Can't Wait For Saturday Credit Heisman voters for digging deep, not settling for easy

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Dec. 12—***

The nice folks in charge of the Heisman Trophy have created a very cool tradition: unveiling the Top 10 other than the finalists before the actual ceremony.

The email came at dinnertime Thursday night.

We know the finalists, listed alphabetically, are Notre Dame tailback Jeremiyah Love, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin. One of those four is going to hold the giant prize Saturday night in front of the ABC cameras.

I can't tell you who I voted for until after the announcement. My plan is to share my list and the reasoning in this space Sunday morning.

There are 21 voters in the state of Illinois. I'm planning to compile their results ASAP after the award is given out.

In spots five to 10, the voters picked two defenders and one receiver … and three more quarterbacks.

I am thrilled about No. 5: Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriquez, a big reason the Red Raiders made the College Football Playoff.

Illinois fans got to see No. 6 up close this season: Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith, who has to play one more year in college before becoming a bazillionaire in the NFL. He is the most talented player I have seen in the past two decades … at least.

Smith was followed by Georgia quarterback Gunnar Stockton, Mississippi quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King. King is the highest finisher at his school since receiver Calvin Johnson in 2006. Cool.

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