NCAA Football Heisman Predictions
Despite one RB’s almost incomprehensible stats, the Heisman Trophy jockeying is gradually turning into a two-horse race. This season has taught us that just when you think things are stitched up, a monkey wrench gets thrown into the works.
Heisman Forecast
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Let’s have a look at where the candidates are at in Week 10.
Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
The slick Ducks pivot finally played a good game against Stanford, which was a huge statement both for the Ducks and Mariota’s Trophy aspirations. Mariota’s ability to damage opponents with his arm or his very fleet feet (as opposed to the battering-ram style of other ‘dual threat’ QBs further down this list) makes him a factor week in, week out.
If Oregon has a strong finish to the regular season, it’s hard not to envision its field general standing on the podium in New York.
Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State
Prescott’s MSU Bulldogs continue to win against all odds, but the QB didn’t look great in last week’s 17-10 comeback win against Arkansas. He eclipsed 300 yards passing in that game, but also threw two picks.
His passing yards don’t jump off the page, but Prescott’s 725 rushing yards and 10 rush TDs – not to mention the fact State is unbeaten this late in the season in the first time since, forever? – certainly do.
Prescott is a Tim Tebow clone in the best possible way – his Gators years, not the last-ugly-go-around-for-the-Broncos version.
Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Badgers pass about as often as vampires cook with garlic, but all the same, Gordon’s statistics are stupefying.
Through nine weeks of play, the junior has 1,296 rush yards and 18 TDs. This is despite backup RB Chase Clement having 700 yards on the ground and seven majors. Gordon is average 7.5 yards per carry and is responsible for the lion’s share of Wisconsin’s pizzazz.
If the Badgers put up strong performances this week against ranked Nebraska and next week on the road at Iowa, there might be more to this solely because voters like to award the Heisman to QBs on elite teams.
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Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU
The Horned Frogs are having a charmed 2014 campaign, currently sitting at 7-1 and ranked #6 in the country. Most of this is thanks to their junior starting pivot. Boykin 2,472 pass yards on the season, paired with 26 total TDs and nearly 500 yards on the ground.
Boykin also led Texas Christian to a crazy 82-27 victory over Texas Tech a couple of weeks ago, which deserves a mention in and of itself. If TCU finds away to defeat conference big boy Kansas State and Texas in the upcoming weeks, Boykin will legitimately deserve some thought from the Heisman voters.
Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
The veteran wideout sank into the shadows for a few weeks after ‘Bama’s disappointing loss to Ole Miss in October, but his stellar play of late has put the 6″1, 210-lb junior back on the map.
Cooper had a ridiculous 224 yards receiving and two TDs against rival Tennessee last week. He has 71 receptions for 1,132 yards and nine TDs on the season; if the dynamic athlete can top LSU this weekend and with two more huge games looming against Mississippi State and Auburn in the Iron Bowl, the landscape could entirely change.
DARKHORSE: Nick Marshall, QB, Auburn
No one has questioned Marshall’s importance to the Tigers. With so many other tasty candidates on the board, though, there must be some unorthodox happenings in the last few weeks of the regular season for Marshall to leapfrog people.
Plus – and this can’t be discounted – Auburn must beat the Alabama Crimson Tide in the last week of the season. Marshall, with his 22 total TDs, rushing and passing, has the talent to potentially change the narrative.
Check out our Updated College Football Week 11 Odds.
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