Arkansas vs. Alabama: Why Tyler Wilson Edges Trent Richardson in Heisman Race

The battle for the Heisman is ongoing and there are a bunch of qualified candidates in the SEC.

Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson and Alabama running back Trent Richardson are two players who are not considered to be among the frontrunners for the prestigious award.

There was a bunch of hype surrounding Richardson’s 2011 season but here are some reasons why Wilson would win the award before him.

Quarterbacks Win More Than Running Backs

For whatever reason, it is very difficult for a running back to win the Heisman, especially when up against a quarterback.

Mark Ingram won the award in 2009 and Reggie Bush won in 2005 but that has since been vacated. They are the only two running backs to win the award since 2000 so the odds are stacked squarely against Richardson.

Better Production

With a rookie quarterback, Alabama will face a lot of teams who will stack the box against Trent Richardson. Arkansas faces a similar problem since losing Knile Davis but it is considerably easier for a quarterback to pick up yards compared to a running back.

If a running back has nowhere to go, he gets stopped up for a loss. A quarterback can throw the ball away or run with it, either of which are considered good plays. 

Stronger Start

Richardson came out of the gates against Kent State like he could not care about playing football. He rushed for 37 yards on 13 carries which is really just pathetic against a team like Kent State.

Wilson on the other hand came out strong and has been consistently great, throwing for 250-300 yards with 1-2 touchdowns per game. He did not do it against the toughest competition but compared to Richardson’s game against the Flashes, this was an All-Star performance.