SNY.tv: Online Home of All Things Sports

Reigning stiff-armer Sam Bradford returns to Oklahoma this fall, and he is joined by college football's Superman, Florida's 2007 Heisman winner Tim Tebow and Texas gunslinger Colt McCoy, who finished third in the voting last season.

Should one or more of these golden boys falter, however, there are plenty of studs across the country who are more than capable of earning an invite to New York come December.

Here's a preseason look at five of those hungry challengers.

Todd Reesing, QB, Kansas: After a brilliant sophomore campaign in which he led Kansas to the Orange Bowl, things didn't come as easy for Todd Reesing in 2008. He still put up huge numbers (66.5 completion percentage, 3,888 yards, 32 touchdowns, 13 interceptions), mind you, but the Jayhawks' defense operated at sieve-like efficiency, leading to a pedestrian 8-5 record and the quarterback's national star losing some wattage. Expect the 5-foot-11 dynamo to be back in the spotlight this fall.

All of Reesing's favorite weapons return in 2009. They're led by the terrific receiving trio of Dezmon Briscoe, Kerry Meier and Jonathan Wilson. Also back for the Jayhawks is running back Jake Sharp, who rushed for 12 touchdowns last season but does most of his work catching balls out of the backfield.

There are skill position players aplenty in Lawrence, but everyone knows the reason a lot of people are picking Kansas to win the Big 12 North is the quarterback. He may not be as well known, or even as good, as his conference rivals Bradford or McCoy, but with the Sooners and Longhorns both expected to run the ball more this season, Reesing's numbers could be the best of the bunch.

Spotlight games (best chances to impress Heisman voters): Oct. 24 vs. Oklahoma, Nov. 21 at Texas

Dez Bryant, WR Oklahoma State: Another benefit of the Big XII's spread offense affinity this fall will be Oklahoma State's ϋber-talented wide receiver Dez Bryant. The Cowboys are being mentioned as a darkhorse national title contender, and Bryant is their best player. Last year, Bryant caught 87 passes for 1,480 yards and 19 touchdowns, but he was perhaps overshadowed by Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree. The truth is, Bryant may be the better player and if his Holiday Bowl performance against Oregon (13 catches, 167 yards, TD) last December is any indication, he is eager to put his wares on national display this fall. With star quarterback Zac Robinson throwing him the ball, he will have plenty of chances to do just that.

Spotlight games: Sept. 5 vs. Georgia, Oct. 31 vs. Texas, Nov. 28 at Oklahoma

Julio Jones, WR, Alabama: Julio Jones is a beast. As a true freshman last season, the 6-foot-4 Terrell Owens clone (without the Styrofoam brain), caught 58 balls for 924 yards and four touchdowns, but it was his performances in the Crimson Tide's toughest games that really have people excited for an encore campaign. At then-No.1 Georgia, Jones caught five passes for 94 yards and a score; at rival Tennessee he hauled in six balls for 103 yards; at LSU's Death Valley he caught seven passes for 128 yards; and in Alabama's tough SEC title game loss to Florida, he almost stole the show from Tim Tebow with 124 yards on five receptions.

Many people will see that Alabama will be breaking in a new starting quarterback this fall and look at Nick Saban's reputation of being a conservative coach and mistakenly think Jones will be held back by the system. Nonsense. Conservative or not, Saban is smart. And he knows Alabama's best chance to score points this fall will be with Jones touching the ball an awful lot. It's about winning games, not sticking to a specific style of football. Just ask Bill Belichick.

Spotlight games: Sept. 5 at Virginia Tech, Oct. 10 at Ole Miss, Nov. 7 vs. LSU.

Jahvid Best, RB, California: The best running back in the nation is Cal's Jahvid Best. Blessed with sprinter's speed and slippery elusiveness, Best ran for 1,580 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, churning out 8.1(!) yards per tote. He can score from anywhere on the field, as evidenced by his six touchdown runs of over 60 yards, and will be the focal point of a Bears offense that figures to improved quarterback play from Kevin Riley, now healthy after a banged-up 2008.

Spotlight games: Sept. 26 at Oregon, Oct. 3 vs. USC, Nov. 7 vs. Oregon State

Eric Berry, S, Tennessee: You've heard for a couple years now at Extra Points that Eric Berry is one of the very best football players in the country. Of all the great defensive players in America, Berry is the hardest hitter and possesses the best ball skills. With all due respect to Pete Carroll and the Trojan program, Taylor Mays couldn't hold Berry's jock, and their respective NFL careers will prove that.

As good as Berry has been in his first two season at Tennessee, there's a chance he will be better in 2009 as he is now coached by one of the top three or four defensive minds in football . Monte Kiffin invented the Tampa Two defense that is now so prevalent in the NFL, and the hard-hitting safety is a key component to that system. Think John Lynch. Think Bob Sanders.

The Vols are doing what they can to get the message out, but most likely Berry will be hard-pressed to be a Heisman finalist. Unless UT has a great year, gets several huge upset wins and Berry dominates those showcase games (we can hope Big Orange Nation, can't we?) it will be very difficult to sell a safety as a worthy Heisman winner. But that doesn't mean Eric Berry isn't the best player in the country.

Spotlight games: Sept. 19 at Florida, Oct. 10 vs. Georgia, Nov. 14 at Ole Miss