Kansas State's Klein resembles Heisman winner Crouch

• Collin Klein's statistics don't match recent winners, but the compare well to those of Eric Crouch
• Klein was a clear leader in the Heisman race for much of the season but might be a distant third now
• Klein could become the first Heisman-winning QB since Crouch to throw for fewer than 30 touchdowns

Former Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch, the 2001 Heisman Trophy winner, calls Kansas State's Collin Klein a "forward-leaning runner," someone who can churn out extra yardage by following his blocks and delivering a blow rather than waiting for contact.

He should know: Crouch ran for more than 3,000 yards in Nebraska's option-based offense, setting an FBS quarterback record with 59 rushing touchdowns.

"Some of the things he does just blow your mind," said Crouch, a Fox Sports college football analyst. "You wouldn't think he'd be able to do things like that, but he's been so consistent over the last few years in leading his team to a lot of wins.

"I was just amazed by how patient he was in setting up his blocks. And when he hits them and gets tackled, you're sitting there going, 'How did he get hit and gain 6 or 7 yards just carrying four or five guys?'"

Like Crouch before him, Klein's running ability — he gained 895 yards and scored 22 times during the regular season — has allowed him to move into the Heisman race without the sort of passing numbers comparable to recent winners at the quarterback position. After throwing 15 touchdown passes during the regular season, he would be the first Heisman-winning quarterback since Crouch to toss fewer than 30 touchdowns.

"Nobody really looks at him, like they did with me, as a throwing quarterback," Crouch said. "Their offense just beats you up with their running game. They play solid defense and their offense stays on the field and works the clock. That's how they've survived the last couple seasons with Collin Klein at the helm."

Because of the lack of prototypically Heisman-worthy passing totals, Klein's campaign, again like Crouch's in 2001, has been built primarily on the strength of his team's season. Kansas State started 10-0 and climbed to No. 1 in the BCS standings Nov. 11 before losing to Baylor 52-24 on Nov. 17.

It's not surprising, therefore, that Klein ceded Heisman frontrunner status to Texas A&M redshirt freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel shortly after Kansas State's lone defeat.

Klein took his first lead in USA TODAY Sports Media Group's weekly survey of Heisman voters Oct. 29, when he garnered 35 out of a possible 36 first-place votes. Klein had 33 first-place votes a week later, on Nov. 5, and had 35 first-place votes Nov. 13.

Then came Baylor, and Klein went from Heisman leader to Heisman underdog. He's finished third in each of the last three voter surveys, and had only one first-place vote in Monday's final tally. While Klein was invited to Manhattan for Saturday's Heisman Trophy ceremony, he's a long shot behind Manziel and Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o.