Heisman: How The State's sports reporters voted

How four members of The State's sports staff voted:

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RON MORRIS' BALLOT

1. Tim Tebow, Florida QB

2. Colt McCoy, Texas QB

3. C.J. Spiller, Clemson RB

I do not understand all the consternation by Heisman voters over this season's winner. Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is the clear winner.

Understand, the sole criteria for the award is to select "the most outstanding college football player in the United States for 2009."

I watched quite a few college football games this season, and I never once saw a player better than Tebow. My guess is if you took a poll of all 120 Division I defensive coordinators, they would back me.

The argument against Tebow is that he did not produce outstanding statistics. Let's see, Tebow played in the best conference in the country and he was second in passing efficiency and seventh in rushing. No one in the country came close to matching that dangerous combination.

I tend to make my third-place vote regional, so Clemson's C.J. Spiller filled that slot behind Texas quarterback Colt McCoy.

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BOB GILLESPIE'S BALLOT

1. Mark Ingram, Alabama RB

2. C.J. Spiller, Clemson RB

3. Colt McCoy, Texas QB

The Heisman Trophy vote in recent years has morphed into a vote for the best player on the best team, which I understand even though I disagree with that approach. My ballot is mix of that along with my opinion as to each player's contribution to his team, and Ingram fits both. He is the engine that has driven Alabama to No. 1, Greg McElroy's game vs. Florida notwithstanding, and deserves the award as such.

Spiller, despite injuries and a so-so offensive line, produced the plays that got Clemson to the ACC Championship Game, and enabled the Tigers to stay in contention in that loss - plus, having seen him up close for four years, it's hard not to be impressed with him in all ways. McCoy was mediocre at best vs. Nebraska and got lucky with the clock and his kicker. Still, the award is about the season, not one game, even though this year, the winner came down to the last day.

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JOSEPH PERSON'S BALLOT

1. Mark Ingram, Alabama RB

2. Colt McCoy, Texas QB

3. C.J. Spiller, Clemson RB

This was the toughest call in the eight years I've had a Heisman vote. Was I influenced by having been at Bryant-Denny Stadium for Ingram's 246-yard rushing performance against South Carolina?

Probably.

But I was equally impressed with Ingram's 113-yard, three-touchdown showing against Florida in the SEC championship game on a day when a lot of other candidates struggled.

I know Toby Gerhart has better numbers. But Ingram played in a tougher conference that features five of the nation's top 25 defenses (the Pac-10 has two teams in the top 25 defensively).

McCoy was the nation's best quarterback all season, despite his rough outing against Nebraska. The Cornhuskers made a lot of offenses look bad this year, which made it tempting to put Ndumakong Suh on the ballot.

But how many times do you get a chance to vote for a local player? Spiller is deserving of a trip to New York.

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PAUL STRELOW'S BALLOT

1. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

2. C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

3. Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati

Team success factored into my equation, but I consider the Heisman more than a vote for the best player on the best team. And stats aren't nearly as important as impact.

After watching Suh treat Clemson's line like rag dolls in last year's Gator Bowl, he was on my radar from the get-go. Suh was the most dominating individual in college football on a weekly basis, and you don't often find interior linemen with that dual blend of pass-rushing and run-stuffing aptitude.

It is hard to know how my position as Clemson beat reporter affected judgment of Spiller. On the one hand, witnessing his impact on each offensive or special teams play gave me an increased appreciation for his talents and value. On the other hand, I was probably more inclined to factor in his campaign's warts, such as his penchant for sitting out key stretches in big games.

Here's betting no other offensive player in the nation commanded more schematic attention, nor did anyone else supply as many momentous or dynamic moments. But the consistency factor gave Suh the nod.

Gilyard wasn't far behind as a game-changer at receiver and returner, and his skills were unfairly lost in Cincinnati's stat-friendly system.

As for the name brands - Mark Ingram is a better conventional NFL prospect than Spiller, in my opinion, but not even close to his team MVP. Colt McCoy is a career achievement vote, and Toby Gerhart benefited from posting great numbers against tradition-rich uniforms (Southern Cal, Notre Dame) that weren't even decent defenses.