WAY Too Early Heisman Watch

Much Too Early Heisman Watch:

 While the college football season is still 87 days away, we can still talk about it like it’s happening next weekend. Last season saw the first College Football Playoffs with Ohio State coming away with a 42-20 victory over Oregon in the title game. This season has Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes as the early favorites to repeat. The Buckeyes could run the table and collect many pieces of hardware this season; the Big Ten Championship, the National Championship, and there could be two members of the scarlet and gray in New York as possible Heisman Trophy candidates. Here’s a list of 4 early Heisman candidates and a dark horse pick. 

Ezekiel Elliot, Running Back, Ohio State: Coming off a season which saw him rack up over 1,800 yards and 18 touchdowns, Elliot goes into the 2015 season as the heavy favorite to hear his name called in December. Although the Buckeyes have three other possible Heisman candidates at quarterback, Elliot will likely be the focal point for an offense that totaled 511 yards per game last season. He looks to become the first running back to win the award since Alabama’s Mark Ingram in 2009 and the first Ohio State player to win since Troy Smith in 2006. 

Miller (Left), Barrett (Middle), and Jones (Right) have
to battle for the starting spot and a potential Heisman spot. 

Cardale Jones, Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett, Quarterbacks, Ohio State: I’m counting all of these guys as one. The defending national champs don’t have many concerns heading into 2015 but they do have to worry about who is going to line up under center September 7^th when they take on Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. And if that's their only concern, then good for them. Cardale Jones started the final three games of the season when backup J.T Barrett went down with an injury, Barrett had replaced starter Braxton Miller when he went down with an injury prior to the season. If Jones can build off his final three games (742 yards and 5 touchdowns) he could very well hear his name called in December. He will have to compete against Miller and Barrett before he gets that chance.

Trevone Boykin, Quarterback, TCU: Boykin led the Horned Frogs to a Peach Bowl victory over Ole Miss, but that wasn’t what he expected. Having gone 11-1 on the season, TCU expected to see their names in the top four when the playoffs were announced, that wasn’t the case. Over the course of the 2014 season Boykin threw for 3,900 yards, 33 touchdowns, and was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. He looks to become the first TCU player to win the Heisman since legendary quarterback Davey O’Brien.

Fournette looks to become the first LSU player to win the
Heisman Trophy since Billy Cannon in 1959. 

Leonard Fournette, Running Back, LSU: Fournette entered 2014 as a freshman with high expectations being the nations top running back and coming into the 2015 season the expectations are very, very high. He set the school record for most rushing yards by a freshman with 1,034 yards along with 10 touchdowns. The Tigers had a mediocre 2014 season and finished 8-4; expectations in Baton Rouge are always high and if they’re going to make it back into the national spotlight then Fournette is going to be the guy.

Derrick Henry, Running Back, Alabama: This is the biggest running back Nick Saban has had at Alabama, coming in at 6’3” 242 pounds, Derrick Henry is a bruiser and doesn’t go down easy. Henry was just under the 1,000-yard mark but scored 11 touchdowns for the Tide. Tuscaloosa is another place where expectations are high and with the departure of quarterback Blake Sims, Henry should expect to carry the ball a lot. Roll Tide. 

I'll throw in Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg as another dark horse. Coming off a sophomore slump in 2014 which saw his touchdowns drop from 20 to 12 and his interceptions go from 10 to 15, Hackenberg looks to bounce back and put up the numbers that many believe someone of his caliber should. The 6'4" junior is by considered by many to be a top five draft pick when he chooses to come out. (Some project him as the top overall pick.) If by chance he stays for his senior year, his name will be right at the top of this list.