Tyrann Mathieu: Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week Now, Heisman Next?

The Heisman Trophy has been traditionally an offensive award. The only defensive player who has ever won it is Charles Woodson, who did so leading the defensively minded Michigan Wolverines to a national championship in 1997. Tyrann Mathieu could follow in his footsteps. 

Part of the reason that Woods won it was his penchant for making the big play in big moments against top-ranked teams. It's a factor that is in Mathieu's game that is hard to miss. He's an enormous playmaker. 

In fact, after starting just 16 games Mathieu has already tied the LSU club record for forced fumbles, and it's not like LSU doesn't have a history of some pretty prestigious players on the defensive end. The reigning Chuck Bednarik Award winner, Patrick Peterson, hails from LSU. 

Mathieu's stats so far this season are truly impressive. He leads the Tigers with 31 tackles, 22 of them solo. He leads the team in tackles for loss with three. He leads the team in forced turnovers, garnering one interception, two force fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He also leads the team in pass deflections. 

Most importantly though is the timing and effect of his biggest plays. Against the Oregon Ducks he had a huge strip and fumble recovery for a touchdown that set the tone for the game. In all that game, he broke up two passes and had 10 tackles. He was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week as a result of his effort. 

Against Mississippi State he had another huge game, gathering 10 tackles, nine of them solos. 

Against West Virginia this week he had six tackles, the forced fumble, the recovery and an interception which he returned just outside of the goal line. He also broke up a pass. It was enough to win him the Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week. 

The Tigers are the No. 1 team in the country because of their defense, and Mathieu isn't just the MVP of their defense, he's the MUP—the Most Ubiquitous Player. He seems to be everywhere on the field at the same time, constantly coming up with big plays. 

His attitude and personality are cocky if you like LSU, and somewhere between arrogant and just downright obnoxious if you don't. Whatever you think of it though, it has its effect. The diminutive 5'9", 165-pound corner might be the smallest player on the field, but he makes the biggest plays and plays with the biggest heart.

The Tigers don't have an authentic candidate on offense, and their team is where they are because of their defense, so why not Mathieu? It's a reasonable choice and a historically precedented one.