After the Heisman Trophy had been handed out and Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy were about to go their separate ways, any chance one of the star quarterbacks said to the other two, "Same time, same place next year?"
Never before have the top three Heisman vote-getters in one season returned to school the next. And with all the attention on Tebow (the 2008 winner), Bradford (the '09 winner) and McCoy (last year's runner-up), it'll be tough for another player even to earn an invite to the award's presentation in New York in December.
But there are a handful who could:
Jahvid Best, rb, California — The leading returning rusher in the country, Best has sprinter speed and highlight-reel moves. He averaged 8.1 yards per carry last year, and is expected to help the Bears challenge USC for Pac-10 supremacy.
Dez Bryant, wr, Oklahoma State — Bryant was an All-American receiver last year and contributes on special teams, a must for receivers hoping to get some Heisman love. If the Cowboys can pull off an upset or two in the rugged Big 12 South, Bryant could emerge as a Heisman contender.
Terrelle Pryor, qb, Ohio State — Pryor gets compared to Vince Young a lot. Big and fast. Strong arm. The type of multi-threat quarterback who could be virtually unstoppable. Only a sophomore, Pryor seems destined to become a huge star. The question is how soon.
Jevan Snead, qb, Mississippi — Wouldn't it be something if the guy at South Carolina who picked Snead over Tebow in the preseason-All SEC voting turns out to be right? Snead is a big-time talent.
Noel Devine, rb, West Virginia — Spectacularly elusive, Devine ran for 1,289 yards and averaged 6.3 per carry last year. At 5-foot-8, 175, he might not rack up huge carries, but he'll do plenty with what he gets.
Max Hall, qb, BYU — If Hall plays well in BYU's high-profile, early season tests against Oklahoma and Florida State, he'll be in the Heisman discussion all season — especially if he springs an upset for the Cougars.