Heisman Finalists 2011: Can Tyrann Mathieu Win Heisman with Defense?

Tyrann Mathieu has had arguably the most outstanding season of any defensive player in college football history.

There have definitely been other dominant defensive players like Ndamakong Suh,  and Patrick Peterson that have drawn Heisman consideration or even Charles Woodson who won the Heisman, but did any of them have the impact on their team that Mathieu has in 2011?

Mathieu has impacted every game he has played in this season, causing key turnovers on defense, providing pressure as a blitzer, and making big special teams plays when the Tiger offense wasn’t putting points on the board.

The sophomore standout is a freakish athlete that is making Tiger fans quickly move on from losing All-American cornerback Patrick Peterson in last year’s NFL draft.

At only 5’9” Mathieu does not let his lack of size hold him back in any way.  He plays with reckless abandon and is not afraid to initiate contact with offensive players that dwarf him.

He is a special talent that has a natural football instinct that allows him to always be around the ball and always in position to make a key play.

His return skills are not polished but even as a raw product he has the natural athleticism to make people miss and make the big play when necessary.

Mathieu’s indiscretions off the field that led to an in-house suspension in midseason may have cost him a chance at the Heisman Trophy in 2011, but should he keep playing the way he has played this season he is a lock as a Heisman Finalist in 2012.