Mike Hart finishes 5th in Heisman Trophy balloting

Running back Mike Hart (junior) finished 5th in the balloting for the Heisman Trophy. Hart had a standout season for the Wolverines as he posted career highs with 301 carries for 1,515 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns this season. Hart's top-5 finish in the Heisman Trophy balloting means Michigan has placed a player in the top-10 in three of the past 4 seasons. (Chris Perry was fourth in 2003 and Braylon Edwards was tenth in 2004). However, Michigan still has a long way to go to match the record it set under Coach Schembechler. (See post of June 22, 2006: A Wolverine was in Top 10 of Heisman balloting 8 of 9 years from 1974-1982). In that post I authored during the summer, I made the prescient statement, "As for 2006, you can never count out a healthy Mike Hart from stepping up and running himself right into the Heisman race." That is in fact what happened as Hart was able to stay healthy and he managed to impress enough Heisman voters to achieve a top-5 finish as well as garner five first-place votes. As for 2007, if he returns-as it appears he will-Hart will be one of the leading contenders to win next year's Heisman Trophy. Go Blue!