As the season draws to a close, Heisman ballots have been sent out to voters for their consideration. We shall attempt to make the case for each of the players on the most prestigious award in all of College Football.
Enjoy...
QB Robert Beall (UCLA) 62.7%, 6,322 yards, 49 TD, 16 INT, 116.77 QBR
Beall guided UCLA to a 14-2 season and the PAC 12 South title. He led the NCAA in TD with 49, yards per attempt at 10.96, as well as his 116.77 QBR. He was second in yardage and completion percentage on the season. His just over 3 TD:INT ratio cannot be ignored either. He has checked every box a Heisman contender can hope for. Two possible factors play against him however. It has been said some of the bottom of the PAC 12 has bolstered his impressive numbers on the season. To that we say you can only play those on your schedule, and his only two losses on the season were to teams with a combined 29-3 record. His second, and more pressing problem, is that his RB, Bobbie Warfield, is most certainly going to pull votes away from his own candidacy. An unfortunate side affect of having such a dynamic offense. Win or lose, Beall has had a season for the ages.
QB Joseph Dimond (Arizona) 63.1%, 4,140, 31 TD, 3 INT, 110.49 QBR
Dimond was tasked at the beginning of the season with one objective: Don't turn the ball over. He achieved that and more, throwing for a mere 3 INT on the season. In doing so, he was also able to post the NCAA's best completion percentage as well as second best QBR. While his other numbers weren't near as flashy as his conference mate, Beall, Arizona's signal caller excelled in his role arguably as well as anyone in the NCAA. While you will see many of the Bruins players on end of season ballots, Wildcats will see nary a few. It can be said that he did more with little. A compelling argument for the seasoned QB from out west.
RB Bobbie Warfield (UCLA) 2.202 rushing yards, 23 TDs, 45 rec, 1,197 yards, 9 TD
UCLA scored 82 offensive TD on the season, of which Warfield accounted for 32 for a staggering 39%. In addition, he accounted for roughly 36% of his team's yards from scrimmage on the season. These numbers make it easy to see why the Bruins boasted the best offense in the league this season by an almost 57 yards per game as well as an amazing .8 rushing TD per game over second place in the NCAA. The same downsides to his chances exist as they do with his team mate Beall, however. Like Beall, though, his future looks bright as the Bruin's back looks forward.
WR Quincy Brown (Notre Dame) 96 rec, 2,324 yards, 16 TD.
Brown came on late in the season for Notre Dame, excelling in the prime time matchups which secured the Fighting Irish's place in the bowl games. He scored nearly a third of his 16 TD in the last three games against Wash, Marshall, and LSU, including 3 against the Thundering Herd in the division clinching second part of their two game grudge match. He led the NCAA in reception yardage and tied for third in TD receptions, a mere 2 behind fellow Heisman Candidate Millar from Syracuse, and one behind his fellow WR Claypool. One knock on his candidacy may be his team's 32nd strength of schedule.
WR Michael Millar (Syracuse) 96 receptions, 2,186 yards, 18 TD. 662 KR YD, 2 KR TD.
While leading the NCAA in TD receptions and placing second in reception yards, Millar's candidacy is hurt by his team's stumbles down the stretch. In losses against Kentucky and Arkansas, Millar was unable to find the end zone. Heisman candidates excel in the spotlight. It appears Millar wilted.
DT Keith Thomas (Kansas) 32 sacks, 120 hurries, 76 tackles, 7 missed.
The young Kansas playmaker spent so much time in the backfield this season, as he led the league in both hurries and sacks, he caused many on the coaching staff to wonder if they needed to change his address. His uncanny ability to shed blockers is only made more incredible by the fact that he did it while facing double teams on the interior of the line on nearly every snap this season. He shattered the single season records for sacks in a season last set in 2002 by Terrell Suggs. Even more astonishing, he sits a mere 12 sacks away from Suggs' CAREER record of 44. Baring injury, he will dispatch of that one sometime in the first half of next season. His best days are ahead of him to be sure. The one knock against him is the fact that he played for a Kansas team whom failed to reach .500 on the season. There will be those voters who will dismiss him simply for that fact. We think that would be premature. Greatness is greatness no matter where it exists.
So, there you have it. Another season in the books. Records were broken, dreams were born, and hearts were shattered. All in all, a great season in the NCAA. To those fortunate enough to make the trip to NYC, we salute you. Tis a great honor to step in the footsteps to all those great college players who walked before you.
Last edited at 9/04/2017 4:05 am
