2015 Heisman Trophy Projections
As the 2015 NCAA Football season swiftly approaches the bowl season, we are left with just a couple more marquee games to enjoy before the voters begin manipulating the polls to allow for the best four teams in the country to face off in the College Football Playoffs. The 2015 season has already provided us with plenty to enjoy including some amazing performances by some of the nation’s greatest athletes.
Francis Owusu made a catch that is tough to explain because it was just that amazing. He caught a touchdown pass without seeing the football because the defender was in his face so he wrapped his arms around him like he was hugging him and somehow caught the ball with both hands behind the defenders back. That was just a glimpse at the greatness the 2015 season has brought us.
Leonard Fournette, down at LSU, has more knockdowns than Floyd Mayweather. Not only is he the nation’s leading rusher, he is also one of the scariest downfield running backs the game has seen since, dare we say it, Adrian Peterson.
The Heisman Trophy has been awarded to college football’s most outstanding player every single season since 1935 when Jay Berwanger took home the trophy following a dominate senior campaign as University of Chicago’s Running Back. The award is the most prestigious in college sports and has only seen one player win it more than once. (Archie Griffin, 1974 & 1975)
Which player in the NCAA did the most to be named the 2015 Heisman Winner? With precious short time left on the college schedule, here are our top candidates for the award. Enjoy.
1. DeShaun Watson, QB, Clemson
Passing
- Att-Comp (Pct.): 241-344 (70.1%)
- Yards: 2,944
- TD-INT: 26-10
Rushing
- Yards: 642
- TDs: 6
Total Yards: 3,586
Total TDs: 32
The Heisman Winner is not always the one with the most yards or touchdowns. It goes to the player that not only put up incredible numbers, they also helped their team win games.
DeShaun Watson is the perfect combination of size, speed, and arm strength for a Clemson offense that is one of the best in the country. He has led them to a perfect 11-0 record so far with two more games to go. (@ South Carolina, vs. UNC) If he continues to roll, he will easily be the top choice for the Heisman Trophy winner in 2015.
2. Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
Rushing
- Carries: 249
- Yards: 1,526
- TDs: 21
Receiving
- Receptions: 10
- Yards: 97
Total Yards: 1,623
Since Nick Saban has been at Alabama, they have been winners. They are so good on the offensive line that almost any running back can become great for the Crimson Tide. However, Derrick Henry is different. He is big. And when we say big, we mean he is the biggest running back since Brandon Jacobs. Derrick Henry stands a ridiculous 6’3″ tall while weighing nearly 250 pounds. He does not hit you, he hurts you when he lowers his shoulders.
Henry is a good candidate for the Heisman because not only is Alabama sitting in the driver’s seat for another College Football Playoff appearance, he is a second half runner that takes over a game when his team needs him to.
3. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
Rushing
- Carries: 260
- Yards: 1,546
- TDs: 7
Receiving
- Receptions: 34
- Yards: 416
- TDs: 3
Total Yards: 1,962
Total TDs: 10
Since the third game of the season, Christian McCaffrey has been on a tear. He has rushed for more than 100 yards in nine consecutive games while also clearing 200 yards twice.
Besides rushing, he has become a dangerous backfield receiver for a Stanford team that has fought their way to 11th in the country when no one expected that much from them in 2015.
4. Carl Nassib, DE, Penn State
- Defense
- Tackles: 46
- Tackles for Loss: 19.5
- Sacks: 15.5
- INT: 1
Why is no one discussing Carl Nassib for the Heisman Trophy award? Sure, Penn State is not going to win a National Title in 2015 but you can thank the Offense for not keeping the Defense off the field.
Regardless of how the Nittany Lions finish the 2015 season, Carl Nassib deserves an invitation to New York. He has done everything for a Defense that is ranked 16th in Total Yards this year.
He is also the NCAA leader in Tackles for Loss and Sacks. Everyone loves a good story and this former Walk-on turned NFL prospect has a great one.
5. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
Passing
- Att-Comp (Pct.): 226-329 (68.7%)
- Yards: 3,209
- TD-INT: 33-5
Rushing
- Yards: 343
- TDs: 6
Total Yards: 3,552
Total TDs: 39
Oklahoma has one blemish on their record, a loss to Texas earlier in the season. They almost found themselves losing to TCU when Baker Mayfield had to leave the game early with a head injury. He left the game with a 23-7 lead. Oklahoma squeezed out the victory 30-29 thanks to a failed two point conversion at the end of the game.
The Sooners win with Mayfield, they lose without him. If that does not spell Heisman Trophy candidate, we don’t know what does.
6. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
Rushing
- Carries: 239
- Yards: 1,582
- TDs: 17
Receiving
- Receptions: 14
- Yards: 166
Total Yards: 1,748
LSU’s football team is not fun to watch recently following a three game losing streak that began with the loss to Alabama. The defensive front of Alabama managed to stop Leonard Fournette as he was on his way to a record setting season. He has since bounced back and LSU discovered that he is a very useful pass catcher over the past two weeks. He has 7 catches for 108 yards over that span.
As the NCAA’s leading rusher, he will remain in the discussion and might even earn an invite to New York depending on how he finishes the season.
7. Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
Receiving
- Receptions: 66
- Yards: 1,306
- Avg: 19.8
- TDs: 20
Baylor has an amazing offense. They average 53.8 points per game and are ranked 3rd in the Nation in Total Offense, averaging just over 350 yards per game. Corey Coleman is not just a beneficiary of a system, he is an amazing talent. He continues to get open and find holes all over the field to put up video game like numbers.
8. Keenan Reynolds, QB, Navy
Passing
- Att-Comp (Pct.): 33-68 (48.5%)
- Yards: 652
- TD-INT: 5-0
Rushing
- Yards: 1,009
- TDs: 18
Total Yards: 1,661
Total TDs: 23
As a Quarterback, he falls short of a Heisman nomination but as a complete player, he is truly what the Heisman Trophy is all about. He is the only reason Navy is even looking at a top 25 ranking. Keenan Reynolds is starting to come on strong as a last minute Heisman candidate too. As Navy continues to rise in the rankings, so does his value.
