Saturday School: CFB Observations Week 10 | Dunson Checks In

-Secret to KU's Thundering Success:Kansas 2 Under The Radar Heisman Candidates & Reesing's Romo-bility

- Heisman Attention Deficit Disorder: Does Felix Jones Deserve Heisman Consideration?

Against South Carolina's staunch run defense, Darren McFadden re-entered the national lexicon and in the process bounced back into the constantly revolving Heisman roundtable. For weeks, I've been debating whether backup or partner (depending on your outlook), Felix Jones deserves to be in the same category as McFadden as a runner.

McFadden has been the workhorse back for the Razorbacks but Jones has been the red herring of the Arkansas Story. While the media has been enamored by McFadden because of the flash and style of Houston Nutts' ballyhooed WildHog formation in addition to his mindnumbing statistics, Jones has sucinctly helped pull the strings with half the carries, a fraction on of the exposure and equal contributions.

Most people remember McFadden's record setting day, which is understandable but what went unnoticed were the two electrifying touchdown runs of 60 and 71 yards, all within a minute of each other in the first quarter while weaving through more defenders than a perm during a thunderstorm. In nearly nearly game this seasn McFadden has compiled twice as many carries as Jones. For an overview of their numbers this season lets take a peek at their seasons.

Darren McFadden- 223 attempts, 1,316 yards, 5.9 ypc, 12 TD' and 2 TD passes

Felix Jones- 110 attempts, 1, 026 yards, 9.3 ypc, 11 TD's and 2 Kickoff returns for TD's

Last night's romp through the Gamecocks defense was hardly Jones' first duck, duck, goose around defenses. Against Troy in the season opener, Jones ran for 129 yards on 12 carries, 133 on 12 carries against Kentucky and a 7 carry 133 yard performance against North Texas. In his auspicious beginnings as a true freshman in his first game, at Arkansas, Jones ran for 137 yards on 8 carries in a victory.

Despite going 9 games into the 2007 campaign with fewer than 20 carries in a single game, Jones has accumulated 6 100 yard games, excluding a 96 yard swashbuckling of Alabama's run defense. Considering some of McFadden's sub-par performances, Jones has been the more consistent runner pound for pound, carry for carry in Arkansas' backfield. I'm not saying McFadden doesn't deserve the recognition but if he's going to Hog all the attention(pun intended) then that is an absolute travesty.

Just 5-11, Kansas sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing has played big in leading the Jayhawks to an 8-0 start this season.

The way this histrically downtrodden Jayhawks football program has performed of late, there's no way we're in Kansas anymore. Right? National championships n the Jayhawk campus aren't supposed to be won until March, not January. Not much is known about Kansas' undefeated team besides their 76 point offensive dismantling of Nebraska's defense. Generall, I hate the midwest but I'll make an exception.

Backup quarterback Kerry Meier has one of the strangest statlines, you will ever see. The Jayhawks backup quarterback's role in KU's offense is similar to Kordell Stewart's slash role with the Steelers.

Through 9 games, Meier has completed 15 of 19 passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns in spot duty, rushed for 65 yards, 1 touchdown in addition to 14 receptions resulting in one touchdwn catch. in the first quarter of the Florida International game, Meier trotted onto the field and lined up as a wide receiver. On the first play, Reesing hit Meier for 15 yards. On the next, Meier motioned to the backfield and received an option pitch from Reesing for 6 yards. Meier's lone touchdown reception came in the first quarter against Nebraska. As a backup punter he has averaged 32 yards on four punts.

Meier was supposed to be KU’s quarterback of the future. He won the job last year as a redshirt freshman and showed flashes of brilliance. But a nagging shoulder injury hindered him enough that KU removed Reesing’s redshirt in the season’s ninth game. A full-blown competition emerged and raged into the fall, when injuries again kept Meier from playing to his potential and Reesing won the job outright.

While the clamoring for Ohio State's Todd Boeckman's Heisman candidacy has reached a deafening pitch, true sophomore-- yes I said sophomore Todd Reesing hasn't even generated a blip on the radar despite Kansas' suprising success and his astronomical passing numbers. Through 9 games, most of which have been won in convincing fashion, Reesing has passed for 2,300 yards, 23 touchdowns and turned it over only 4 times, 3 of which came in an uncharacteristically sloppy Kansas State victory. In contrast, Todd Boeckman has thrown for 400 fewer yards, 23 touchdowns and 4 more interceptions in 1 extra game.

At 5'11, Reesing is not a towering presence like Oregon's Dixon, or a physical specimen like Tim Tebow but it's hard to argue against his Flutie-like ability after his 6 touchdown explosion against Nebraska. He won't turn your boiled eggs into an omelet but Reesing also possesses adequate scrambling ability and displays Tony type Ro-moblity. In his most pedestrian passing game of the season against Colorado, Reesing cmpensated by rushing for 84 yards.

Talib is known for his coverage skills, but he has also scored four touchdowns as a wide receiver.

While Ohio State linebacker, James Laurinitis, and LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey have been harboring distant Heisman illusions junior cornerback, Aqib Talib is having one of the best seasons for a defensive back since Charles Woodson's Heisman season a decade ago. As a sophomore Talib led the nation in pass breakups per game and recorded six interceptions on his way to establishing a reputation as the NCAA's top shutdown corner. Though playing wide receiver sparingly, Talib has caught four touchdown passes through the first nine games this season. In the game against Kansas State, he ended a potentially game winning drive by intercepting a pass by Josh Freeman and returned an interception more than 100 yards for a touchdown. Unfortunately his reputation has preceded him, as opposing QB's have been wary of throwing the football his way which hasn't stopped Talib from getting 3 interceptions thus far and scoring points on the offensive end.

Dorothy can rest easy knowing we're still in Kansas and all is well. While Bill Callahan searches for heart in his lifeless team, the Blackshirt defense attempts to summons some courage and AD Tom Osburne surveys the college football ranks for a brain, Kanas and Toto continue to saunter down that Yellow brick road, all the way to a national championship...Wave that Wheat & Go Jayhawks.
--D.J. Dunson Jr.