Campus Confidential

By Adam Abramson

I decided to unveil Nos. 1 and 2 on Friday instead of just one. If I left it with just one, there'd be no suspense. It would be like them released the Heisman runner ups the night before they crowned the winner, it just doesn't make sense.

Here we go.

4. Dan Connor
While everyone was going bananas for now-Buffalo Bill Paul Posluszny, Penn State's Dan Connor was doing as much as his elder, if not more. In 2006, Posluszny had 116 tackles, Connor had 113. Posluszny had 9.5 tackles for loss, Connor had nine. Posluszny had three sacks, Connor had five. Connor also had two interceptions (Poz had none) and three forced fumbles (two for the senior). He also had a safety…consider that the cherry on the sundae. After a sick freshman year, Connor missed some games in '06 but still put up great numbers. Last year he took on All-American form but patiently waited in the wings for his mentor to move on. Well he's gone. It's Connor's show and he won't disappoint. If anyone in State College has lived up to the five-star billing he's had coming out of high school, it's Connor. The No. 1 linebacker ranking he had coming out of high school in 2004 holds true today as he suits up for his senior season. My two favorite things about Connor: He's a former running back (imagine trying to tackle 6'3, 230 pounds of man) and the extended neck roll he sports during games. I don't think there's anything more intimidating.

3. John David Booty
I thought for a long time as to where I should put Booty on this list. Then it hit me. If I had the weapons that Booty has then I would rank somewhere about 9 or 10 on the list. Since the USC gunslinger is a lot better than I am, he's just fine being ranked No. 3. In all seriousness, his body of work last season speaks for itself - it doesn't matter who he was throwing to or who was blocking for him. Booty should be in New York for Heisman night this winter because he's good at two things: winning and putting up insane numbers while winning. 3,300 yards, 29 touchdowns, 144 passer efficiency, 12 wins. Those were his numbers as a first-year starter. It's almost unfair to think what's going to happen assuming he matures as a leader, decision maker and raw passer going into his senior season. If he can throw for 3,800 yards and 35-40 touchdowns, it's gonna be real hard to keep from winning that said Heisman. They say three's a crowd, but I don't think Pete Carroll is complaining when the crowd is Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and John David Booty.