Geno Smith [QB – West Virginia] How does one distance himself from the competition? Completing 45/51 for 656 yards and eight touchdowns. Geno Smith has thrown for 1,728 yards and 20 touchdowns (with no interceptions). That was only September. The silly “system quarterback” cabal will come after him, but quarterbacking is running a system, and Smith is doing so to perfection. The NFL Draft crowd is going bonkers already.

Aaron Murray [QB - Georgia] Murray should emerge as the SEC regional candidate. He had a solid game against Tennessee, completing 19/25 for 278 yards and two touchdowns. He’s third nationally in passer rating. He’ll hit the traditional 3,000 yard and 30 touchdown benchmarks. A good season gets to the podium, but he may need an SEC title to eclipse Smith.

Collin Klein [QB - Kansas State] He’s an efficient, though not great passer and an effective, though not great runner. He won’t have spectacular stats, though Heisman voters are susceptible to stories. Another 10-win season for Kansas State would be a great story to sell. That won’t win him the trophy, but it may get him to New York.

E.J. Manuel [QB - Florida State] Manuel posted another decent performance against South Florida, throwing 19/25 for 242 yards and a touchdown. He has a 9-1 TD to INT ratio on the season. FSU going undefeated helps, though the soft schedule could hurt Manuel going forward. No one will credit him for torching bottom-feeder ACC teams in second gear. He will need a late swing with iconic performances against Florida and in the ACC title game.

De’Anthony Thomas [RB/WR - Oregon] The Black Mamba may be the fastest player in football, but he has expended his error margin. Opposing defenses have contained the past two games. He has just one touchdown and has not broken a play longer than 15 yards. He’ll be avalanched by “What happened?” stories if he does not bounce back in his next game.

[Photo via Presswire]