Heisman Finalist

It's been a long road for Robert Griffin III since arriving at Baylor in 2008. He has revitalized a once dormant football program and has made the Baylor record book his own personal biography. Now the man known as RG3 may be just days away from finally being called, "Heisman."

No, it is not a dream. A Baylor player truly is a finalist for the prestigious Heisman Trophy.

Robert Griffin III, or "RG3" as he has been affectionately called in Waco the past four seasons, is Baylor's first quarterback to be a threat to the stiff-armed trophy since Don Trull in 1963.

RG3 brings with him a unique resume. Unlike the other finalists (Trent Richardson, Andrew Luck, Montee Ball, and Tyrann Mathieu), Griffin III did not play on a team that has at least 11 wins and is in a BCS bowl game. The Bears are only 9-3 and will be playing in the Alamo Bowl against the Washington Huskies. However, RG3 does arguably bring the best statistics and the "wow" moments that have been associated with the award's winners in past years.

The junior QB has passed for 3,998 yards (6th nationally) and 36 touchdowns (4th nationally) to only 6 interceptions. RG3 boasts a 72.4 completion percentage and a 192.3 quarterback rating (1st nationally). Griffin III, a once world-class hurdler, also adds 644 yards rushing and 9 touchdowns on the ground.

He has also showcased himself and Baylor University in multiple big moments this season. On the Friday of the opening weekend of the season, RG3 lead Baylor to a dramatic 50-48 win over defending Rose Bowl champion TCU with 359 yards passing and 5 touchdowns. On November 19, Griffin III dissected the Oklahoma defense for a school record 479 yards and 4 touchdowns including a 34-yard game winner with just eight seconds left on the clock. Finally, with all the pressure of the Heisman race bearing down on him and coming off of concussion-like symptoms the week before, RG3 threw for 320 yards and 2 touchdowns while rushing for 2 others against Texas in Baylor's regular season finale. The Longhorns have arguably the best defense in the Big 12.

The resume is there. He has the statistics. He has enough victories. He has the Heisman moments. He has the "it" factor. All he needs now is the Heisman Trophy. Will it all be enough for him to win it? This and every other Baylor Bear certainly thinks so. The entire world will know Saturday December 10, 2011.