Rex isn't even going to be a finalist. Even if his stats inch him into the top 5, he lacks the flash that all Heisman finalists need.
Ah, flash.... Playing for a program under NCAA sanctions, or getting mugged by a handful of guys for "unknown" reasons.... The only thing that Burkhead is lacking is that Heisman moment. The respectability, quality citizenship, and most importantly the game is all very Heisman like. Rex is what college athletics should be all about.
So Barkley isn't a quality citizen because Reggie Bush cheated?
Ball isn't respectable because he was mugged?
Come on. Make this about why Burkhead will be 2012's most outstanding collegiate football player. Taking cheap shots at kids who are more likely to win just isn't classy. Burkhead would never do that.
It wasn't a shot at Barkley, or Ball; rather a shot at how the media decides to cover athletes these days. Barkley, and Ball seem to be fine citizens, but part of their familiarity in the public eye is because of the situations that they are involved in, even if they weren't directly involved like in Barkley's case. Ball is slightly different, because while he in no way deserved what happen to him, it does seem that it MIGHT have been provoked in some way.
Barkley, and Ball are very legitimate Heisman contenders, however my point was, that Burkhead hasn't been involved in a national story, or scandal (unsolicited or not). Personally, I feel he is every bit of the RB that Ball is, and every bit the Heisman contender that Barkley is....
Looking back at my original post, it did read like I was taking a shot at the gentlemen, but that wasn't my intentions.