Meet Your Front-Runner for the 2015 Heisman Trophy, Ezekiel Elliott

ARLINGTON, Texas — Basking in the glory of his third national championship, Urban Meyer was in no mood to wait. So as he sat at his postgame press conference following Ohio State's 42-20 win over Oregon at the conclusion of the first-ever College Football Playoff on Monday, the Buckeyes head coach wasn't shy to answer reporters' questions before they were even finished.

Especially when those questions pertained to newly minted star running back Ezekiel Elliott.

"Zeke, obviously the MVP, rushes for a new record..." a reporter started.

"A monster," Meyer interrupted.

"What have you seen from him all season as improvement..." the reporter continued.

"A monster," Meyer reiterated.

When Meyer finally did give his full answer, he praised Elliott's ability to pick up post-contact yardage and his humble approach. He also added that having just wrapped up his sophomore season, Elliott is due back in Columbus for at least one more year, as he'll enter 2015 as the likely front-runner for the Heisman Trophy.

"I can't wait," Meyer said grinning. "I'll give you a couple of days off, Zeke, and we're back at it."

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What Elliott accomplished in the final three games of the Buckeyes' national championship season was nothing short of remarkable, as he rushed for a combined 696 yards and eight touchdowns against Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon.

That those games came on the largest possible stages—the Big Ten title game, Sugar Bowl and national championship—will only enhance Elliott's Heisman chances, as he's solidified himself as a household name for college football fans.

"It means everything," Elliott said when it was suggested to him by Bleacher Report that he's already inserted himself into next season's Heisman race. "It's something you dream about as a kid when you're playing NCAA Football, and you create your little player, and he wins the Heisman. Just thinking that I'm going to have the opportunity next year to compete for the Heisman just means everything."

The 6'0", 225-pounder will no longer have to rely on joysticks to capture college football's most prestigious award, and the fruits of his labor will no longer be limited to how much memory he has left in his PlayStation system.

Rather, Elliott will be mentioned among the likes of TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin, Mississippi State QB Dak Prescott, LSU running back Leonard Fournette and whoever it is playing quarterback for the Buckeyes when it comes to early-season Heisman Trophy talk.

And believe it or not, that matters, as preseason Heisman buzz can put a player in pole position when it comes to the yearly race to New York City. According to the "10 Heismandents" listed on noted site HeismanPundit.com, prior name recognition can affect who will win the award, as can Elliott's status as a running back at Ohio State.

In fact, of the 10 Heisman commandments listed by Chris Huston, Elliott could potentially meet the criteria of all 10. To make a long story short, Elliott is a junior playing a premier position at a national title-caliber program and has already established a track record of producing big numbers in the biggest games.

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According to Heisman Pundit, a running back needs to net 1,600 yards and score at least 15 touchdowns to be considered for the trophy. This season (in 15 games), Elliott racked up 1,878 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns.

"He's the most underrated back in the country," Meyer proclaimed following the national title game.

Maybe not anymore.

Now that Elliott has strung together three consecutive multi-touchdown games of 200-plus yards, there aren't many college football fans left who aren't aware of what appears to be Ohio State's next great running back.

With his crop top-style jersey, the St. Louis native has always bared a resemblance to the Buckeyes' last Heisman Trophy-winning running back, although Elliott now seems to have more in common with Eddie George than their shared affinity for bare midriffs.

Elliott will undergo surgery for an injured wrist that never quite healed throughout the season, and he says that he plans on adding weight this offseason in order to better prepare himself for the pounding that he'll inevitably take as Ohio State aims for a second consecutive national title.

The Heisman Trophy? Yeah, that's on his radar too, but he knows it will take a "monster" of a season to live up to his already soaring expectations.

"I'm not going to change; I'm going to keep grinding," Elliott said. "I'm going to do all I can to win it."

Ben Axelrod is Bleacher Report's Ohio State Lead Writer. You can follow him on Twitter @BenAxelrod. Unless noted otherwise, all quotes obtained firsthand. All statistics courtesy of cfbstats.com, and recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.