Week Three Heisman Watch
Behind the National Championship, the Heisman Trophy is the most prestigious award in college football. Throughout the last several years, quarterbacks have dominated in winning the Heisman but will this year be any different? Well let’s find out the front runners through the first three weeks of college football.
Nick Chubb (RB, Georgia)
Stats: 468 yards, 4 touchdowns on 8.4 yards per carry
Last week standing: 5
No other running back in college is having a better year than Chubb up to week two. He has carried the Georgia Bulldog offense and it’s safe to say that they don’t miss Gurley that much. After having another great game on the ground against a mediocre South Carolina defense, I don’t see any other running-back in the same league as Chubb.
Although he had to sit back and watch his backup Sony Michael score three touchdowns, Chubb still managed to put up 159 yards and two touchdowns. If he keeps putting up numbers like this it’s going to be tough to beat him for the award.
Trevone Boykin (QB, TCU)
Stats: 65-95, 985 yards 10 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Last week standing: 4
After a very slow start against Minnesota, Boykin has played out of his mind in the last two games against Stephen F. Austin and SMU. Boykin was one of the favorites to win the Heisman this year because of his performance last year. He has improved each game and against SMU he threw for 454 yards and five touchdowns on 70 percent completion rate.
Boykin’s next challenge will be against Texas Tech and if Boykin continues to improve on what is already a Heisman caliber start, it’s going to be an interesting race.
Leonard Fournette (RB, LSU)
Stats: 387 yards, six touchdowns on 8.2 yards per carry.
Last week standing: Not top 5
Fournette put himself on the map this week after he torched Auburn for 228 yards on three touchdowns. The reason Fournette isn’t on many people’s watch list is because there is a handful of running backs that have made their case for Heisman rankings. But what separates Fournette from most is that he is having a great season playing against SEC teams.
Fournette’s next task will be against Syracuse and Orange fans should expect to see some big runs from the 230 pound sophomore.
Cody Kessler (QB, USC)
Stats: 70-89, 922 yards on 10 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.
Last week standing: 3
Kessler is having the most consistent season out of any quarterback in the country so far. His numbers are just out of this world but if you watch him play, you see that the kid just doesn’t make mistakes. A 78 percent completion rate is no fluke and it doesn’t hurt your Heisman stock when you’re considered one of the best NFL ready quarterbacks in college.
Even though USC lost to Stanford, Kessler still put up solid numbers throwing for 272 yards and three touchdowns. His next task will be against Arizona State and Kessler should have a good game against a team who gives up 23 points per game.
Paul Perkins (RB, UCLA)
Stats: 429 yards, three touchdowns and 7.4 yards per carry.
Last week standings: not in top 5
Perkins finally looked like the player who led the Pac-12 in rushing last season. It seems as the more touches he gets, the better he gets. His best game this year was by far his last game against BYU. He ripped them rushing for 219 yards and got in the end zone once. Now in all reality, Perkins’ Heisman stock is very low right now because he is an underrated running back. He would have to do a lot to be noticed, but if anyone from the Pac-12 can do it, it is Perkins.
He will next face an Arizona team that is not that good defensively so if Perkins can get it going again, he could draw some eyes.
Abhar Shah is a senior majoring in broadcast jouranlism, to contact him email abs5349@psu.edu.
Photo Credit: TheLadySportsWriter.Com
