4 For Heisman |
4 For Heisman
Deshaun Watson is getting some great publicity for a terrific season. In this blog, I want to look at his candidacy and compare it to others who have recently been mentioned as the frontrunners for college football's top individual honor. First it needs to be stated that the award has changed in recent years. It no longer goes to just the best player in the country; it seems now that you have to play on a great team to get the award. Also, your year in school doesn't matter anymore. Two of the past three winners have been freshmen. This year I think the race is too close to call. All five of the top contenders have huge games coming up, and four of the five could be in conference title games with the nation watching. Therefore, the Heisman Trophy could be won or lost in the next three weeks. This year's top five contenders according to Las Vegas are Derrick Henry, Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette, Watson and Corey Coleman. Here is a look at Watson's numbers compared to the others mentioned: Deshaun Watson-Sophomore Quarterback, Clemson Las Vegas Odds:7/1 Team Rank:1 AP Stats:Completed 216 of 308 passes for 2,593 yards for 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Watson has completed 70% of his passes. He has 107 carries for 594 yards and five scores. Best Games:Against Boston College he had 420 yards passing. In the NC State game, he had five touchdowns passing and one rushing. Last week against Syracuse he had 461 total yards. Worst Games:Against Louisville he had 21 completions out of 30 attempts for 199 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Marquee Moment:Watson accounted for three touchdowns in beating fourth-ranked Notre Dame. Remaining Opportunities:Wake Forest, @South Carolina, ACC title game. Notes:Watson is in the top three according to many experts. He has the advantage of being a great player at the most important position on the nation's number one team. He also can rack up big numbers against bad defenses to end his regular season and could have a major matchup against North Carolina, who is ranked 12th in the AP poll. Derrick Henry Junior Running Back, Alabama Las Vegas Odds:2/3 Team Rank:3 AP Stats:240 carries for 1,458 yards and 19 touchdowns. He has nine catches for 69 yards. Best Games:Against Texas A&M he had 32 carries for 236 yards and two scores. In the LSU game, he had 38 carries for 210 yards and three touchdowns. Against Mississippi State, he tallied 22 carries for 204 yards and two scores. Worst Games:Against Middle Tennessee State he had 18 carries for 96 yards and three scores. In the La-Monroe game, he had 13 carries for 52 yards and one touchdown. Against Arkansas, he had 27 carries for 95 yards and one touchdown. Marquee Moment:In a head-to-head matchup, Henry outrushed Fournette 210-31. Remaining Opportunities:Charleston Southern, @Auburn, SEC title game. Notes:Henry is the front runner. He has played big in big games this season. He will also have a chance to make the last impressions with games against Auburn and Florida. Ezekiel Elliott Junior Running Back, Ohio State Las Vegas Odds:9/2 Team Rank:2 AP Stats:220 carries for 1,425 yards and 16 touchdowns. He has 24 receptions for 169 yards. Best Games:In the Indiana game he had 23 carries for 274 yards and three touchdowns. Worst Games:Against Hawaii he had 27 carries for 101 yards and three touchdowns. Marquee Moment:Elliott put the Buckeyes on his back in their 34-27 win over Indiana Remaining Opportunities:Michigan State, @Michigan, potential Big Ten title game Notes:Elliott has not been the front runner at any point this season, but he has three huge opportunities ahead of him with games against Michigan State, @Michigan and Iowa. Leonard Fournette Sophomore Running Back, LSU Las Vegas Odds:9/2 Team Rank: 17 AP Stats:214 carries for 1,474 yards and 17 touchdowns. He has ten receptions for 94 yards. Best Games:He had 228 yards and three touchdowns against Auburn. He rushed for 244 yards and two scores at Syracuse. Worst Games:Against Alabama he had 19 carries for 31 yards and one touchdown. In the Arkansas game, he had 19 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown. Marquee Moment:Fournette had monster runs at home against Auburn that made many highlight videos. Remaining Opportunities:@Ole Miss, Texas A&M Notes:Fournette was the leader until the last two weeks when he failed to gain over 100 yards in his team's two losses. His team went from number two to number 17 in two weeks, and he did not have good games in either loss. Corey Coleman Junior Wide Receiver, Baylor Las Vegas Odds:25/1 Team Rank:10 AP Stats:Coleman has 61 receptions for 1,229 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also has 13 carries for 51 yards. Best Games:Against Lamar he had six catches for 182 yards and four touchdowns. Versus West Virginia he had ten receptions for 199 yards and three touchdowns Worst Games:In a loss to Oklahoma he only had three catches for 51 yards and no scores. Marquee Moment:Coleman had ten touchdowns in three weeks. The problem is they came against Lamar, Rice, and Texas Tech. Remaining Opportunities:@Oklahoma State, @TCU Notes:Coleman has the best numbers but can a wide receiver win it with three great backs and the quarterback of the nation's number one team having a good year? He will get two more chances in big games against Oklahoma State and TCU. Prayer List The prayer list is a medium for our community to recognize those that are in need. If you would like to add someone to the list, please email me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com. Please let me know when it is appropriate to remove a person off the list. Those who need our prayers include: Jo Ann Bachman, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got Igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard, Gillespie and his family, Jim S., Daniel Rosborough, the Huffman family, Nancy Winkler, John Reeve, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L., Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Perrin Seigler, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, the Nicolopulos family, "the Jacksonville, FL guys," Kim Sims, the Coyle family, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee, Kelly Trakas, Jimmy Moore, the Thomas V. family, Emary Claire Young, Kitty Bowers, Julie Locke, the Scheider family, Lauren Kittles' family, Frank Gentry, Stacey McKeown, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr., Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Lillian, Mark Feit, David Frame, the family of Matthew M. Watson, the Dowis family, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Jim Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Smith, Millie Heatley, Lynn Martin and family, Michael Pinson, Jake David family, Angie Crowley, Ira, Mike Tolson, Poly Wells, Dr. Muriel Bishop, Jack Cunningham, Emily Jefford Meister, Aaron Clackum, Pat James, Cortney Moore, William Moore, Angelia and Savannah Anderson, Scott Johns, Frank Carroll, Brandon Thompson, Alvin Sammons, Georgine McAlhaney, Glen Davis, Mike Price, Aaron Knight, Danielle Johnston and family, Nicholas Abrams, Lana Kuykendall, Gary, Gary G., William Huggins, Jim Bennett, Chantz Fowler, Ethel McElveen, Michele Gurganus, William Gentry, Lewis Usher and Tanya Sanders, Shon Cooper, Nick Collins, Amanda Peake, Chip Turner, Nick Collins, Allen Steen, the Sturkey family, the Lance family, Nick Chrisley's family, Allison Williams, Lt. Kyle Walker, Summer and Joel Johnson, Nicole O'Donnell, James O. Johnson, Joy Pruett and family, Bill Schmidt, Jack Bailey, Gardner Family, Charles Turner, Kathy Bartholomew, Ray Sanders, David and Robin Blocker, J.R. Ray, Kenneth Kowe, Lauren Sielicki, Jenna Phipps, Mark Lawrence, Jonathan and Jacki Sullins, Peter Laboy, Kat and Carlisle Jones, Elizabeth Galloway and family, Anita McDonald, Willard Harryman, Liz Surratt, Molly Senn, Jackie Shearer, Richard Sellers, Tim Drisdelle, Susan and Mike Brown, Julie Goodman Marshall, Willard and Dorothy Harryman, Justin Jernigan, Jack Cunningham, Mia Daughtery, Tee Senn, Bob Garrett, Skylar, Joseph Thomas, Mrs. Nelis, Sean Rowell, George Parker, Levon Kirkland and family, Catherine Sewell, Randy Davenport, David Vaughn, Keith Dalton, B.T., Bill Hilbig, Rita Elrod Hammond and family, Jim McKeller, Tony Alewine, Sharon Storck, Dick Baird, Richard Bagnal, Dustin and Brittany Peurifoy, Jan Allan, Josh Cox, Gregg and Sylvia Lewis, Travis Hamrick, Kaki Harmon, Jammie McKellar and babies, Karen Edwards, Jackson Lindsey, Cathy Hutson Gregg, Kristin Heckman, Jennifer Johnson, Jay Johnson, Lyndsie Johnson, Emily Davis, Hayes Davis, Judy Towe, Johnny Towe, Ken Brown, Elaine Brown, Rhonda Thompson, Tim Davis, Jacob Greinke, Jack Finley, Richard and Clara Crawford, Zach and Griffin Johnson, Israel, Frankie Allen, Bobby Allen, the Wessinger family, the Parsons family, Todd Price and family, Rosemary A Flynn, Dr. Mickey Shealy family, Mr. Gillespie, Bobbi Nicholson, Dr. Matt Stower, Tyler Kemmerlin, Parks Hutto, Patrick DeStefano, Robert Summerville, Michelle Richey, Julie Moore, Ashley Fitch, Drew Moyer, Kevin Anderson, Lyn Price, John Robert Smith, Allison Williams, Nicholas Wickiser, Lena Wright, Donna Springs, Elizabeth Bruner, Bobbi Simpson, Hammond Family, Elaine G. Duvall, Addison Grace, Bennie Cunningham, Kevin Orcutt, Alan Finley, Keith Wells, Steve Byrd, Jessica Hernandez, Wayne Mullins, Rita Alexander, Tony Osterman, family and friends of Gary Cooper, Tonya Gibson, Mary Carmen Harman and our great country and the men and women in uniform that protect and serve it every day, plus their families.The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency
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