Each week, ESPN.com asks one of its Heisman Watch voters to explain his picks.

1. Troy Smith , Ohio State
I came late to this party, but I came to respect Smith for the way he combined his playmaking ability with poise. He never lost his focus against Michigan, even as the Wolverine defense planted him into the ground time and again. He carried the load of leading the No. 1 team, and of being the Heisman front-runner, with style and a sense that he wasn't burdened at all. We never saw him sweat. That's what he made the other team do.

2. Brady Quinn , Notre Dame
He will be a star in the NFL for many years. He has the size, the arm, and after two years of playing for Charlie Weis, the tutelage. It doesn't bother me that Notre Dame lost its two biggest games by a total of 46 points. You can pin the Michigan loss in part on Quinn, but he never stopped fighting against USC. Notre Dame will miss Quinn more than any Irish player in recent memory.

3. Darren McFadden , Arkansas
Maybe McFadden stands out because he reminds us of what tailbacks used to be. Houston Nutt likes his power running game, and the Arkansas sophomore is the perfect vehicle for that. McFadden shone this season despite not being at full speed until the second month of the season. He'll have to live with a different burden in the offseason -- he will be the 2007 Heisman front-runner for nine months.

4. John Beck , BYU
Like a car company that dusted off an old nameplate, Beck has made BYU Quarterback a meaningful title again. The Cougars waltzed through the Moutain West Conference schedule until they got to the end. When they needed one play in the final seconds to beat archrival Utah, Beck provided a touchdown pass. It doesn't get any better than that.

5. Colt Brennan , Hawaii
He fell just a little short of leading Hawaii to a 10-game winning streak, but that shouldn't diminish the outstanding year Brennan had. The senior needs only one touchdown to tie the NCAA Division I-A record for touchdown passes (54). Unless he breaks his leg between now and the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl against Arizona State, Brennan will surpass 5,000 passing yards for the season against the Sun Devils. He may be in the WAC, but Brennan's quick release and unerring accuracy would be dangerous in any league.