Alabama's Amari Cooper Vaults into Heisman Consideration vs. Florida

Heisman consideration, meet Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper. Amari Cooper, meet Heisman consideration.

The Crimson Tide junior had a phenomenal game in the 42-21 win over Florida in Tuscaloosa on Saturday afternoon, catching 10 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns, including 175 yards in the first half.

This performance vs. Florida and third-team All-American cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III, on top of a nation's-best 33 catches in three games coming into the game, should vault Cooper squarely into the discussion for the Heisman Trophy. Aaron Suttles of The Tuscaloosa News provided Saban's comments on the team's strategic plan:

No, the Heisman Trophy hasn't gone to a wide receiver since Desmond Howard in 1991, and part of his resume included 694 yards and two touchdowns on special teams.

This is a different day and age, though.

Sure, the Heisman has become a quarterback-driven award, but it has also become an award where nontraditional candidates can make an impact. Former Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch went to New York as a finalist out of the MAC last year, former Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o did the same in 2012 and former LSU cornerback/punt returner Tyrann Mathieu did it in 2011.

Why not Cooper?

All he's done this season is stabilize an Alabama offense that was in desperate need of stability.

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With Blake Sims taking the reins at quarterback after AJ McCarron's successful career, new offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin needed someone to help Sims ease into the transition of the starting quarterback role.

He needed somebody to provide that outlet early in games to get Sims into rhythm. He needed somebody to build Sims' confidence so that, when it became time to stretch the field, Sims had the comfort and confidence to do so.

It became time to do so against Florida.

Cooper averaged 20.1 yards per catch and had a big 79-yard touchdown catch to tie the game at 14 late in the first quarter.

With reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston being suspended for the Clemson game, UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley's injury and early struggles and Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall not getting much help from his wide receivers (and, consequently, not putting up big numbers), quarterbacks are doing more to lose the award than they are to win it.

So let's get weird.

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If there has been a wide receiver in recent years that deserves to get in the conversation, it's Cooper.

He has 655 yards and five touchdowns in four games this year, he has been an integral part of Alabama's transition to Kiffin and Sims and that production is only going to go up now that Kiffin knows that Sims can stretch the field in addition to managing the game.

The Heisman Trust states that the trophy "recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity." 

It'd be hard, if not impossible, to make a case that Cooper isn't one of the most outstanding college football players in the country through the first four weeks of the season.

Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and video analyst for Bleacher Report, as well as a co-host of the CFB Hangover on Bleacher Report Radio (Sundays, 9-11 a.m. ET) on Sirius 93, XM 208.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of cfbstats.com, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.