10 Players Who Can Be Surprising Heisman Candidates in 2015

For every Reggie Bush and Marcus Mariota—presumed favorites to win the Heisman Trophy entering a season, there is a Johnny Manziel or Jameis Winston—a player who comes out of nowhere to win college football’s most prestigious award. 

Everyone knows TCU’s Trevone Boykin, Georgia’s Nick Chubb and Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott are the front-runners for the Heisman in 2015. What about guys such as Chuckie Keeton of Utah State and Paxton Lynch of Memphis? Could they challenge for the award as well? 

Here is a look at 10 players who could surprise and become Heisman candidates this season. These players are surprise candidates because they are receiving little-to-no attention. This ranges from guys who play in smaller, more obscure conferences to players from major programs who could break out for huge seasons.

Honorable Mentions

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Alex Collins would be a Heisman possibility if he did not split carries.

• Corey Clement, Wisconsin
• Alex Collins/Jonathan Williams, Arkansas
• Connor Cook, Michigan State
• Sefo Liufau, Colorado
• Anu Solomon, Arizona

These players have a case for landing on this list. Yet, they are only earning an honorable mention here for various reasons. 

Corey Clement, Connor Cook and Anu Solomon are in line for big seasons; however, they fail to meet the “surprise” element of this discussion as all three have garnered a decent amount of support as possible candidates. They may not be favorites at the moment, but it would be less of a shock if any of these players were named finalists for the award than others on this list. 

Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams make up the nation’s top running back duo. In 2014, each ran for more than 1,100 yards and recorded 12 touchdowns. With most of the Arkansas offensive line returning along with starting quarterback Brandon Allen, the two powerful runners will again have huge seasons.

Both fail to make this list because they split carries with each other, which decreases their Heisman worth since their individual numbers will not match other players. It would be a massive surprise if either becomes a true contender for the award, but realistically neither is a threat. 

Colorado was much improved in 2014, and that was largely due to the emergence of Sefo Liufau at quarterback. The current junior threw for 3,200 yards and 28 scores last season and should only get better, especially with top receiver Nelson Spruce back. The only reason Liufau does not make this list is because Colorado may not have a good enough year to justify him as a Heisman candidate.

Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina

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Cooper is an offensive playmaker who could burst into the Heisman conversation.

A wide receiver has not won the Heisman since Desmond Howard in 1991, but Pharoh Cooper could catch a lot of people off guard by becoming a contender this season. 

Cooper is a dynamic playmaker for South Carolina. He finished last season with 1,136 yards and nine touchdowns receiving, 200 yards and two scores rushing and a pair of passing touchdowns. This ability to create offense in so many facets makes him a unique candidate for the Heisman. 

With South Carolina playing in the SEC, Cooper will get plenty of national exposure, which will go a long way toward helping his case. The Gamecocks also must replace their starting quarterback and running back from last season, so he will be the undisputed focal point of the offense. 

He qualifies as a surprise pick because he is a wide receiver who has not received any attention as a Heisman candidate. Yet, Cooper presents a skill set and highlight-reel potential to make him a prime option to burst onto the award radar in 2015.

Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee

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Dobbs has the dual-threat talent to have a big year.

Of all the players on this list, Joshua Dobbs is arguably the most likely to actually win the Heisman at this moment. 

Tennessee is a trendy pick to cause a few upsets and win the SEC East. What better to go with a potential surprise division champion than a surprising Heisman candidate? 

Dobbs has the dual-threat ability to put up big numbers for the Volunteers. He threw for over 1,200 yards with nine touchdowns while also running for 469 yards and eight scores after taking over at quarterback midway through the 2014 season. 

In addition to playing in the SEC, Dobbs also has a chance to impress voters in a marquee nonconference game with Oklahoma on Sept. 12. A strong game here along with a great conference performance could catapult him into the Heisman discussion. 

He may not be getting a lot attention right now, but Dobbs can certainly be in the discussion at the end of the season.

Jared Goff, California

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Goff is one of the nation's best quarterbacks.

Despite playing for a mediocre California team, Jared Goff was quietly one of the nation’s best quarterbacks in 2014. 

He threw for 3,973 yards and 35 touchdowns to only seven interceptions as a sophomore. This drastic improvement from a solid freshman season shows that Goff is getting better. This could result in even better numbers this season, which is a scary thought for Pac-12 defenses. 

California returns numerous starters on both sides of the ball, so it is a nice bet to make some noise in the conference. Goff also has his top rusher and three of his top four receivers back from last year. 

All of the pieces are in place for him to burst onto the national scene as an elite quarterback in college football. An improved season with an upset win over a team such as Oregon or USC will give the junior a strong Heisman candidacy.

Christian Hackenberg, Penn State

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Can Hackenberg finally break out this season?

Christian Hackenberg is entering his third season as the starting quarterback at one of the country’s most recognizable programs. 

However, an awful 2014 season that saw him throw only 12 touchdowns and 15 interceptions has pretty much the entire nation forgetting about the quarterback. This is a bit premature, as his potential to break out this season is massive. 

Hackenberg will be in his second season in head coach James Franklin’s system and should be much improved. In addition, the surrounding personnel are favorable. Leading rusher Akeel Lynch is back, as are four starters on the offensive line. To top it off, DaeSean Hamilton (82 catches for 899 yards and two touchdowns in 2014) and Geno Lewis (55 catches for 751 yards and two scores) return to form one of the Big Ten’s best receiving duos. 

Penn State will never have to worry about national exposure, and with Hackenberg’s NFL-caliber passing skills and starting experience, he should be able to impress on big stages. 

If Hackenberg can play to his potential, he could definitely rocket up Heisman boards in 2015.

Gunner Kiel, Cincinnati

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Kiel could have one of the best passing seasons in the nation.

Gunner Kiel entered his college career as a premier quarterback prospect, and after transferring from Notre Dame, he finally earned his chance to show his skills at Cincinnati. 

He came through in a big way and finished with 3,254 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2014, leading the Bearcats to a 9-4 record. 

Cincinnati’s offense again looks to be powerful. Kiel will have leading rusher Mike Boone back along with the team’s top six receivers from 2014, who combined for 31 touchdowns. This should allow Kiel to post even bigger numbers this season. 

The media picked head coach Tommy Tuberville’s team to win the American Athletic Conference. The team also has prime-time matchups with BYU and Miami, which will be big for Kiel’s Heisman candidacy. 

If Cincinnati can finish 12-0 or 11-1 and Kiel has a monster season, he will certainly garner plenty of Heisman consideration.

Chuckie Keeton, Utah State

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Keeton could be a Heisman candidate if he returns to form.

Keeton started right away as a freshman at Utah State, even nearly winning at Auburn in his first career start. Since then, he has been one of the better quarterbacks in the nation. 

Injuries have derailed his last two seasons, which is why many are forgetting about Keeton heading into this season. He was on his way to a phenomenal 2013 season with 18 touchdowns and only two picks, before injuring his knee midway through the year and missing the rest of the season. Keeton then reinjured the knee after only three games last season and received a medical redshirt for this upcoming season. 

Keeton is healthy this season and ready to show the country he is still the top quarterback he used to be. He enters 2015 with 58 career passing touchdowns, a 63 percent completion rate and 15 rushing touchdowns. 

He is a dual-threat quarterback who puts up solid numbers and has a knack for playing well in big games. He will get a chance to showcase himself in games against BYU and Miami. If Keeton returns to become the player he once was, he will earn some Heisman chatter.

Paxton Lynch, Memphis

Lynch is the best quarterback in college football whom nobody is talking about. 

A look at his highlights shows he is a legitimate dual-threat quarterback with an NFL arm. He also has an ideal frame for a quarterback at 6’7” and 240 pounds. 

Lynch was excellent in his first season as the Tigers starter. He finished with 3,031 yards and 22 touchdowns passing to go with 13 rushing touchdowns while leading Memphis to a 10-3 record. 

Memphis will be even better offensively this season with five of its top six receivers returning, and Lynch will undoubtedly be the catalyst. His statistics will only be better in 2015 with another year of starting experience. 

Memphis will challenge Cincinnati for the AAC crown, and if it can win the conference, Lynch’s Heisman chances will steadily rise. The Tigers also have a big nonconference tilt with Ole Miss at home on Oct. 17 to possibly boost Lynch’s candidacy. 

Look for Lynch to have a monster season and crash the Heisman party by possibly becoming a finalist for the award.

Donnel Pumphrey, San Diego State

Another player who is not getting the attention he deserves is Donnel Pumphrey. He possesses a tantalizing combination of speed and power, which he exhibits in the above video. 

As a sophomore, he finished fourth in the nation in rushing with 1,867 yards and 20 scores in 2014. With four starters back on the offensive line, Pumphrey should only see his production increase this season. 

The Aztecs won seven games a year ago and figure to do roughly the same this year with questions at quarterback and on defense, so Pumphrey will need to make a Heisman push solely based on his numbers, similar to Indiana running back Tevin Coleman, who finished seventh in voting in 2014. 

Pumphrey’s best bet to entrench himself in the Heisman conversation is to lead the nation in rushing. This is a tall task considering the tremendous class of running backs in college football this season, but he has a chance if he can get over 2,000 yards. 

Look for Pumphrey to finish right behind Chubb and Elliott in running back Heisman voting in 2015.

Justin Thomas, Georgia Tech

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Thomas could light up the ACC in 2015.

Leading head coach Paul Johnson’s triple-option attack, Justin Thomas was one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC last season. 

The current junior threw for 18 touchdowns, a high mark in an option system, while also leading the team in rushing with 1,086 yards and eight touchdowns. 

He will again be the focal point of the Georgia Tech offense, and ACC opponents have to be a bit frightened. Thomas is arguably the top dual-threat quarterback in the country and will be nearly impossible to stop in his second season with Johnson. 

Playing in the ACC will provide plenty of exposure. If Thomas can repeat the performances he had against Florida State and Virginia Tech in most of Georgia Tech’s games this season, he will be a force in Heisman discussions. 

This will be especially true if Georgia Tech again competes for an ACC championship.

Nick Wilson, Arizona

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Wilson could break onto the national spotlight this season.

As the other side of Arizona’s vaunted two-headed monster on offense with Solomon, Nick Wilson finished fourth in the Pac-12 in rushing as a freshman. 

His 1,375 yards and 16 scores were the most ever by an Arizona freshman, and the workhorse running back will again get an ample amount of touches in head coach Rich Rodriguez’s offense. 

Despite a terrific season, Wilson is often overshadowed by fellow Pac-12 backs Royce Freeman of Oregon and Paul Perkins of UCLA. These two may have a better shot at the Heisman right now, but Wilson has more potential to surprise and enter the conversation thanks to the team's stability at quarterback, something Freeman and Perkins do not have. 

Wilson is also featured on this list over his teammate because he is more of a surprise candidate than Solomon. Wilson is a running back, a position that is not as valued as quarterback when it comes to the Heisman. 

Look for Wilson to possibly lead the conference in rushing. If Arizona can challenge for the Pac-12 title, he will also be right there with Solomon in the Heisman discussion.

All statistics are courtesy of ESPN.com.