Does Alabama Have a True Heisman Trophy Contender in 2015?

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama football players have become somewhat of a staple in New York in the Nick Saban era.

Amari Cooper became the fourth Crimson Tide player in the last six years to be named a Heisman Trophy finalist when he finished third to Melvin Gordon and Marcus Mariota in 2014. AJ McCarron was a finalist in 2013, Trent Richardson in 2011 and Mark Ingram won the award in 2009.

It’s funny, in a way, since for so long, not having players in the conversation for the Heisman was almost a point of pride for the program and its fans. "We win as a team," they said. "Not as individuals."

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Ingram was the first Alabama player to win the award after a 73-year drought. Before Ingram, only one player—David Palmer in 1993—had even finished in the top three in voting.

The times have certainly changed.

So looking ahead to 2015, what are the chances Alabama players have for perhaps the most prestigious individual award in all of sports?

They're looking pretty slim right now.

If you ask Vegas, the bookies would disagree. But they often have different priorities than strictly determining probabilistic outcomes—like getting people to take their bets, which fans are happy to do for a running back at Alabama.

In Bodog's early Heisman odds (h/t Odds Shark), running back Derrick Henry was tied with Oklahoma’s Samaje Perine for the ninth-best odds to win the 2015 trophy at 14-1.

He'll probably at least be in the running, right? Not so fast.

First, it’s become increasingly difficult for running backs to win the award. Ingram was actually the last back to do so, and before him, a running back hadn’t won the award since Reggie Bush in 2005—though the award was vacated. Nine years, eight quarterbacks.

Second, while it may seem counterintuitive, it’s hard for one single running back to stand out at Alabama, even though the Crimson Tide still run one of the more back-friendly offenses in college football.

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The Crimson Tide have featured a running back by committee of late. Since 2008, Alabama has had at least two running backs go over 600 yards in a single season. Last year, Henry and T.J. Yeldon each nearly hit 1,000. In 2012, both Yeldon and Eddie Lacy eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark.

It’s looking like that will be the case again this year.

Henry should be the No. 1 back, to be sure, but it’s hard to see him having too much of a featured role. In his two years on campus, he’s hit the 20-carry mark just twice in a game—both this year.

The same applies to Yeldon, who had two games in the 20s but otherwise was in the teens or single digits.

For comparison, when Ingram won the trophy in 2009, he had seven such games over a 14-game year. Richardson had seven over 13 games in 2011.

Henry likely won’t be getting that kind of a workload this year with Drake behind him and several talented freshmen nipping at their heels.

So where could Alabama turn to next for a Heisman contender? It would likely have to be at the two positions where the Crimson Tide had their most recent finalists.

At quarterback, nobody knows what will happen right now.

Last year, Jake Coker made Bovada's Heisman odds (h/t USA Today) without having played a down of football at Alabama after transferring from Florida State.

But after an underwhelming 2014, even as a backup, those brakes have been sufficiently pumped to the point where it’s not even a slam dunk that Coker will be the starter next season.

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Perhaps Alec Morris, Cooper Bateman, David Cornwell or Blake Barnett will grab the reins and light up the box score on their way to New York. Three of the last five Heisman winners were first-year starters at their school.

However, it’s all a little too murky to even say who will be Alabama’s candidate under center this year.

Wide receiver looks like it will take a by-committee approach this year. That stands in sharp contrast to 2014, when Cooper was Alabama’s leading receiver by more than 1,200 yards.

Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin lost his top three pass-catchers and will now rely on a talented pool of unproven players like Chris Black, Robert Foster, Cam Sims, ArDarius Stewart and Raheem Falkins.

Perhaps one of those names will emerge and blow up defenses like Cooper did last year. The likelier scenario, though, is that Kiffin spreads the ball around more than he did last year and no one name sticks out at receiver.

So, overall, it looks like for Alabama to have a finalist, it will have to be an emerging star—someone not on the fans’ radar at the start of the season.

Barring a rash of injuries at running back, forcing one guy to get a load of carries, Alabama fans might have to be content with a Tide-less New York this year.

That’s all well and good. The Heisman isn’t the ultimate goal.

Of course, there’s always the chance for an off-the-wall finalist. If cornerback Cyrus Jones has success returning kicks and punts while grabbing a bunch of interceptions, he could raise some eyebrows. Reggie Ragland looks like he’ll be a tackle machine at inside linebacker and has shown athleticism to make some interceptions.

And, my goodness, have you seen JK Scott punt?

Marc Torrence is the Alabama lead writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes and reporting were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Follow on Twitter @marctorrence.