Opinion: Sports Editor TJ Davis names his top three picks for the 2017 Heisman Trophy
We’re almost halfway through the college football regular season and so far things have gone exactly as expected – that is, as long as you expected a plethora of uncertainty and madness.
In typical college football fashion, there’s been an abundance of upsets, comebacks, late game-winning scores, blowouts, highlight reels and pettiness.
One of the most exciting parts about college football, the Heisman race, is already off to an interesting start. For those who don’t know what the Heisman trophy is, the Heisman is an annual award that is given to the most outstanding player in college football, and is voted on primarily by sports journalists.
Here are my top three picks for the 2017 Heisman trophy:
- Bryce Love, RB, Stanford – 98 carries, 1,088 yards, 8 TDs, 2 REC, 5 yards this season
Despite the fact that Stanford isn’t even ranked, Love has snuck into the Heisman watch due to his video-game like stat lines. His 1,088 yards in five games is on pace to pass Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record of 2,628 yards. He’s currently averaging 11.1 yards per carry. Because of his speed, Love has the potential to turn any play into a touchdown. In all five games this season, Love has recorded a run of at least 50 yards. In the past two weeks he ran for a combined 564 yards, so I think we can expect Stanford to lean on Love’s running game and his big-play ability. His biggest disadvantage at the Heisman trophy is that Stanford is already out of the national conversation due to its two early losses. Although the Heisman is an individual trophy, these things are inevitably considered during the voting process. However, that didn’t stop last year’s Heisman winner, Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson, whose team finished the regular season at 9-3. Also, how can you not root for a guy with the last name “Love”?
- Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma – 76/101, 1,329 yards, 0 INTs, 13 TDs, 228.3 passer rating
Mayfield is a game manager for the Sooners, and his leadership has led them to the number 3 spot in the country, right behind the two powerhouses Alabama and Clemson. The Sooners quarterback is agile and elusive, but this season he has tamed himself from tucking and running and he has used his elusiveness to avoid defenders and find his open receivers downfield. Mayfield was one of the preseason favorites for the Heisman trophy, and he’s built a strong case by showing up in the big games – 27-35, 386 yards, three TDs in their 31-16 upset over Ohio State in week two. He’s been playing confident football, and when you’re the quarterback of one of the most-watched teams in the nation, that’s exactly what you need. His biggest disadvantage at the Heisman trophy is Oklahoma’s defense. In week four the Sooners gave up 41 points to Baylor, but Mayfield was able to take control and lead his team to a comeback after halftime. Mayfield’s defining moment will come when his team matches up against Oklahoma State and Texas Christian University in weeks 10 and 11. If it were up to me, Mayfield would win the Heisman off petty points alone after he planted the Oklahoma flag in the middle of the Ohio State field on the Buckeyes logo following their win.
- Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State – 88 carries, 574 rush yards, 4 TDs, 27 catches, 386 rec yards, 2 TDs, Kickoff return TD, 1 passing TD
If you haven’t been able to watch Barkley play, look up some of his highlights: he flat out bullies defenders. Barkley is clearly the go-to option for Penn State as he leads the team in both rushing and receiving yards, but so far opposing defenses have not been able to find an answer to him. There’s two things that make Barkley such a talented running back: He can beat you in just about any way – he’ll outrun you, he’ll break your ankles, he’ll run through you, heck, he’ll even jump over you. He’s also extremely good after contact, which isn’t surprising because this guy is just as dominant in the weight room as he is on the field. Barkley weighs about 230 pounds and he power-cleans 405 – seriously look up the video, it’s just as intimidating as it sounds. His only disadvantage at the Heisman trophy is that Penn State probably has the toughest remaining schedule, as they’ll face off against Michigan and Ohio State in consecutive weeks. As of right now, Barkley is also projected as the number one prospect for the 2018 NFL draft, so it will be interesting to see if he maintains this level of play.