The ballot arrived in the mail late last week.

It came from the Heisman Trophy Trust, and ballot No. 229 belongs to me. The Trust hands out ballots to 925 voters, instructing us to list our top three choices for the most outstanding player in college football.

Usually at this time of year, I’m certain of my choice. For the moment, I’m not and probably won’t be until after this weekend’s games.

However, for those of you who enjoy compiling ballots of the various voters, I want to let you into my thinking.

If I had to vote today, this is what I would turn in: 1, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow; 2, Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel; 3, Arkansas running back Darren McFadden.

However, Tebow still has a matchup left against rival Florida State, while Daniel must go against second-ranked Kansas. Meanwhile, McFadden must play Friday against LSU, which has the best defense he will face this year.

If one falls, Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell looks awfully good, especially after the Red Raiders knocked off Oklahoma on Saturday.

So far, Tebow has unbelievable touchdown numbers, and that has swayed me into considering him. He has thrown 26 touchdown passes against only six interceptions. He ranks second in the country in passing efficiency, trailing only Oklahoma freshman Sam Bradford.

He has thrown at least two touchdown passes in all but two games — he had one each against Auburn and Georgia.

Like most of the other top quarterbacks in the country, he has piled up big numbers against inferior teams, but Tebow also has done reasonably well in big games. His only game under 200 passing yards came in a loss to LSU when he completed 12 of 26 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns.

On the ground, Tebow has scored 20 touchdowns, an SEC record. He ranks fourth in the nation in scoring. That’s unreal, especially for a quarterback.

He hasn’t finished his season, but he already has one more rushing touchdown than Alabama’s Shaun Alexander had in 1999. Counting all touchdowns, Alexander holds the league’s overall touchdown record with 24 in 1999, and that’s not out of reach for Tebow.

My biggest knock against Tebow is that he hasn’t been fantastic in Florida’s biggest games. He was good but not great in losses to Auburn, Georgia and LSU. He did play well in a win against Tennessee, rushing for two touchdowns and passing for two more and 299 yards, his highest total against an SEC team this year.

Daniel ranks ninth in the nation in passing efficiency with 30 touchdowns against nine interceptions. He has led his team to a No. 3 national ranking, while Tebow’s Gators are No. 12.

He threw for 359 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in a win over Illinois. He also had 361 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions against Oklahoma.

However, a third of his touchdown passes came against poor teams — five each against Ole Miss and Colorado.

McFadden has sailed along quietly this year. The Razorbacks’ struggles to win and his puzzling 43-yard effort in a loss to Auburn appeared to knock him from the Heisman race.

His three biggest games came when Arkansas needed him to produce — 321 yards in a 48-36 win over South Carolina, 195 in a 41-38 loss to Alabama and 173 in a 42-29 loss to Kentucky. But notice how two of those games were losses?

He ranks fourth in the nation in rushing but has only 13 touchdowns. He has thrown three scoring passes, however.

A big game against LSU will mean plenty in solidifying him on my ballot.

However, there still are plenty of other good candidates. Rutgers’ Ray Rice ranks third in the nation in rushing, although his 5.1-yard average is only a little above ordinary.

Harrell has thrown for 5,298 yards and 45 touchdowns. He threw for 397 yards against Missouri, 466 against Texas and 420 against Oklahoma.

Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon ranks fifth in passing efficiency with 20 touchdowns compared to only four interceptions. He threw for 189 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Arizona State and 292 yards and three touchdowns against Michigan. Oregon won both.

He has scored nine touchdowns, too.

Who knows? Maybe he deserves more consideration for the top spot. But for now, Tebow gets my vote.

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Mark Edwards’ Heisman vote

A look at how Daily sports editor Mark Edwards has voted in the Heisman Trophy balloting since having a vote beginning in 2003:

2003

Edwards’ vote:Philip Rivers, North Carolina State.

Winner:Jason White, Oklahoma.

2004

Edwards’ vote:Jason White, Oklahoma.

Winner:Matt Leinart, SouthernCalifornia.

2005

Edwards’ vote:Reggie Bush, Southern California.

Winner:Reggie Bush, Southern California.

2006

Edwards’ vote:Troy Smith, Ohio State.

Winner:Troy Smith, Ohio State.