College Football 2011: 5 Dark Horse Heisman Candidates from the SEC
Although the 2011 college football season is still months away, it is never too early to start thinking about what is to come. One of the most exciting parts college football is the Heisman Trophy presentation at the end of the season in New York.
Three of the past four Heisman winners have come from the SEC. Despite the fact that a lot of SEC talent left for the NFL, there are still plenty of athletes in the conference who could win college football’s biggest award.
Coming into this year, running backs Trent Richardson of Alabama and Marcus Lattimore of South Carolina will be front-runners for the Heisman, but they aren’t the only guys who can take home the hardware.
Here are five dark horse candidates from the SEC for the 2011 Heisman Trophy.
5. Alshon Jeffery, WR (South Carolina)
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Heading into 2011, South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffery is arguably the best receiver in college football. It might sound like a stretch to call the country’s best receiver a "dark horse," but a wide receiver has not won the Heisman since Desmond Howard in 1991.
Although Howard and Jeffery play the position very differently, they both put up monster numbers. As a sophomore last season, Jeffery snagged 88 passes for 1,517 yards, which is the second most by a receiver in SEC history.
In 2011 Jeffery will likely get more double-teams than in previous seasons, but at 6’4” and 233 pounds, defenses will need more than two guys on this beast.
4. Knile Davis, RB (Arkansas)
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Arkansas ran a pass-happy offense with quarterback Ryan Mallet at the helm last season. This year the Razorbacks will likely feature a more run-oriented attack featuring Knile Davis.
Davis finished the 2010 season strong, running for more than 100 yards in six of Arkansas’ last seven games.
If new starting quarterback Tyler Wilson can keep defenses honest with good play-action fakes, Davis should get the space he needs to rack up big yards.
3. Michael Dyer, RB (Auburn)
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Cam Newton will not be playing football in an Auburn uniform this season, but that doesn’t mean the Tigers are lacking in talent. Mike Dyer was a highly-touted running back coming out of high school, and he did not disappoint in his first season at Auburn.
As a freshman Dyer recorded 1,093 yards and five touchdowns. With Newton gone, Dyer will be shouldering more of the offensive load for the Tigers, and he is more than capable of putting the team on his back.
If last year’s 143-yard performance in the National Championship game is any indication of what is to come, Auburn fans can get excited for another great season in 2011.
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2. Mark Barron, DB (Alabama)
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Although Trent Richardson will be getting most of this year’s Heisman hype at Alabama, Mark Barron is going to terrorize SEC offenses. With his size and speed, Barron has drawn comparisons to former LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson.
In two years as a starter, Barron has racked up 10 interceptions, two sacks, two forced fumbles and one touchdown. One of his biggest assets is the defense he plays, which is one of the best in the country.
No defensive player has won the Heisman since Charles Woodson in 1997, but Barron is the type of playmaker who can garner some attention from the voters.
1. Aaron Murray, QB (Georgia)
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The Georgia football team has played well below expectations the past few years. If that is going to change in 2011, Aaron Murray is going to be a huge reason why.
Despite a losing record last season, Murray played very well, passing for more than 3,000 yards and earning freshman All-American honors.
Although Georgia lost their two best pass-catchers from a season ago, the Bulldogs brought in one of the best recruiting classes in the country. Murray is primed for a big season, and if wins come along with his passing yards, he could be visiting New York in December.
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