With spring ball under way, it's not too early to start thinking about the Heisman candidates. Who do you think is a front runner? http://www.downattheone.com/College-Football/Its-never-too-early-to-think-about-the-Heisman-Trophy
it'll be interesting to see how hundley does without the Fauria blanket and solid running game from Franklin. I think he'll be fine, and we're retaining WRs, so that's always a plus. Barr is a given, but again will be interesting how he does minus an athlete like Datone Jones near him.
It will be a shame if he doesn't. I don't expect him too but he is the best player in college period.
Not a front runner at all, in any way shape or form, and in fact I shouldn't even mention him being in the Heisman Race because as of right now he's miles away from that. That said, I'm really looking forward to seeing: A) Where QB Brandon Mitchell of Arkansas transfers, and B) If he starts right away This guy's got a Cam Newton-like combination of arm, size and athletic ability. He's not as big as Newton. But he's a basketball star, a college graduate so he can play right away wherever he transfers, he's got experience in Petrino's system and also learned Bielema's system, consistently cited by teammates as one of if not the most incredible athlete on the team, played wide receiver and made plays that way (like Tannehill). I watched his spring game and he kind of blew me away a little bit. It wasn't by any means always perfect. He had one play right at the beginning that was a serious "WHAT THE ****!?!?" moment. But the interception later in the game wasn't his fault. The receiver tagged his route as the play extended and just ran through the motions without even looking for the ball at all. Mitchell had to come off his first set of options and find an open guy and he threw it to this receiver but the receiver just strafed on by without ever looking back to the QB, and so of course the safety behind him picks it off. Mitchell tried his damnedest to throw three touchdowns during the game, including the one where the receiver never looked. I'd say on his 17 pass attempts he threw maybe only 2 uncatchable balls. He scrambled well and naturally. I was just blown away by this guy who lost the QB battle in Arkansas to a player that looks clearly inferior in Brandon Allen. I don't get it. Mitchell's a two-sport star yet graduated in four years. He's unselfish, having suddenly moved to wide receiver under John L. Smith in 2012 after competing for a starting job. The only time he got called on to throw passes this year was against Alabama and of course he struggled, as he's been working at wide receiver all year. The previous year he struggled against Bama too but in his college career when not playing Alabama he's completed 22 of 31 passes for 289 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs with 14 runs for 68 yards and 2 more TDs, plus 16 catches for 268 yards. My goodness. I don't care where it is, give this guy a chance to play some quarterback!
I'd say Boyd and Bridgewater are the favorites. Clowney is the underdog. I would say Braxton Miller but he has to show me he can consistently throw. Right now he is just a RB.
I think it's too easy to keep a defensive end from having crazy numbers, and every team facing Jadaveon Clowney will see him coming from a mile away. I think it's too uphill a climb for him to be the Heisman winner, even being as good as he is. I think Teddy Bridgewater has to be a favorite as he's still got his receivers unit and DeVante Parker is only getting better. But Twinkle Toes still has Mike Evans and that Kevin Sumlin offense, not to mention Jake Matthews blocking for him. I think if you had to pick one favorite it would still be Twinkle Toes. I think T.J. Yeldon is a good shout. On that team and in that offense, it'll be hard to ignore an SEC player getting 20+ touchdowns. Award tends to go to one of the best teams in college anyway. But Ka'Deem Carey will stand in the way. That guy had 1900+ rushing yards and 23 TDs this year at Arizona. Not that Carey will end up with the award, as I doubt Arizona is good enough to consider it. However, if there's a back at another pretty major program that has obviously outproduced Yeldon but isn't in serious contention just because his team isn't good enough, votes could shy from Yeldon. Watch out for Sammy Watkins instead of Tajh Boyd though. I have a ton of respect for Boyd and I think his team will be good regardless, but I think losing DeAndre Hopkins does do something to the offense. And if the offense isn't absolutely red hot then Boyd's chances go down significantly. On the other hand, losing Hopkins would be a positive for Watkins because he goes back to the pole position like he was as a freshman in 2011. And Boyd is so good now that if he starts leaning on Sammy the way Barkley and the USC play calling leaned on Marquise Lee, then Watkins could have stupid numbers. As for Lee himself, I'm sorry but I think losing Barkley is a MAJOR blow for that offense and Max Wittek isn't going to be able to feed Marquise like Barkley did.
I'm not sure how clowney can play 100 percent without the idea of protecting himself, he should of been able to enter the draft.. Did the NFL pass down the rule to the NCAA that football players have to have three years in college?
A player only has to be 3 years removed from their HS graduating class. They could play 2, 1, or no years of college football and still comply.