Heisman finalists named
By ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK - A Heisman Trophy race that once seemed so muddled has been dwindled to four contenders and even has a favorite.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, trying to become the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy, has emerged as a front-runner among the finalists who will be in New York on Saturday night vying for the award given to the top player in college football.

Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, the runner up for last year's Heisman, Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel and Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan were the other finalists selected Wednesday.

''I think it's a good race,'' Brennan said at a news conference in Honolulu. ''I think anybody can win it.''

The Heisman race took a while to develop this season and seemed wide open until the last month when Tebow, McFadden and Daniel emerged as front-runners.

Since the first Heisman was given to Chicago's Jay Berwanger in 1935, all 70 players who have won college football's most prestigious award have been juniors or seniors.

Tebow has a good shot to break that trend. After helping the Gators win a national championship last season as a freshman, 235-pound dual-threat quarterback ran for 838 yards and a Southeastern Conferencerecord 22 touchdowns in his first year as a starter.

He's also the nation's second leading passer, having completed 68 percent of his throws for 3,132 yards, with 29 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Tebow's already pulled off one college football first, becoming the first major college player to run for 20 touchdowns and throw 20 TD passes in the same season.

One thing Tebow has never done is visit New York. He plans to have his parents and some of his siblings along for the trip.

''I'm looking forward to seeing all of it, Central Park, the Christmas tree (in Rockefeller Center), Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, everything,'' Tebow said. ''It's going to be cool, just walking the blocks. I've never been to a city like that.''

McFadden was one of the preseason favorites after finishing second to Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith last year. His candidacy lagged with a mediocre October, but he gave himself a boost with a spectacular November.