Heisman Finalist Snubs: Matt Barkley, LaMichael James, Kellen Moore Among Stars Left Out (PHOTOS)

On Monday, ESPN revealed this year's five finalists for the highest individual honor in college sports: The Heisman Trophy.

While all the finalists certainly have compelling reasons to back up their candidacy, many were disappointed by the numerous very deserving players that did not even receive the courtesy of being invited to New York City for the presentation. That means no free trip, no awkward, backstage photographs of them pretending to be friends with the other finalists, and no chance at winning an award that we believe they each have a very compelling case for.

While there are a obviously limited number of seats available we feel there are a few players that could make a case to trade places with any of the players that did in fact get invited to New York.

Below we have compiled a few of who we believe to be this year's biggest Heisman snubs. Browse through and vote, and let us know who you think deserves to win the award in the comments section. And, remember, if you think that one of these snubbed players should have gotten to New York then let us know who's ticket you would revoke.

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Comments

[Robert Turner]

07:49 PM on 12/08/2011

It really doesn't matter. Honey Badger. Don't respect his play but he's a hot commodity right now.

[dan laurie]

07:36 AM on 12/08/2011

With a slightly stronger defense and a little more accuracy in his passing next yr Michigans Desmond Howard..Though he may not be big enough to be a pro quarterback but does he have the grease lightning speed

[triplettam]

03:54 AM on 12/08/2011

Moore should have at least been there. Sheesh.

[Steven Gowin]

11:42 PM on 12/07/2011

Ah Barkley for sure. He looked as good as if not better than Luck without The defense Luck enjoyed.

[darrienramp]

08:02 PM on 12/07/2011

Sandusky should win it hands down

[Californiagrove]

04:15 PM on 12/07/2011

When I think of Heisman Trophy I think of a few things:

1. The most valuable player to a team.
2. The win-loss record of the team and career
3. stats
4. Leadership qualities
5. Likability factor and staying out of trouble. (Example to todays youth)

Luck is liked by his teammates, community and the university.

All considered I like Andrew Luck. He fits all of the above criteria, plus he is very smart. Architecture Major at Stanford and you have to be highly intelligent to get in that school.

[darrienramp]

07:21 PM on 12/07/2011

all those qualities represent Matt barkley who had way better stats, you can throw in russel wilson, kellen Moore who is one of the all timie winingest QB's, LaMichael james. yea andrew luck is an amazing QB, but he shouldnt be in the finals for heisman contention... and another trait you missed was the ability to turn their teams around

[2tellthetruuth]

03:48 PM on 12/07/2011

Who cares, Downtown Athletic Club declared bankruptcy in 2002 after 9/11

[stunsitfel]

03:18 PM on 12/07/2011

I HATE USC. With that said Barkley got ripped off. He lit it up this year. As a Colts fan I would love to see this kid come to town and learn from Professor Peyton.

[darrienramp]

07:22 PM on 12/07/2011

Im a Usc and Colts fan myself. i would like to see Russel wilson or Matt or maybe Kellen Moore play for our team

[stunsitfel]

08:54 PM on 12/07/2011

Any would be welcomed. USC is the best in the PAC10. That hurt to say....but it is the truth.

[ladyvader]

12:57 PM on 12/08/2011

Russell Wilson is too short to play QB in the NFL. He's is only 5'11". He could change positions. He can catch the ball very well.

[beasteben]

01:21 PM on 12/07/2011

This was an incredible year for college football

[MarkAntney]

02:41 PM on 12/07/2011

One of the best in a while.

I agree Bama and LSU seem to be the 2best but I'm sorry OK State got hosed, they lost one game, and it was close?

Hours after finding out about a tragedy at their school.

Bama lost to LSU at home, didn't win their own conference, I say someone else earned that slot in the title game? If the LSU-Bama game were at LSU or a neutral site, more debate would be needed but I think they should play again but not when you lose on your home turf.

[jtraveler]

12:43 PM on 12/07/2011

Matt: come back for one more year and take it!!!

[tadpole112202]

12:36 PM on 12/07/2011

If LaMike had not been injured he would have ran away with the Heisman. (pun intended)

[MarkAntney]

12:27 PM on 12/07/2011

1. I think Luck will be an excellent Pro. I put him on Elway's level when he entered the league. I also think Richardson will quickly be one of the best RBs in the NFL when he gets there but Ball outplayed him and seemingly James did also.

2. Luck didn't perform up to the level of last year and certainly not to the level of the other finalists and the one's left off the list.

3. The Youngster QB from Baylor or the DB from LSU (if he'd played the whole year) set themselves apart from their peers.

Should be Real Close in voting, I think the year Bo (Jackson) won it was within single digits from the guy he beat.

[Californiagrove]

04:10 PM on 12/07/2011

markAntney, are you kidding? If it wasn't for Andrew Luck Stanford would not have completed back to back 11-1 seasons. He is the leader of that team. Granted they have others who have been great, and have sufferd some major injuries later in the season. They however found a winning combination led by Andrew Luck.

[MarkAntney]

05:11 PM on 12/07/2011

Now you're talking MVP to your team; which I grant you without him maybe they win 3-4games this year? And talent/skill as drop back passer (and he's athletic), I think he's better than the others (ready to be a pro right now) but he was a better QB last year, seemingly?

And Barkley has similar stats with Luck.

The QB from Wisconsin had a better year than Luck to me.

I admit Luck has little talent around him compared to the other big teams but other guys were more impressive this year.

Put him in the SEC, I think he'd easily have outclassed the competition but that didn't happen. LSU and Bama's QBs aren't even on his level.

But Griffin had a better year and I think will win?

[darrienramp]

07:37 PM on 12/07/2011

You do realize the Heisman Committe doesnt look at past years.??? its about this current year. and Obviously Luck didnt have a good year. RG3 from Baylor was a lot better, even Matt B., along with other players.

[Rex Hungus]

11:22 AM on 12/07/2011

If Barkley plays his senior year and plays well then I see him being a Heisman finalist. There is absolutely no logical explanation for why James isn't a finalist. Talk about a guy who is a game changer and the main cog on that offense. Oregon without James would have lost more games and be lucky to finish in the top 20. If James had played for a midwest or southern big name team I think he would have been a finalist.

But to be honest I put little value in the Heisman for determining who is the most talented college player.

[devildog21]

11:06 AM on 12/07/2011

Heisman voters have lost sight of what the Heisman is supposed to be. It's not an MVP award, it is supposed to go to the best player in college football. That means that, theoretically, if the Badgers went 0-11 and Montee Ball still had the numbers he did, that he would still be the Heisman recipient.

Now, voters seem to think that it should only go to players on winning teams and especially to someone on a team in the national championship game. Russell Wilson is a much better candidate for the Heisman than Andrew Luck, but a two last games in which he brought his team back only to lose because of a porous defense, cost him. It should not be about number of games won/lost, it's about consistently high levels of performance.

Ball and Wilson have performed at those consistent, high levels all year long. Ball should be the front runner just based on numbers alone, yet his invitation to New York was practically an afterthought.

Heisman voters need to take a look at what this award is supposed to be, not what they want it to be.

[Itsasmallworld]

10:47 AM on 12/07/2011

LaMichael was robbed.