Heisman Trophy Watch 2009: Top Performers of the Week 3

The third week of the 2009 college football season did not lack for outstanding individual performances as some of the more familiar Heisman Trophy candidates, as well as a few new ones, continued to make their case for the prestigious award. Here then are the best performances of week three.

Jahvid Best (California) RB

Best was a one man wrecking crew in the Bears 35-21 victory over the Minnesota Golden Gophers, scoring all five of California's touchdowns, and finishing the day with 132 yards in 26 carries. Best scored on runs of 34, 2, 27, 1, 2 yards, and now has 8 touchdowns and 413 yards rushing in 3 games for the season.

Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame) QB

Though Notre Dame's hopes for a title might have ended last week with their lost to Michigan, Clausen kept his hopes alive for a post season award by completing 22 out of 31 passes for 299 yards and 2 touchdowns against Michigan State. Clausen's 33 yard touchdown to Golden Tate in the 4^th quarter clinched the game for Notre Dame, and now the Fighting Irish's QB has thrown for 950 yards and 9 Tds this season. What's more, Clausen is playing mistake free ball and has yet to throw an interception this season.

Chris Ponder (FSU) QB

Chris Ponder pass and ran for 3 touchdowns and accounted for 273 yards (193 passing, 82 rushing) in FSU's dismantling of #7 rated BYU. Despite his performance, Ponder is at best a long shot for any post season awards at this time.

Ryan Mallett (Arkansas) QB

Despite losing to Georgia in a shootout, former Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett justified his move to Arkansas with a 408 yards 5 touchdown passing performance against the Georgia defense.

Joe Cox (Georgia) QB

Joe Cox did his part to make Georgia fans forget Matthew Stafford with a 378 yards, 5 touchdown game in the Bulldog's 52-41 win over Arkansas.

Statistical Reference:

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football