Want to look a little further afield for Heisman Trophy candidates? Well, here are five more players capable of playing a part in the discussion:
Taysom Hill (Quarterback, Brigham Young)
If you didn’t get to see Hill play last year, make a point of doing so this year. He’s a livewire of a dual-threat quarterback who runs Bronco Mendenhall’s spread system to absolute perfection, and is one of the most dangerous guys in all of college football when the intended play breaks down.
Before a season-ending injury last year suffered in the fifth game, Hill had fifteen touchdowns to just three interceptions, and was completing his passes at about sixty-seven percent. Extrapolate those numbers out to a full season of, say, twelve or thirteen games, and they’re very compelling.
The only problem I see with Hill in 2015 is the BYU schedule. Their opening month is tough: a visit to Nebraska, and also UCLA and Michigan on the road, with Boise State on the docket, but at least the Cougars get them at home. If the Cougars can somehow snag a few wins during this stretch, you figure it’ll be a lot to do with Hill, so his stock should rise. Of course, if they get embarrassed, it’ll go the other way – in a hurry.
James Conner (Running Back, Pittsburgh)
Lost in the craze over Melvin Gordon, Jay Ajayi and Samaje Perine, the Pitt back had an incredible season, stacking up 1765 rushing yards and twenty-six touchdowns. Not bad for a team that went 6-7.
There's no doubt that Conner would definitely have been more nationally recognised if the Panthers had actually had a winning season. As far as his 2015 hopes go, if Pitt can start winning more games than they lose, they’ll start to get noticed on ESPN and other influential outlets, and Conner will be amongst the Heisman hopefuls.
Nick Chubb (Running Back, Georgia)
With Todd Gurley gone from Athens, Chubb is really The Man on campus this year, and if he builds on an impressive 2014 season, the sky is just about the limit. Ran for 1547 yards and fourteen touchdowns (equal best in the SEC) whilst Gurley had his injury struggles. Chubb appears set to continue his streak of eight consecutive 100-yard games – and had two 200-yard games, as well – into the early season, and if Georgia fire all season, Chubb will be right in the Heisman race.
Dak Prescott (Quarterback, Mississippi State)
Prescott decided against declaring, and will return to State for his final year of eligibility. He was a big part of the early-season conversation in 2014, and should be again this year, if he can go anywhere close to replicating his numbers (3449 passing yards, 986 rushing yards, accounting for forty-one scores).
One caveat: State lost a big chunk of their receiving corps from a year ago, and Prescott may struggle to find viable targets. Because he’s from a school that isn’t a ‘traditional power’ – whatever that means these days! – State are going to need some big-ticket SEC wins if Prescott is going to vault up into Heisman consideration.
Corey Clement (Running Back, Wisconsin)
Wisconsin have another 200-pound monster in their backfield in 2015, and if recent history is anything to go by, you can pretty much guarantee Clement will run for at least a thousand yards, and that would put him at least in the conversation for a trip to New York City. The way Wisconsin traditionally favour the run means he’ll get plenty of carries, which means plenty of chances to impress the national press.
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