2014 Heisman Trophy Finalists' Pro Player Comparisons
For the second time in three years, the Heisman Trust announced just three finalists for the Heisman Trophy: Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper, Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon and Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota.
Six finalists made the trip to New York City last season, but Cooper, Gordon and Mariota were so much better than the rest of the country in 2014 that no fourth, fifth or sixth player received enough votes to qualify for the ceremony.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Each of the finalists will go down in college football history for the season he just enjoyed. Cooper had one of the best wide receiver seasons ever. Gordon had one of the best running back seasons ever. And Mariota had one of the best quarterback seasons ever.
But who do they compare to in the pros?
Good question.
It's time to indulge in some NFL comparisons.
Amari Cooper, Alabama — Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles
In the past I have compared Cooper with a young Santonio Holmes, and while that comparison still fits, this one fits better.
The biggest difference between Jeremy Maclin and Holmes is that Maclin is a little bit faster. He is more of a home run threat with the ball in his hands on short throws and (in his college life) kick returns.
Cooper told Andrew Gribble of AL.com that he ran a 4.31 40-yard dash at Alabama's pro day, and his junior year tape looks even faster. Like Maclin (and Holmes), he is a fluid route-runner who makes getting open look easy and running after the catch look even easier.
He is the type of player you can target at all levels of the field: short, intermediate and deep. Cooper has been especially good in the short area this season, taking advantage of Lane Kiffin's screen-heavy offense by turning low-risk throws into high rewards.
And here is the kind of stuff Maclin got into at Missouri:
Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel compared Cooper to Maclin before the SEC Championship Game, noting the similar explosiveness, speed, hands and fluidity, per Ron Clements of the Montgomery Advertiser.
"He's a guy who, without question, can have a huge impact on any game he plays," elaborated Pinkel. "In our business you like to see players like that."
Pinkel coached Maclin from 2006-08, so he would know.
Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin — Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs
I have tried to avoid making this comparison because Jamaal Charles relies so much on catching the football, and Gordon, prior to the 2014 season, had done little to prove he was a threat in the receiving game.
This year, however, Gordon turned his three career catches into 20 with a 17-reception season in which he proved he could make plays out of the backfield, as he did in impressive fashion against Purdue:
Having now checked the box as a viable receiving back, Gordon stacks up well with Charles in terms of frame and overall skill set.
Gordon (6'1", 217 lbs) is noticeably bigger than Charles (5'11", 199 lbs) and better at running between the tackles. Charles is a little bit faster than Gordon and better at running in space. But both use a similarly straight-up, long-legged style and run with confidence.
Three of five professional scouts likened Gordon with Charles when asked for a comparison in early November, per NFL.com.
It's not hard to see what they're seeing.
Marcus Mariota, Oregon — Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers
This is not comparing Mariota with the zombie version of Colin Kaepernick we have seen in the NFL this season.
Rather, it's comparing Mariota with the pre-2014 version of Kaepernick: the one who took the San Francisco 49ers to two consecutive NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl.
Both players have similar running styles and speed and maintain their passing effectiveness from outside the pocket. Kaepernick has more pure arm strength, but Mariota is not far behind.
Mariota has slightly better accuracy and makes smarter decisions, but those are minor quibbles. Prior to 2014, Kaepernick did not really struggle with either of those things. Assuming Kap gets back to his previous form, watching him and Mariota play in the NFL will be a treat.
Other NFL quarterbacks are mobile, but only Kaepernick had made a solid defense look like Swiss cheese in a playoff game:
Mariota has the same capability.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
