2015 Heisman Watch: Early Possible Candidates

The Heisman Trophy is one of the most coveted awards in sports, and there is always speculation about who might contend for it.  The Heisman honors the best player in college football, and plenty of players can contend for the trophy next year.

College football is a quarterback-driven league these days thanks to the evolution of the spread offense, and the Heisman voters have given QBs the benefit of the doubt.  Thirteen of the 14 Heisman winners in the 2000s have been quarterbacks, and that trend has no indication of stopping.

Here is my early attempt at documenting the favorites for the 2015 Heisman Trophy.  In this slideshow, I have put together my list of the top five candidates to win next year's award.  I have taken into account national appeal, on-field ability and the potential for putting up huge stats next year.  

5. Nick Chubb, Georgia

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This pick might come as a surprise to some, but I had to include a running back in these rankings.  Chubb is the running back who will go into 2015 with the most momentum.  He capped off his prolific freshman season in dramatic fashion in the Bulldogs’ bowl win over Louisville, rushing for 266 yards and two touchdowns.

Chubb amassed the fourth-most rushing yards in a single season in Georgia history, behind only Herschel Walker, and he started only eight games.  Todd Gurley has already announced that he will forgo his senior season and declare for the NFL draft, which means Chubb will be the feature back for Mark Richt’s squad.

4. Cody Kessler, USC

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Kessler flew mostly under the radar in 2014, maybe because of Marcus Mariota’s brilliance, but he will have a huge senior season.  He already announced that he will return to USC, and he will have plenty of weapons at his disposal to put up video game-like stats.

This year, Kessler tied former Trojan Matt Barkley with 39 passing touchdowns for the single-season Pac-12 record.  He also took care of the ball exceptionally well, throwing only five interceptions.

With another offseason to learn coach Steve Sarkisian's offensive system, the potential is limitless for Kessler.

The Trojans also have a chance to contend for next year’s playoff, and if they do that, the voters will have no choice but to pay attention to Kessler.

3. Dak Prescott, Mississippi State

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Mississippi State was one of the most surprising teams in college football this year, and Prescott was a big reason why.  He was the front-runner for this year’s Heisman until his Bulldogs lost to Alabama and then Ole Miss, but his experience as a contender should help his case.

He is one of the best short-yardage runners in the nation, and his running style brings back memories of Tim Tebow, a former Heisman winner.  It will come down to how his team does, though.  If MSU is one of the top teams come next winter, Prescott just might win.

2. J.T Barrett, Ohio State

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Barrett took over for Braxton Miller after he injured his shoulder a week before the Buckeyes’ season opener against Navy, and after a few rough games, including a 34-17 loss to Virginia Tech, Barrett became a beast for Ohio State. 

He accounted for 45 touchdowns (34 passing and 11 rushing) as a true freshman, and Ohio State continues to stockpile talent through recruiting.  There will be a bit of quarterback controversy next year as Miller returns from injury, but if Barrett retains the starting gig, he should continue to thrive in Urban Meyer’s offense and have a shot to win the Heisman.

1. Trevone Boykin, TCU

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Boykin flourished under the new system brought in by co-offensive coordinators Doug Meacham and Sonny Cumbie, throwing for nearly 4,000 yards and 33 touchdowns.  He has true dual-threat ability, as he rushed for eight touchdowns.  He has played running back and wide receiver in his collegiate career, and he displays that type of speed on a regular basis.

Expect Boykin to put up even better stats in his senior year.  He could declare for the NFL draft if he wanted to, but staying one more year to polish his throwing skills would probably be beneficial.  TCU missed the playoff this year, but the complete domination of Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl makes the Horned Frogs legitimate national title contenders for next year. 

He also finished fourth on this year’s Heisman ballot, so he already has garnered some respect from the voters.

Final Thoughts

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TCU’s Boykin has to be the front-runner at this point because of the offense he plays in, the guarantee that he will be the primary quarterback and the fact that he plays in the Big 12, which is known for scoring points in bunches.

But there have been plenty of surprises in the past, so don’t be shocked if someone outside of this list ends up accepting the award in New York.