The Heisman Trophy is the most highly touted individual award in college football. With the start of the season rapidly approaching, I break down my top candidates. Stay tuned for updates throughout the season.
Trevone Boykin. Senior QB. TCU.
You’d be hard pressed to find a quarterback returning to a top program who had a better 2014 season than Boykin. He led the Horned Frogs to a 12-1 (8-1 Big 12 Conference) record, including a 42-3 dismantling of Ole Miss in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and a share of the Big 12 title. Boykin racked up 3,901 passing yards and 33 touchdowns while throwing just 10 interceptions. He also rushed for 707 yards and eight touchdowns. A senior quarterback who produces at an exceptional level for a national title contender will always be a Heisman frontrunner. With the Horned Frogs ranked No. 2 in the preseason polls, the spotlight will be on Boykin from the first snap.
Cody Kessler. Senior QB. USC.
If there’s a quarterback returning to a highly-ranked team who had a better season than Boykin, it’s Kessler. He threw for 3,826 yards, completed 69.7 percent of his passes and tossed 39 touchdowns, compared to a measly five interceptions. USC looks poised to make a run at a Pac-12 Championship, which could see Kessler gain even more attention and catapult him into the race.
Cardale Jones/J.T. Barrett. Junior/Sophomore QBs. Ohio State.
One of these guys is going to start, meaning one of these guys will also put up incredibly impressive numbers while the Buckeyes compile win after win. Barrett took over the starting job last year when Braxton Miller went down with a season-ending injury before the first game. He proved to be a suitable replacement, throwing for 2,834 yards and 34 touchdowns. He had a completion percentage of 64.6 and the second highest passing efficiency in the nation (169.8) last season until he eventually succumbed to an injury of his own. Jones took over for Barrett and all he managed to do was help bring the Buckeyes a National Championship. Barrett and Jones are so talented that the Buckeyes will have a backup quarterback capable of playing at an elite level. Oh, and Ohio State has that Miller guy playing wide receiver if it needs him. I hear he isn’t half bad at quarterback himself.
Ezekiel Elliott. Junior RB. Ohio State.
Ohio State’s quarterbacks aren’t the only Buckeyes attracting Heisman buzz. Elliott is the team’s strongest candidate (despite the fact that QBs often win even when a player of a different position is more deserving). He capitalized on his 273 carries, rushing for 1,878 yards and 18 touchdowns. Perhaps the most impressive part of Elliot’s 2014 season was how brightly he shone when the spotlight was on the Buckeyes. He posted more than 200 yards rushing in the Big 10 Championship Game and both College Football Playoff games. His 220-yard performance against Wisconsin, his 230-yard effort against Alabama and his 246-yard showing against Oregon were his three highest totals of the season. Saving your best performances for the biggest stage is impressive. In a world where athletes are heavily criticized for choking in the clutch, Elliott’s late-season efforts stick out that much more.
Nick Chubb. Sophomore RB. Georgia.
Chubb entered the 2014 season as a true freshman and as the backup to first round draft pick Todd Gurley. He ended it as the starter, rushing for 1,547 yards on 219 carries (7.1 yards per carry) and 14 touchdowns. Those are gaudy numbers for anyone, let alone a guy who only started eight games. With a new starting quarterback, Chubb should see plenty of carries, even if sophomore Sony Michel and senior Keith Marshall are healthy and getting some looks.
In the Mix
Leonard Fournette. Sophomore RB. LSU.
The only thing that might be able to slow Fournette down this year is a backfield stocked with a lot of talent.
Connor Cook. Senior QB. Michigan State University.
Cook had solid production last season for the Spartans, and with his team ranked No. 5 in the preseason AP Top 25, he’ll have people’s attention.