[h=1]Ten players who could play their way into the Heisman Trophy mix[/h]Adam Rittenberg
ESPN Staff Writer
ESPN INSIDER
It's Dec. 10 at the PlayStation Theater in midtown Manhattan. The 82nd Heisman Trophy is about to be awarded.
Who will be seated in the front row? There are five players whom no one would be surprised to see: Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey, last year's Heisman runner-up; Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, another 2015 Heisman finalist; LSU running back Leonard Fournette, the Heisman front-runner for two-thirds of the season; Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield, whose dazzling play propelled the Sooners to the College Football Playoff last season; and Florida State running back Dalvin Cook, arguably the nation's most underappreciated player last fall.
Those five need no introduction to the Heisman discussion. If you don't know them, you haven't been paying attention to college football.
But the Heisman rarely goes exactly as forecast. Others can enter the radar and stay there.
The following 10 players have that opportunity this season. Most are national names already, but with such a strong group of returning contenders, each man must do something spectacular to help his campaign.
Here are your quasi-fringe candidates in alphabetical order, and what they need to do to enter the Heisman conversation. Although we realize freshmen or transfers can win the Heisman, none made this list.
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Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett
2015 statistics: 93-of-147 passing for 992 yards with 11 touchdowns and 4 interceptions; 115 rushes for 682 yards and 11 touchdowns
Heisman conversation starter: It may be unrealistic, but Barrett should aim to reclaim his 2014 form, when he set 19 team records and ranked second nationally in pass efficiency, trailing only Heisman winner Marcus Mariota. With Cardale Jones departing to the NFL, the Buckeyes are undoubtedly Barrett's team now, and if he can maintain offensive production with a new group of receivers and running backs, he will be noticed nationally. His ability to break off long touchdown runs, as he did in 2014, also could help his Heisman candidacy.
Georgia running back Nick Chubb
2015 statistics (suffered season-ending knee injury in Week 6): 92 rushes for 747 yards and 7 touchdowns; 4 receptions for 32 yards and 1 touchdown
Heisman conversation starter: The health question will hang over Chubb until he carries the ball in a game. He must allay those concerns immediately and produce the way he was before his injury (149 yards per game, 8.2 yards per carry). If he does, the comeback story should work in his favor despite a plethora of superstar running backs. Georgia will be a team to watch as Kirby Smart makes his head-coaching debut. As long as freshman quarterback Jacob Eason doesn't steal the spotlight, Chubb should enter the Heisman mix if he puts up comparable numbers to the other top backs.
Oregon running back Royce Freeman
2015 statistics: 283 rushes for 1,836 yards and 17 touchdowns; 26 receptions for 348 yards and 2 touchdowns
Heisman conversation starter: The running back candidate pool is very crowded, so Freeman can't assume he'll be noticed even if he replicates last season's production. He's a big, explosive runner who can produce highlights in bunches. It may take several 200-yard performances in September and early October to keep pace with McCaffrey, Fournette and Cook. The durable junior should have plenty of opportunities as Oregon once again breaks in a new starting quarterback.
Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya
2015 statistics: 238-of-389 passing for 3,238 yards with 16 touchdowns and 5 interceptions; 2 rushing touchdowns
Heisman conversation starter: That Kaaya projects as arguably the top quarterback prospect for the 2017 NFL draft will naturally put his play under a larger microscope. Every element will be scrutinized. Coach Mark Richt's debut season also should increase the attention Miami receives. Ultimately, Kaaya must put Miami in position to play for something meaningful in a wide-open ACC Coastal Division. He has proved he can generate big numbers. The next steps are greater accuracy and bigger wins.
Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly
2015 statistics: 298-of-458 passing for 4,042 yards with 31 touchdowns and 13 interceptions; 107 rushes for 500 yards and 10 touchdowns
Heisman conversation starter: If you haven't heard the rap song, you probably saw Kelly help Ole Miss stun Alabama in Tuscaloosa last season. Kelly doesn't need much of an introduction, but he has to keep Ole Miss surging and confirm that he's not only the SEC's best quarterback but one of the best nationally. Kelly must accomplish this without star wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, although wideouts Quincy Adeboyejo and Damore'ea Stringfellowand tight end Evan Engram all are back.
Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes
2015 statistics: 364-of-573 for 4,653 yards with 36 touchdowns and 15 interceptions; 131 rushes for 456 yards and 10 touchdowns
Heisman conversation starter: Big numbers won't put Mahomes in the mix. He led the nation in total offense last season (393 YPG) and was never seriously considered for the Heisman. Fair or unfair, he'll once again deal with the system-quarterback label. His Heisman chances hinge on whether Texas Tech can surprisingly enter the Big 12 title mix. It was the same for former Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell, who had lower numbers in 2008 than 2007 but was a Heisman finalist as the team contended for a national championship.
Alabama wide receiver Calvin Ridley
2015 statistics: 89 receptions for 1,045 yards and 7 touchdowns
Heisman conversation starter: A wide receiver hasn't won the Heisman since Michigan's Desmond Howard in 1991, so Ridley faces steep odds. But Alabama, the nation's pre-eminent program, has produced the past two non-quarterback Heisman winners (running backs Derrick Henry and Mark Ingram) and the last wideout named a Heisman finalist (Amari Cooper in 2014). If Ridley can replicate the wow plays -- five of his seven touchdowns last fall went for 30 yards or longer -- with a new starting quarterback, he should generate some Heisman traction as long as Alabama remains in the playoff hunt.
UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen
2015 statistics: 292-of-487 passing for 3,670 yards with 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions; 2 rushing touchdowns
Heisman conversation starter:Rosen's record-setting freshman season on the field -- and his social media displays off it -- make him a recognized name around the country. Like Kaaya, he should benefit from increased attention/scrutiny because of his future NFL potential. But Rosen needs some big wins under his belt and for UCLA to challenge for a Pac-12 title to keep pace with Watson and Mayfield. Consistent accuracy also is a goal -- last year, Rosen had eight games completing less than 58 percent of his attempts and only five with at least 65 percent.
Baylor quarterback Seth Russell
2015 statistics (suffered season-ending neck injury in Week 8): 119-of-200 passing for 2,104 yards with 29 touchdowns and 6 interceptions; 49 rushes for 402 yards and 6 touchdowns
Heisman conversation starter: Remember what Baylor looked like at the time of Russell's injury? The Bears were playoff contenders, and Russell had entered the Heisman radar. Suffice to say, a lot has changed. But if Russell, an underrated athlete, somehow recaptures his touchdown-generating form without Art Briles on the sideline or All-American wideout Corey Colemangassing defenses, he'll make people notice. Baylor will be closely watched, and while any Bears national awards candidate faces a steep climb, Russell has the on-the-field skill and clean off-the-field background to possibly change the narrative.
Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr.
2015 statistics: 232-of-345 passing for 2,828 yards with 17 touchdowns and 6 interceptions; 198 rushes for 1,108 yards and 21 touchdowns
Heisman conversation starter: Heisman voters should at least know the name after Ward helped Houston to a Peach Bowl championship and a top-10 finish last season. The preseason hype around Houston as a potential playoff buster also serves Ward well. True dual-threat highlight ability is his biggest plus, as Ward and Watson were the only FBS quarterbacks last year to eclipse 2,000 pass yards and 1,000 rush yards. Any Group of 5 Heisman contender must go above and beyond with memorable plays, and Ward has that ability after recording 16 runs of 20 yards or more and nine of 30 yards or more in 2015.
ESPN Staff Writer
ESPN INSIDER
It's Dec. 10 at the PlayStation Theater in midtown Manhattan. The 82nd Heisman Trophy is about to be awarded.
Who will be seated in the front row? There are five players whom no one would be surprised to see: Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey, last year's Heisman runner-up; Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, another 2015 Heisman finalist; LSU running back Leonard Fournette, the Heisman front-runner for two-thirds of the season; Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield, whose dazzling play propelled the Sooners to the College Football Playoff last season; and Florida State running back Dalvin Cook, arguably the nation's most underappreciated player last fall.
Those five need no introduction to the Heisman discussion. If you don't know them, you haven't been paying attention to college football.
But the Heisman rarely goes exactly as forecast. Others can enter the radar and stay there.
The following 10 players have that opportunity this season. Most are national names already, but with such a strong group of returning contenders, each man must do something spectacular to help his campaign.
Here are your quasi-fringe candidates in alphabetical order, and what they need to do to enter the Heisman conversation. Although we realize freshmen or transfers can win the Heisman, none made this list.
<offer style="box-sizing: border-box;"></offer>
Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett
2015 statistics: 93-of-147 passing for 992 yards with 11 touchdowns and 4 interceptions; 115 rushes for 682 yards and 11 touchdowns
Heisman conversation starter: It may be unrealistic, but Barrett should aim to reclaim his 2014 form, when he set 19 team records and ranked second nationally in pass efficiency, trailing only Heisman winner Marcus Mariota. With Cardale Jones departing to the NFL, the Buckeyes are undoubtedly Barrett's team now, and if he can maintain offensive production with a new group of receivers and running backs, he will be noticed nationally. His ability to break off long touchdown runs, as he did in 2014, also could help his Heisman candidacy.
Georgia running back Nick Chubb
2015 statistics (suffered season-ending knee injury in Week 6): 92 rushes for 747 yards and 7 touchdowns; 4 receptions for 32 yards and 1 touchdown
Heisman conversation starter: The health question will hang over Chubb until he carries the ball in a game. He must allay those concerns immediately and produce the way he was before his injury (149 yards per game, 8.2 yards per carry). If he does, the comeback story should work in his favor despite a plethora of superstar running backs. Georgia will be a team to watch as Kirby Smart makes his head-coaching debut. As long as freshman quarterback Jacob Eason doesn't steal the spotlight, Chubb should enter the Heisman mix if he puts up comparable numbers to the other top backs.
Oregon running back Royce Freeman
2015 statistics: 283 rushes for 1,836 yards and 17 touchdowns; 26 receptions for 348 yards and 2 touchdowns
Heisman conversation starter: The running back candidate pool is very crowded, so Freeman can't assume he'll be noticed even if he replicates last season's production. He's a big, explosive runner who can produce highlights in bunches. It may take several 200-yard performances in September and early October to keep pace with McCaffrey, Fournette and Cook. The durable junior should have plenty of opportunities as Oregon once again breaks in a new starting quarterback.
Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya
2015 statistics: 238-of-389 passing for 3,238 yards with 16 touchdowns and 5 interceptions; 2 rushing touchdowns
Heisman conversation starter: That Kaaya projects as arguably the top quarterback prospect for the 2017 NFL draft will naturally put his play under a larger microscope. Every element will be scrutinized. Coach Mark Richt's debut season also should increase the attention Miami receives. Ultimately, Kaaya must put Miami in position to play for something meaningful in a wide-open ACC Coastal Division. He has proved he can generate big numbers. The next steps are greater accuracy and bigger wins.
Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly
2015 statistics: 298-of-458 passing for 4,042 yards with 31 touchdowns and 13 interceptions; 107 rushes for 500 yards and 10 touchdowns
Heisman conversation starter: If you haven't heard the rap song, you probably saw Kelly help Ole Miss stun Alabama in Tuscaloosa last season. Kelly doesn't need much of an introduction, but he has to keep Ole Miss surging and confirm that he's not only the SEC's best quarterback but one of the best nationally. Kelly must accomplish this without star wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, although wideouts Quincy Adeboyejo and Damore'ea Stringfellowand tight end Evan Engram all are back.
Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes
2015 statistics: 364-of-573 for 4,653 yards with 36 touchdowns and 15 interceptions; 131 rushes for 456 yards and 10 touchdowns
Heisman conversation starter: Big numbers won't put Mahomes in the mix. He led the nation in total offense last season (393 YPG) and was never seriously considered for the Heisman. Fair or unfair, he'll once again deal with the system-quarterback label. His Heisman chances hinge on whether Texas Tech can surprisingly enter the Big 12 title mix. It was the same for former Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell, who had lower numbers in 2008 than 2007 but was a Heisman finalist as the team contended for a national championship.
Alabama wide receiver Calvin Ridley
2015 statistics: 89 receptions for 1,045 yards and 7 touchdowns
Heisman conversation starter: A wide receiver hasn't won the Heisman since Michigan's Desmond Howard in 1991, so Ridley faces steep odds. But Alabama, the nation's pre-eminent program, has produced the past two non-quarterback Heisman winners (running backs Derrick Henry and Mark Ingram) and the last wideout named a Heisman finalist (Amari Cooper in 2014). If Ridley can replicate the wow plays -- five of his seven touchdowns last fall went for 30 yards or longer -- with a new starting quarterback, he should generate some Heisman traction as long as Alabama remains in the playoff hunt.
UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen
2015 statistics: 292-of-487 passing for 3,670 yards with 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions; 2 rushing touchdowns
Heisman conversation starter:Rosen's record-setting freshman season on the field -- and his social media displays off it -- make him a recognized name around the country. Like Kaaya, he should benefit from increased attention/scrutiny because of his future NFL potential. But Rosen needs some big wins under his belt and for UCLA to challenge for a Pac-12 title to keep pace with Watson and Mayfield. Consistent accuracy also is a goal -- last year, Rosen had eight games completing less than 58 percent of his attempts and only five with at least 65 percent.
Baylor quarterback Seth Russell
2015 statistics (suffered season-ending neck injury in Week 8): 119-of-200 passing for 2,104 yards with 29 touchdowns and 6 interceptions; 49 rushes for 402 yards and 6 touchdowns
Heisman conversation starter: Remember what Baylor looked like at the time of Russell's injury? The Bears were playoff contenders, and Russell had entered the Heisman radar. Suffice to say, a lot has changed. But if Russell, an underrated athlete, somehow recaptures his touchdown-generating form without Art Briles on the sideline or All-American wideout Corey Colemangassing defenses, he'll make people notice. Baylor will be closely watched, and while any Bears national awards candidate faces a steep climb, Russell has the on-the-field skill and clean off-the-field background to possibly change the narrative.
Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr.
2015 statistics: 232-of-345 passing for 2,828 yards with 17 touchdowns and 6 interceptions; 198 rushes for 1,108 yards and 21 touchdowns
Heisman conversation starter: Heisman voters should at least know the name after Ward helped Houston to a Peach Bowl championship and a top-10 finish last season. The preseason hype around Houston as a potential playoff buster also serves Ward well. True dual-threat highlight ability is his biggest plus, as Ward and Watson were the only FBS quarterbacks last year to eclipse 2,000 pass yards and 1,000 rush yards. Any Group of 5 Heisman contender must go above and beyond with memorable plays, and Ward has that ability after recording 16 runs of 20 yards or more and nine of 30 yards or more in 2015.
