Joe Raymond / AP file

Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn gets high marks for his ability to find open receivers, writes Allen Pinkett of MSNBC.com.

Allen Pinkett

Who will emerge as the Irish MVP this season?

Here are my top candidates along with the reasons why I feel they deserve consideration.

As the second half of the season progresses, cast your vote for Irish MVP, and check back at the end of the regular season to see whom I choose for the honor.

Brady Quinn, Sr., quarterback
Quinn had such an outstanding year last season, that when he has a three-touchdown game this season, it's no big deal as it's almost expected of him.

Still, it should be pointed out that after the first half of the season, Quinn is on pace or ahead in most categories compared to his superb 2005 campaign.

The senior has become more tactical this season. He has embraced head coach Charlie Weis' system in that his favorite receiver is the one who is open. If you are an Irish receiver and you are open expect to get the ball because odds are Quinn is going to throw it to you.

That's impressed Weis -- who knows more than a little something about outstanding quarterbacks. The coach says there aren't many quarterbacks that can play the game the way Quinn does -- meaning finding the open man and not just going constantly to one or two favorite receivers.

What Quinn hasn't had the opportunity to do too often this season is to go deep, but that's because defenses are playing back so far on the Irish receivers.

But Weis and Quinn have made adjustments to that. Notre Dame has dominated teams in time of possession, and its focus has been on making first downs.

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With teams guarding against Quinn and the Irish striking quickly and beating them deep, Notre Dame is content to take its time on offense and methodically go down the field in pursuit of a score.

And here's a prediction: I anticipate Quinn winning the Heisman Trophy, and I think he will seal the deal with a huge performance in Notre Dame's final regular season game at USC on Nov. 25.

Rhema McKnight, Sr., wide receiver
What most people tend to forget about McKnight is that he was the Irish's leading receiver (42 catches, 610 yards) in 2004 prior to the arrival of Charlie Weis as Notre Dame head coach.

McKnight missed the final 10 games of last season with a knee injury. But he had a strong spring, one which left Weis feeling a big season was at hand for McKnight, and that's certainly been the case.

This year with Notre Dame opponents rolling considerable coverage over to consensus All-America wide receiver Jeff Samardzija, McKnight has really stepped up, and he has improved every game. He is showing no effects of the knee injury.

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If teams leave McKnight in single coverage, he's going to hurt them. He was a little out of sync with quarterback Brady Quinn in the first couple of games of the season, especially with the short out route he runs to the left side, but now that pass has become pretty automatic.

So between Samardzija and McKnight -- maybe the best receiving tandem in the country -- opposing defenses have to pretty much pick their poison.

McKnight has shown an ability to make big plays, and he's been the No. 1 target for Quinn when trying to convert on third down with the pass.

The 6-foot-2, 208-pounder from Inglewood, Calif. has moved into second place in all-time career receptions at Notre Dame, and he has a good shot at owning the record before this season is out.

Maurice Crum, Jr., linebacker
Crum has made a superb transition this season from outside linebacker to inside linebacker. He's been the quarterback of the defense in that he keeps his teammates together as to what the calls are from play to play.

What Crum has done is even more impressive when taking into account that he missed spring practice after undergoing back surgery following the Irish loss to Ohio State in last January's Fiesta Bowl.

Crum's quickness along with his ability to fly to the ball and the attitude he brings to making a tackle -- he tackles with a vengeance -- more than makes up for the fact that he may be a bit undersized (6-foot, 220 pounds) for his position.

I didn't think his transition would come together as quickly as it did because he was going from outside linebacker where you can freelance a bit to inside linebacker where you have to be very disciplined.

Crum could wind up leading the Irish in tackles and tackles for a loss.

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Joe Raymond / AP

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