As we near the beginning of the College Football Season, let’s breakdown three players you should remember when it comes time to give out the Heisman Trophy in December.
(RB) Bo Scarbrough, Alabama
Bo Scarbrough is number 1 on my list for a very big reason: he’s well, BIG. The junior running back stands at 6’2”, weighing 235 pounds, big enough to strike fear in the eyes of any defensive back, once he gets past the linebackers.
Last season, Scarbrough broke out, running for 812 yards and 11 touchdowns. In the College Football Playoff, Scarbrough ran for 273 yards, scoring four times. He broke his leg in the National Championship loss to Clemson, but is healthy heading into 2017.
Look for Big Boy Bo to find score over 10 times this fall and prove why he can pick up where he left off last year.
(QB) Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State
Mason Rudolph is my Heisman dark horse this year. The Oklahoma State quarterback averaged 315 YPG last season under Mike Gundy’s mullet-rocking, pass-happy offense. Rudolph threw for 28 touchdowns and only four interceptions in 2016.
This year, the 6-5, 230-pound quarterback also returns his star wide receiver from a season ago.,James Washington, who finished with 1,380 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Cowboys also have a favorable schedule for Rudolph to do some damage. Oklahoma State starts the year with three non-conference opponents (Tulsa, South Alabama, and Pittsburgh) before starting their Big-12 schedule featuring home games with TCU, #20 Kansas State, and #7 Oklahoma.
(QB) J.T. Barrett, Ohio State
In a list of Heisman candidates, it’s hard not to include another QB. Since the year 2000, 14 quarterbacks have won the coveted award.
J.T. Barrett of Ohio State rounds out my list because he’s a fifth year senior leading an AP Top-10 program. The dual-threat QB has 8,846 total yards and 100 total touchdowns since 2014.
With a weak conference schedule mixed with a major Week 2 non-conference game against #7 Oklahoma, Barrett could finish 2017 with over 3,000 total yards.
