdowns last season and leads any debate about who is the top receiver in the nation. With quarterback Zac Robinson back as well, Bryant's numders should be just as good or better as '08.

6. Max Hall, QB, BYU
Although the Mountain West is much stronger than the MAC, Hall is in the same boat as LeFevour. He won't win it, but BYU is good enough and Hall is good enough to at least enter the Heisman discussion. Should the Cougars crash the BCS party, Hall will be the main reason why after passing for nearly 4,000 yards last year. And a BCS bid may be enough to at least get him an invite to New York.

5. Jevan Snead, QB, Ole Miss
Ole Miss is just about everyone's favorite surprise contender this season, and that's mostly because of Snead. His numbers were very good in '08, but with a year as starter under is belt, many are expecting the Texas transfer to become an elite quarterback and an elite NFL prospect.

4. Jahvid Best, RB, California
As usual, the Pac-10 appears to be USC, then everyone else. But Cal has a chance to surprise and maybe even knock USC off its throne. All Best did last year was average 8.1 yards per carry, and if Cal somehow takes down the Trojans, he probably has the best chance out of anyone outside the big three to win.

3. Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
Only Archie Griffin has won back-to-back Heismans, so that's part of the reason Bradford falls from last year's winner to No. 3 heading into the season. With that said, you can't argue against any of these top three as the No. 1 candidate. Bradford passed for a ridiculous 4,720 yards, 50 touchdowns and just eight interceptions on an offense that also featured two 1,000-yard rushers. The big obstacle for the offense this season? Four starters on the line must be replaced.

2. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas
The only one of the top three to not win the Heisman, McCoy beat Bradford in the Red River Shotout last year but was beat out by the Sooners' quarterback both for the award and for a spot in the BCS National Championship game. McCoy completed passes at the incredibly-accurate rate of 76.7 percent last season, and it's very possible it's his turn to win the Heisman this season.

1. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
Not much needs to be said here. Everyone knows about Tebow, and a lot of the nation is getting sick of hearing about him. But get ready, the year of Tebow is upon us. Florida is the obvious pick to repeat as national champs, and Tebow 's chances of winning his second Heisman in three years are very promising.

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Quick hits:
-Speaking of Tebow, the mystery of the offseason has been solved.

-A Lou Holtz-coached Notre Dame alumni squad is set to play the Japan national team.

Tony Rice is expected to be the starting quarterback for Holtz's team.

"I'm 41 years old and when they asked me to do this, I said, 'You know what? I'm gonna do it.' "

And rumor has it that Tom Watson will line up at tailback.

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Video of the Day:
Keep some tissues handy, here's perhaps the most memorable Heisman speech ever from Penn State's John Cappelletti in 1973:

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