Wesley Mills - No

Montario Hardesty is a great running back; it has been proven over and over as he has carried this Tennessee offense through eight games, literally. The cry for national respect, however, is a bit much in my opinion. He is definitely the most valuable player on the Tennessee team, but he is not even the best running back in his own conference.

He is definitely the most valuable player on the Tennessee team, but he is not even the best running back in his own conference. Wesley MillsThroughout the season, Hardesty and the running game have been solid, even though the rest of the offense has been at times, well, not very good, only gaining ground in wins over Georgia and South Carolina. However, looking at the numbers, it's hard to say that Hardesty should be receiving more national publicity.

Hardesty ranks 21^st in the nation in rushing, with 166 attempts for 841 yards and 8 touchdowns; Mississippi State's Anthony Dixon (182 attempts, 1,001 yards, 9 TDs), Alabama's Mark Ingram (153 attempts, 1,004 yards, 8 TDs) and Auburn's Ben Tate (193 attempts, 1,067 yards, 6 TDs) all rank in front of Hardesty in national rankings.

Not noticing the great work Hardesty has accomplished is like not noticing a Gator fan in a sea of orange. It's undeniable and flat-out obvious. But the fact is, Hardesty's production has only been so obvious because the rest of the offense has played so poorly.

Don't get me wrong, Hardesty has shown guts and heart to the Big Orange Nation this year, and really improved his game - not to mention his draft stock. But if there is another guy in the same league receiving Heisman attention, do you truly expect Hardesty to garner much national attention? Ingram has stolen the spotlight, and rightfully so, as he has almost 300 yards more than Hardesty.

Grant Ramey - Yes

Montario Hardesty deserves, and will receive, more national attention for the following three reasons: (1) Memphis, (2) Vanderbilt, (3) Kentucky.

It's November, and as per Volunteer tradition (not necessarily including the latter years of the Fulmer Era), that means cake walk time for Tennessee football. Lane Kiffin's Vols - after a black-clad 31-13 pasting of South Carolina on national television and a Terrance Cody leap away from beating No. 1 Alabama on the road -are one of the hottest teams in the country.

And who is the poster boy on the offensive side of the football? Montario Hardesty. So much so that Lane Kiffin said earlier this season he would love to have 85 Montario Hardesty's on his football team every year.

Anything but a 3-1 record (or 4-0 with a strong performance on the road at Ole Miss) and bowl eligibility in the month of November would be disastrous for the Vols. And 14+ point wins over the likes of Memphis, Vanderbilt and Kentucky will only translate to more national attention for Hardesty who will, as he always does, carry the load for this Tennessee football team.