Go deep, Kellen.
If Boise State is serious about helping Kellen Moore win the Heisman Trophy, the Broncos need to show off their quarterback's versatility. Throw the passer a pass or two.
It seems to be a trend in college football these days. Or maybe it would be better described as a gimmick, sort of like putting up a website promoting a player.
Stanford's Andrew Luck already has his highlight-reel catch, a one-handed, toe-dragging sideline grab for 13 yards in a 45-19 victory over UCLA a couple weeks ago.
Wisconsin's Russell Wilson made his cameo as a receiver Saturday. Wilson's catch was more routine, but it produced a 25-yard touchdown during a 59-7 rout of Indiana.
Luck and Wilson are worthy Heisman contenders without the trick plays.
Luck, the overwhelming preseason favorite and virtual lock to be the first player taken in the NFL draft, has thrown for 1,719 yards and 18 touchdowns for No. 7 Stanford.
Wilson, the North Carolina State transfer who played for the Tri-City Dust Devils in 2010, leads the nation in passer rating and has accounted for 13 touchdowns, including the TD grab from running back Montee Ball.
But with more than 900 voters, the Heisman balloting has a lot of popularity contest in it and schools are always looking for ways to make their stars stand out.
So it helps to have something different -- such as, say, a quarterback catching a pass -- on that resume.
Auburn did it last year with Cam Newton, throwing the towering quarterback a fade in the corner of the end zone for a first-half touchdown in a 51-31 victory against Mississippi.
Maybe you notice a trend?
These plays tend to be pulled off in games where the team with the star has a clear advantage. They also tend to be run early to avoid accusations of trying to embarrass the opponent. Still, seeing a wide-open Wilson haul in that floater and jog into the end zone, it did feel a bit orchestrated.
"We were 10-for-10 during the week on it, so I knew it was going to be a touchdown," Wilson said after the Badgers' latest blowout.
A couple of other Heisman contenders added to their resumes Saturday in more organic fashion.
Alabama running back Trent Richardson had a career game in the Tide's 52-7 win at Ole Miss, with 183 yards rushing and four touchdowns. The last score was a 76-yard run that will go down as one of the best of the season and be the centerpiece of Richardson's Heisman campaign.
Richardson blew through several Rebels at the line, sprinted into the open, then used a stutter-step to collapse the last defender with a chance to keep him from the end zone.
When it comes to jaw-dropping plays, Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins might lead the country.
The freshman receiver had the best game of his already spectacular career, gaining a school-record 345 all-purpose yards in the Tigers' 56-45 victory against Maryland.
The last of Watkins' three touchdowns was an 89-yard kickoff return that came right after the Terps had regained the lead and put Clemson ahead to stay in the fourth quarter.
Watkins has a chance to be the first freshman to win the Heisman.
As for Moore, the senior from Prosser is having another tremendous season.
He's thrown 21 touchdown passes for No. 5 Boise State.
But the Broncos will be harder to find on television this season in the Mountain West Conference.
No more of those Friday night league games on ESPN they so often played in the Western Athletic Conference.
It might be time for some of that signature Boise State trickery.
Moore caught a 7-yard TD pass in a 49-20 victory against Louisiana Tech last year, on the way to finishing fourth in the Heisman voting.
He might need to work on his post patterns this year.
Notes
Arkansas unveiled details of an estimated $300 million athletic facilities plan, one that includes the enclosing of the north end zone at Razorback Stadium. The plan released could take up to 30 years and affect each of the university's 19 athletic programs. In addition to the end zone enclosure, the plan also includes a basketball practice facility near Bud Walton Arena, an academic and dining center, and renovations at the baseball team's Baum Stadium and the indoor and outdoor track facilities. ... The University of Louisville agreed to a new seven-year contract with coach Charlie Strong. Strong is in his second season at Louisville and his current contract ran through the 2015 season. ... Tulane head coach Bob Toledo has resigned after yet another slow start for the Green Wave. Tulane is off to a 2-5 start that included lopsided losses to Tulsa, Duke, Army and UTEP.
