Heisman Harvin

Ol' Bill sent this link in which Mike Freeman persuasively argues Percy for Heisman. It's not going to happen, and Freeman knows that, but it's an interesting argument. 

Consider that Harvin plays, and has played, against the best defenses in the country-- and shined. Harvin's ability to elude defenders is second to none. And, again, he does this in the SEC-- the most defense-intensive conference in the NCAA. 

Harvin is the most dangerous person with a football in college football. He need not do more to prove this.

Yet there is some doubt as to whether Harvin's skill set will transfer to the NFL with success. A good question-- kind of like who's your father. Look, son, Harvin is football fast. That means his lateral speed is equal or close to his straight-ahead speed. Both speeds are world class. Both are desired in the NFL. Percy's dynamism is refreshing in a time when players have become so specialized that even a great slot receiver cannot perform as a decent wideout. Any NFL team will find a place for such dynamism. And yet, Freeman proffers that Harvin's numbers are a product of Meyer al la Alex Smith. 

I disagree.

Percy Harvin's numbers come from his ability to move explosively in any direction he chooses, not from Dan Mullen's play-calling, I assure you. Percy can stop just as fast as he can start. He can weave and spin and slip tackles. He moves are deliberate and calculating, unlike others who rely on spinning and kicking like they're playing fucking Madden. He can take it between the tackles (admittedly, sometimes getting killed and fumbling in the process). As Meyer correctly points out, Harvin has the best first step in college football. It's Harvin's Ferrari-like capacity to instantly hit top end that makes Percy so dangerous. He is smart enough to make a move to throw a defender off balance, and quick enough so that even the slightest mistake can cost a defender dearly. All of this would happen regardless of where Percy is playing-- the NCAA or in the NFL, in Florida or any other school.

Percy Harvin will not win the Heisman trophy. People don't know what he looks like. He's not tall. He doesn't showboat. He doesn't talk trash. He doesn't throw the ball. He comes from a "gimmicky" offense. He doesn't play Pop Warner in the Big 12. 

He just does his thing: score, quickly and often. And I'll take that over a Heisman any day, and twice on Saturday.

Go Harvin.

Go Gators.