NEW YORK - For the second straight year, Darren McFadden left the Heisman Trophy presentation with a pat on the back and the distinction of being the nation?s second-most outstanding player.
The Arkansas running back finished behind UF quarterback Tim Tebow by a margin of 254 points. McFadden earned 291 first place votes compared to Tebow?s 462.
Tebow became the first sophomore to ever win the award, something McFadden, a junior, came up short of accomplishing last year when he placed second behind Ohio State?s Troy Smith.
He can take some solace in the fact that he earned 246 more first place votes than he did in 2006.
BLast year, there was a clear-cut winner,C McFadden said. BThis year it was more up for grabs.C
This year?s ceremony broke another mold as well. Tebow became the first Maxwell Award winner in the last eight years to take college football?s top individual honor, while McFadden is one of only four winners of the Walter Camp Award without a Heisman in the last 16 years.
Rather than feeling disappointed with a runner-up finish, McFadden was happy to see players from the Southeastern Conference atop the list.
BIt?s a lot of pride,C he said. BThe SEC is the toughest conference in the nation, so there?s a lot of pride when you see a guy from the SEC win.C
Despite the best statistical year of his career, McFadden was unable to ascend to the top of the ballot. He ended the regular season with 1,725 yards and 15 touchdowns, and he added four scores passing and one receiving.
After being considered a frontrunner for the Heisman in the preseason, McFadden?s campaign suffered through three sub-100 yard rushing games, but performances in wins against South Carolina (321 yards) and then-No. 1 LSU (four total touchdowns) made him a popular choice for voters concerned with Tebow?s age or the Gators' three losses.
For his efforts, he earned the Doak Walker Award as the country?s best running back, making him and Dolphins running back Ricky Williams the only back-to-back winners. Williams won the Heisman in 1998.
In three seasons so far in Fayetteville, McFadden has become the school?s all-time leading rusher, and the third-best in SEC history. After that kind of production, many, including Tebow, regard him as the top college prospect should he declare for the NFL Draft.
BHe?ll probably be drafted first and be a great player in the NFL,C Tebow said. B(Finishing second) was tough, but he?s a strong person.C
McFadden and the rest of the Razorbacks will face off against fourth-place Heisman finisher Chase Daniel and Missouri in the Cotton Bowl, and he will then have to decide whether to return to Arkansas for his senior year.
BI don?t know yet,C McFadden said. BIt?s something I?m going to sit down with my family and my coaches and decide at the end of the year.C
Although he insisted that he hasn?t made up his mind yet, McFadden may have tipped his hand.
When asked about his talents as a passer (he is 14 of 22 for 205 yards and seven touchdowns in his career), McFadden said, BI think my quarterbacking days are about to come to a halt.C
