And so much for the East Coast bias as all 5 finalists are West of the Mississippi River.

All of the candidates amazed during the year:
Alex Smith - Leads a mid-major team to an undefeated record and puts up numbers to rival both Matt Leinart and Jason White. Remember that Smith does it all without a strong running back to help him, something that both the other quarterbacks obviously had. Smith's disadvantage comes from playing weaker competition than the other finalists

Reggie Bush - Trashed Desmond Howard's numbers when he won the award. Bush is the all-around player that will do anything for your team to win. Helped to lead his team to an undefeated season and a chance at a second National Championship in a row. Bush's disadvantage is that he doesn't specialize at one position.

Matt Leinart - Has only lost one game as a starter. Has led his team to a chance at a second title in two years. Impressed throughout with better numbers than Carson Palmer who was the last QB at USC to win the award. His disadvantage is playing on the West coast after most of the voters have gone to bed. Few of his games were broadcast nationally.

Adrian Peterson - The freshman sensation. Led the nation in rushing as a freshman and only had one game where he didn't reach 100 yards. Broke the record of consecutive 100 yard rushing games. He has two disadvantages. First, he got a lot of his yards in the second half of games after his team was already ahead. Second, he is a freshman and was hurt a little during the season which kept him from going over 100 yards in every game.

Jason White - The defending Heisman holder. He has put up better numbers than he did last season when he won the award. He improved on his touchdown to interception ratio and this season, led his team to the Big 12 championship that alluded him last season. He put his team into the title game for the second year in a row. His disadvantage comes not this year, but last year. He lost the Big 12 championship and the National Championship game last year leading to the question of if he can win the big game. Plus, voters don't like a two time winner as there has only been one.

How do you pick among these guys?

My vote would have been as follow:

1. Adrian Peterson
2. Matt Leinart
3. Reggie Bush
4. Jason White
5. Alex Smith

I picked Adrian Peterson because he impressed me more than any other candidate. His runs were something special to watch. He reminded me more of Barry Sanders than anyone else. He is obviously bigger, but he has the same skills that just amaze on every run. He will be something to watch over the next two years, but he will need a QB to come in and take White's place after he graduates this year.

Ask me in two years when Bush is a senior, and I would pick him. He has the most pro potential of anyone in the group. If there is one guy who will succeed at the pro level it is him. Watching Bush each game made me say "Wow" as his speed is something I haven't seen in a long time, but Peterson made me stop everything and watch each and every run. Bush has a great career ahead of him and if he can keep up these numbers, he will challenge Peterson the next two years for the award.

Even though White surpassed his numbers last season, I just don't see him as the best player this year. Peterson dominated his opponents, White competed and succeeded. Anyone who reads the MRI and follows what I do knows that I value domination.

Peterson won't win, but he deserves to win. My guess is that Leinart will walk away with the posing trophy. Good luck to all.

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Edited after award was given. Leinart won with a bigger margin of victory than I would have guessed. He pulled in 80 more 1st place votes that Jason White. Peterson finished 2nd which is the highest finish for a freshman ever.

Next year's award will be interesting if Peterson and Bush put up the same numbers. And if Leinart doesn't go to the NFL, we might just have our second repeat winner.