Mendenhall 4 Heisman

Preseason Heisman front runners are having a tough time in 2007. John David Booty sucks, Colt Brennan isn't healthy, Brian Brohm's team lost to Syracuse, and anyone from Michigan is done as well. Looking for a local dark horse to back? How about Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall, the real reason for the Fighting Illini's 2007 turnaround.

If not for Juice Williams' injury against Missouri in the opening game, there's a good chance Illinois would be undefeated at 6-0. While Juice and freshman receiver Arrelious Benn have been great so far, it's Mendenhall who has carried the team to it's first national ranking since 2000. Through six games, Mendenhall has carried the ball 114 times for 772 yards and 10 touchdowns. That's an incredible 6.8 yards per carry, leading to over 128 yards rushing per game. Mendenhall ranks fifth in the country in rushing yards, and third in touchdowns.

The reason you haven't heard too much from Mendenhall, a junior, before is that  he was stuck behind upper classmen Pierre Thomas and E.B. Halsey in Champaign his first two seasons. Coming out of Niles West in 2005, Mendenhall ranked as a top-100 recruit in the country. He was the state's fourth best player according to Rivals.com, and the country's fourth best running back.

Illinois' schedule doesn't get any easier after getting by No. 21 Penn State and No. 5 Wisconsin in consecutive weeks. The Illini travel to Iowa on Saturday and still have games remaining against Michigan and at Ohio State. If Illinois can get by either the Wolverines or Buckeyes, it should put Mendenhall in a position to have a chance to be Illinois' first legit Heisman candidate since Jeff George.