The Biggest Man On Campus

Upon seeing reporters headed his way after practice, Marshawn Lynch has been known to hide behind teammates, a playful--and futile--attempt to avoid interviews. Though he's cooperative when cornered, he isn't particularly interested in deconstructing how he does what he does when he carries the football. But Heisman Trophy campaigns are unlike political ones in that words matter far less than deeds, which is why Lynch, California's elusive junior tailback, is in position to make a serious run at the award.

Of course most of the Heisman voters are media members, so Lynch wants to make it clear that he has nothing against them. "It's just that I'm all about playing, not talking," he says. Lynch may lack the name recognition of Heisman favorites such as Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson and Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, but his 1,246 rushing yards last season, including 194 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-28 win over BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl, got the electorate's attention. His season totals would undoubtedly have been higher if not for hand and finger injuries that sidelined him for two games and limited him to five carries in a third, so the Golden Bears can reasonably expect even better production this year.

Another key ingredient in Lynch's shot at the Heisman is that Cal, ranked eighth in SI's preseason Top 20 and expected to challenge Southern Cal in the Pac-10, should be in contention for a BCS bid--keeping him in the national spotlight. In fact, Lynch's status in the Heisman race is almost identical to his team's standing in the national championship picture. They're both intriguing dark horses who, with a break or two, could be much more than that by season's end. "It all comes down to the team; that's the biggest thing," he says. "If we have the kind of season we're capable of, I'm pretty sure there will be a lot of guys on this team who will win some awards."

Lynch has breakaway speed--he had at least one run of more than 20 yards in each of his 10 games last season--but his leg drive is his most remarkable attribute. At 5'11" and 217 pounds, he's too much for most would-be tacklers to handle alone. "He's one of those guys who disappears into a pile, and just when you start looking to see where the referee is going to spot the ball, he busts out of it for 10 or 20 more yards," says Oregon coach Mike Bellotti. "His legs never stop pumping."

One of the biggest impediments to Lynch's winning the Heisman might turn out to be the Bears' depth at running back. His backup, junior Justin Forsett, is a 5'8", 180-pound flash who rushed for 999 yards last year and averaged more yards per carry (7.6) than Lynch's 6.4. "There's no way you can keep a back like Justin on the bench," Lynch says. "No matter which one of us is in the game, our offense is going to be dangerous."

But Cal's offense is most lethal when the ball is in Lynch's hands, and if he is called to the podium in New York City on Dec. 9 to accept the Heisman, he will, of course, be expected to make a speech. The electorate will be pleased to know that Lynch's aversion to public speaking goes only so far. "If my teammates and I play well enough for me to win the Heisman," he says, "I'll be happy to talk about it."