5 Heisman Hopefuls from the ACC for 2015 College Football Season
Before Jameis Winston won the Heisman Trophy in 2013, the last player from the ACC to take home the honor was Chris Weinke back in 2000. As for the last non-Seminole to win the award, that would be Gino Torretta, the Miami quarterback back in 1992.
As we head into the 2015 college football season, the ACC boasts quite a bit of talent. So much talent, there's a belief that a few players may have a real shot at pushing for the Heisman Trophy. It won't be easy, though, as the nation is loaded with talented players who are sure to put together impressive resumes.
The following five players, as well as the honorable mention list, are all likely to have strong resumes of their own when the season comes to an end. Could this be the first time since 1992 where a non-FSU player makes a push for the Heisman Trophy? It very well may be.
This list not only includes the honorable mention choices, but also ranks the top five prospects as well.
Honorable Mentions
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Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
For a running back who didn't top 100 yards until the sixth game of the season and only saw double-digit carries once before that point, Cook had quite a season. He was third among running backs in the ACC in rushing yards with 1,008, while also scoring eight touchdowns.
With Winston heading to the NFL, Cook may be a workhorse for FSU in 2015, which puts him right on the fringe of this list. It wouldn't surprise me one bit to see Cook surprise us all and become a Heisman finalist. If not, have no fear Seminole fans, because Cook will be all that you're hoping for and more in 2015.
Jacoby Brissett, QB, NC State
Brissett is one of those under-the-radar picks here. Much of his potential push for a Heisman Trophy would come down to NC State's success next season. What's so impressive about Brissett isn't just the fact that he threw for 2,606 yards with 23 touchdowns, but he threw only five interceptions last season.
Tack on the 529 rushing yards and three touchdowns and it's obvious why NC State fans are excited about the 2015 season. If Brissett can keep the turnovers down once again next season, and help the Wolfpack take the next step toward an ACC championship, then he may be a dark horse for the Heisman.
Jon Hilliman, RB, Boston College
Hilliman may not be the most touted player on this list, but the rising sophomore is poised for an even bigger season than the one we saw in 2014. He rushed for 860 yards and 13 touchdowns last year, but with Tyler Murphy graduating, he may be asked to shoulder even more work.
It's going to be tough for Hilliman, though, since the Eagles are losing Murphy as well as their entire offensive line. With that said, if he can still manage to find success, there's no reason to believe he can't shock the nation. It's a long shot, but hey, crazier things have happened.
Marquise Williams, QB, North Carolina
Many will doubt Williams after the Tar Heels finished 2014 with a mediocre 6-7 record. The talented quarterback can't fully be blamed for that, though. He was paired up with a defense that allowed 39 points per game, ranking it No. 119 in the nation.
As for Williams' personal numbers, he had a stellar season. The rising senior not only threw for 3,068 yards with 21 touchdowns, but he also rushed for 788 yards and 13 scores. Williams did everything possible to keep UNC in the many shootouts and his numbers prove that.
Expect Williams to lead the UNC offense once again in 2015. Also, the fact that his two leading receivers in Ryan Switzer and Mack Hollins will be back is a major plus.
Brandon Radcliff, RB, Louisville
If you want to talk about a serious dark-horse option for the Heisman Trophy from the ACC, then it's Radcliff. After having to work his way through a muddled Louisville backfield last season, he emerged by the time 2014 came to a close.
Radcliff wrapped up the season with 737 yards and an impressive 12 touchdowns. What makes this even more impressive is that there were a total of five weeks where he had eight or fewer rushing attempts. One of Radcliff's most impressive games came during a win against Notre Dame, as he rushed 17 times for 136 yards and a touchdown.
He was also one of the lone bright spots from Louisville's 37-14 bowl loss to Georgia, as he rushed 19 times for 89 yards and a touchdown. If Radcliff is the featured back for the Cardinals in 2015, there's no reason to believe he won't put up even bigger numbers than last season.
5. Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh
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What can you say about Tyler Boyd? The man is simply an unreal talent.
Not only did Boyd catch 78 passes for 1,261 yards with eight scores last season, but he did it with opposing defenses knowing the ball was going his way. After Boyd, the next-leading receiver for the Panthers in 2014 was Manasseh Garner, who had 17 receptions.
Boyd earned All-ACC First Team honors last season, and it's likely that he's going to lead the ACC in receiving in 2015. After only two collegiate seasons, he finds himself a grand total of 568 yards away from passing Dietrich Jells as Pittsburgh's all-time leading receiver.
The hype around Boyd is rapidly growing, but that can happen when you post the type of numbers that he has. Boyd topped 100 yards in five of the final six games of 2014, while scoring in each of the three final regular-season games.
If the his numbers improve again in 2015 and the team improves its record, then it's going to be hard to bet against him as a potential Heisman Trophy candidate.
4. Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami
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The man who earned the nickname "Kaaya The Messiah" is living up to the hype.
Brad Kaaya actually ranks as one of the top 20 in terms of 2015 Heisman Trophy odds, according to Josh Baumgard of CBS Miami. So, is it time to completely believe in Kaaya as a Heisman candidate? Not just yet.
While the Hurricanes are losing some major talent from 2014, including Duke Johnson, Phillip Dorsett, Clive Walford and Ereck Flowers, they have talent ready to step in. Now, this isn't so much about the talent surrounding Kaaya, because the Hurricanes know how to recruit.
Instead, this is about The Messiah getting even better heading into his sophomore season.
For a freshman, Kaaya pretty much blew us all away. He threw for 3,198 yards, which was No. 2 in the ACC behind only Jameis Winston, while also tossing 26 touchdowns to 12 interceptions.
Expect to see Kaaya connect well with Stacy Coley, Malcolm Lewis and Herb Waters in 2015. Worried about a sophomore slump? Don't be. Kaaya showed us the ability to make all the big throws last season and will just get better with another full offseason under his belt.
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3. Justin Thomas, QB, Georgia Tech
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Last season, Justin Thomas led the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets to the ACC championship. This year? He's hoping to take them even further.
Thomas is a stud athlete who proved that he can get it done with both his arm and his legs. Thomas, who is only a junior, will look to improve on some gaudy numbers that he put up last season. He combined for 2,805 total yards in 2014, while also scoring 26 total touchdowns and throwing only six interceptions.
To sum up exactly what Thomas meant to the Yellow Jackets, look no further than the Orange Bowl victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Simply put, Thomas lit up the Bulldogs defense. He threw for 125 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 121 yards and three touchdowns.
The Bulldogs had no answer for Thomas in the bowl game, and it may be pretty safe to say that the rest of the ACC will struggle to contain Georgia Tech's electric quarterback in 2015.
Want to take a shot on an ACC player who could push for the Heisman? Watch Thomas if he's able to lead the Yellow Jackets to an ACC championship victory and another impressive bowl victory.
2. James Conner, RB, Pittsburgh
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James Conner may not have been a Heisman finalist last year, but he had a pretty strong argument to be in the mix. The fact that he was third in the nation in rushing touchdowns with 26 and seventh in rushing yards with 1,765 is pretty telling.
If the Panthers are able to improve in 2015 and can put together a win total somewhere between eight to 10, I believe Conner will finally get the praise he deserves.
Conner not only topped 100 yards in seven games last season, but he also went for 200-plus yards three times as well. Over the final seven games of 2014, Conner rushed for an impressive 17 touchdowns, showing that he only gets better as the year goes on.
One key benefit that I see for Conner is the fact that starting quarterback Chad Voytik will have another offseason under his belt. On top of that, the Panthers have possibly the best receiver in the ACC in the previously mentioned Tyler Boyd. Both of these things should help ease a bit of the pressure off Conner and allow him to have a huge season.
Can the rising junior start off 2015 the way that he finished 2014? If so, he could finish the season up as one of the leading rushers in the entire nation, as well as a serious contender for the Heisman Trophy.
1. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
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Surprise, surprise.
Deshaun Watson enters the 2015 season as the most likely player to make a push for the Heisman Trophy from the ACC. If you watched Watson at all during 2014, then there's a good chance that you understand why.
Watson was simply stellar when he was on the field. For a true freshman to complete 67.9 percent of his passes and have a touchdown to interception ratio of 14-2 is stellar. What makes his 1,666 total yards and 19 total touchdowns even more impressive, is the fact that he only played in eight games. On top of that, he only saw extended action in five of those games.
The issue? Watson saw limited action last season due to multiple injuries. Not only did he suffer a hand injury which kept him out for three games, but he also tore his ACL at the end of the 2014 season. He'll need to stay healthy to have any shot at the Heisman in his sophomore season.
While the injuries are a cause for concern, it's worth pointing out that he actually played through his torn ACL against Clemson's biggest rival, the South Carolina Gamecocks. He didn't just play through it, though, he excelled. Watson went 14-of-19 passing for 269 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for two more scores.
All with a torn ACL.
With that said, if Watson is able to stay on the field in 2015, expect to find him right in the thick of the Heisman debate when the season comes to a close. The rising sophomore is simply that talented.
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