This edition of our Heisman Watch will be a two-for-one special. First, we'll submit our mock Heisman ballot (since we don't have a real vote) and make our predictions for the College Football Playoffs. Before we get started, I want to say thank you to everyone who followed along with our Heisman Watch this season. This blog doesn't really have a big audience, but we want to make every reader matter. Let's get started.
3. Lamar Jackson, Louisville
Statistically speaking, Jackson had just as incredible a season as last year, when he won the Heisman. He's thrown for 3,489 yards (down from 3,543 last year), 25 touchdowns (30 last year), six picks (down from last year's nine), and his rating increased from 148.8 to 151.5. His rushing numbers are also similar: 208 carries for 1,443 yards and 17 touchdowns for a 6.9 average (he accumulated 1,571 yards and 21 touchdowns on 260 carries for a 6.0 average). But the difference this year is the fact that his Louisville Cardinals have struggled mightily, especially against better teams. Were it not for his stellar play, they might not have even reached 8-4. Still, Jackson deserves a ton of credit for his incredible stats and his return trip to New York is well deserved.
2. Bryce Love, Stanford
Love has made Stanford fans forget all about Heisman runner-up Christian McCaffrey. On 237 carries, the explosive back ran for 1,973 yards and 17 touchdowns for an incredible 8.3 average. By the way, his 1,973 rushing yards are second in the nation only to SDSU's Rashaad Penny. His average is fifth in the nation and his Cardinals won the Pac-12 North before falling to USC in the Pac-12 title game.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
Unfortunately for our other finalists, the Heisman race has been over for weeks. Baker Mayfield has been sensation all season, even in Oklahoma's solitary loss, and has positioned the Sooners as the #2 team in the country with a shot at winning the program's first national title since 2000. His 4,340 passing yards are second only to in-state rival Mason Rudolph, his 41 passing touchdowns trail only Mizzou's Drew Lock, and his 203.8 rating leads his closest competitor by 19 points. It's not a question of whether Mayfield will win the Heisman, it's by how much.
Playoff Predictions:
#1 Clemson vs. #4 Alabama
In a rematch of last year's national championship, it will be top-ranked Clemson against one-loss Alabama. These two teams match up well but the key for Clemson will be QB Kelly Bryant. Although he has been doing his best Deshaun Watson impression this year, he's not Watson. The Texans star has a much better arm and much more big-game experience. Bryant is by no means a scrub but he isn't equipped to deal with that nasty Crimson Tide D. Expect Minkah Fitzpatrick and company to dominate Bryant and lead their team to victory.
#2 Oklahoma vs. #3 Georgia
It's hard to miss thanks to Baker Mayfield's stellar play, but Oklahoma's offensive line might be one of the country's best. They should be able to stop Georgia's ferocious rush attack, which is definitely their strongest aspect. If you take that away, then Oklahoma definitely has the upper hand. Georgia QB Jake Fromm has played well this season but has tended to make careless mistakes and slip up when the pressure gets to him. Baker Mayfield on the other hand, is playing in his second straight playoffs and shouldn't have any extra pressure. His composure and big-play ability, along with TE Mark Andrews, will give the Sooners the W.
#2 Oklahoma vs. #4 Alabama
This is a dream match: Oklahoma's high-powered offense against Alabama's hard-hitting defense. That being said, this game will likely rest on the shoulders of Alabama's Jalen Hurts. Throughout his collegiate career, Hurts hasn't been asked to do a whole lot. He'll throw about 17 times a game while the offense mainly runs the ball. He has often struggled in big games (like in this year's Iron Bowl) and that could really cost the Tide here.
Winner: Oklahoma Sooners
Thanks for reading everyone
Friday, December 8, 2017
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Heisman Watch Week 12
We've reached that point of the season where we only have five realistic candidates. Granted, Baker Mayfield has it completely locked up, but a few other guys have the potential to make it at least a little interesting. Let's get started.
5. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 6)- Jackson's redemption story this year has been incredible. After completely dropping out of the Heisman race thanks to a string of losses, but thanks to his incredible season is now back in the Heisman conversation. He won't repeat but has an incredible chance of making it back to New York. If he plays well enough, he could even finish in the top three.
4. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: 4)- Taylor (and the entire Wisconsin offense) played very well against that tough Michigan defense, which is exactly what Taylor needed to boost his Heisman campaign. In 19 rushes he accumulated 152 yards for a 6.9 average. If he has a big
3. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 3)- Barkley had his first great game in weeks as he ran for 158 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries. The Nittany Lions beat the pesky Nebraska Cornhuskers by 12 and are currently ranked tenth.
2. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 2)- Although he had a bum ankle Love still ran for 101 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries. He's still quite a way from Mayfield but his stock will improve with a great performance against Notre Dame this week.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- The story this week was not about Mayfield's performance against Kansas but rather his disrespectful crotch-grabbing gesture. Although he later apologized for it, there is no doubt that a few Heisman voters will downgrade Mayfield. After all, a Heisman winner is supposed to display outstanding character on and off the field (except for Jameis Winston apparently).
Thanks for reading everyone
5. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 6)- Jackson's redemption story this year has been incredible. After completely dropping out of the Heisman race thanks to a string of losses, but thanks to his incredible season is now back in the Heisman conversation. He won't repeat but has an incredible chance of making it back to New York. If he plays well enough, he could even finish in the top three.
4. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: 4)- Taylor (and the entire Wisconsin offense) played very well against that tough Michigan defense, which is exactly what Taylor needed to boost his Heisman campaign. In 19 rushes he accumulated 152 yards for a 6.9 average. If he has a big
3. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 3)- Barkley had his first great game in weeks as he ran for 158 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries. The Nittany Lions beat the pesky Nebraska Cornhuskers by 12 and are currently ranked tenth.
2. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 2)- Although he had a bum ankle Love still ran for 101 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries. He's still quite a way from Mayfield but his stock will improve with a great performance against Notre Dame this week.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- The story this week was not about Mayfield's performance against Kansas but rather his disrespectful crotch-grabbing gesture. Although he later apologized for it, there is no doubt that a few Heisman voters will downgrade Mayfield. After all, a Heisman winner is supposed to display outstanding character on and off the field (except for Jameis Winston apparently).
Thanks for reading everyone
Friday, November 17, 2017
Heisman Watch Week 11
In terms of the Heisman race, College Football Playoffs, and general insanity, Week 11 had it all. It was hard to keep track of it all. Miami picked up its biggest win of the season by defeating #3 Notre Dame, Ohio State absolutely destroyed Sparty, unranked Stanford upset #9 Washington, #1 Georgia picked up its first loss of the year, Michigan actually got some good quarterback play, Josh Jackson continued to be the most exciting player on the defensive side of the ball, #2 Alabama escaped #16 Mississippi State, Baker Mayfield made minced meat out of the Horned Frogs, the Cowboys outlasted the Cyclones in a thriller, and so much more.
But of course, we're here to see how this all affects the Heisman race. For the second week in a row, we have six players listed. Let's get started.
6. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: NR)- Looking back now, I may have written off Lamar Jackson a little early. Sure, he picked up a few too many losses for my taste, but his performance this season has been nothing short of sensational. He is now the only player in FBS history to have 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in two different seasons. He's definitely not going to repeat as Heisman winner but should get some votes. He may even be invited to New York.
5. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: NR)- Just like with Jackson, I may have written Rudolph a little prematurely as well. In the best game of the week, Rudolph and #15 Oklahoma State knocked off #21 Iowa State. Rudolph threw for 376 yards and three touchdowns while going 25 for 31. The gunslinger leads the nation in passing yards per game and is third in passing efficiency.
4. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: 5)- He may be the fourth leading rusher in the nation, but it still feels like he is flying a little under the radar. Against #20 Iowa, Taylor ran for 157 yards on 29 carries. He didn't score but still had a nice game here. Now that Wisconsin is a true CFP contender, expect Taylor's stock to rise. He also plays in the game of the week in Week 12 against #19 Michigan in Madison.
3. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 2)- How the mighty have fallen. Just a few weeks ago, it seemed like Barkley was the easy pick for the Heisman. Now, he'll be likely to be the runner-up. In four of his last five games, he has failed to record at least 100 yards from scrimmage.
2. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 3)- There's a good chance that Love is the best RB in the country. For a while, it seemed like Barkley was the easy choice, but Love has at least made the conversation interesting. He's a dynamic, thrilling runner with huge big-play ability. In Stanford's big win over #9 Washington, Love ran for 166 yards and three touchdowns.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- A few weeks ago, we proclaimed Barkley as the clear Heisman front-runner. Now, Baker Mayfield is in that position. He cut through #6 TCU's defense as he threw for 333 yards, three touchdowns, and zero picks. He also added 50 yards on the ground.
Thanks for reading everyone.
But of course, we're here to see how this all affects the Heisman race. For the second week in a row, we have six players listed. Let's get started.
6. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: NR)- Looking back now, I may have written off Lamar Jackson a little early. Sure, he picked up a few too many losses for my taste, but his performance this season has been nothing short of sensational. He is now the only player in FBS history to have 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in two different seasons. He's definitely not going to repeat as Heisman winner but should get some votes. He may even be invited to New York.
5. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: NR)- Just like with Jackson, I may have written Rudolph a little prematurely as well. In the best game of the week, Rudolph and #15 Oklahoma State knocked off #21 Iowa State. Rudolph threw for 376 yards and three touchdowns while going 25 for 31. The gunslinger leads the nation in passing yards per game and is third in passing efficiency.
4. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: 5)- He may be the fourth leading rusher in the nation, but it still feels like he is flying a little under the radar. Against #20 Iowa, Taylor ran for 157 yards on 29 carries. He didn't score but still had a nice game here. Now that Wisconsin is a true CFP contender, expect Taylor's stock to rise. He also plays in the game of the week in Week 12 against #19 Michigan in Madison.
3. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 2)- How the mighty have fallen. Just a few weeks ago, it seemed like Barkley was the easy pick for the Heisman. Now, he'll be likely to be the runner-up. In four of his last five games, he has failed to record at least 100 yards from scrimmage.
2. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 3)- There's a good chance that Love is the best RB in the country. For a while, it seemed like Barkley was the easy choice, but Love has at least made the conversation interesting. He's a dynamic, thrilling runner with huge big-play ability. In Stanford's big win over #9 Washington, Love ran for 166 yards and three touchdowns.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- A few weeks ago, we proclaimed Barkley as the clear Heisman front-runner. Now, Baker Mayfield is in that position. He cut through #6 TCU's defense as he threw for 333 yards, three touchdowns, and zero picks. He also added 50 yards on the ground.
Thanks for reading everyone.
Thursday, November 9, 2017
Heisman Watch Week 10
As we get closer to the Heisman Trophy presentation, our field of contenders slowly dwindles. This week we see three players fall off: J.T. Barrett, Mason Rudolph, and Trace McSorley (all quarterbacks who lost in Week 10, coincidentally). Where do the remaining six players stand? Let's get started.
6. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 8)- At this point, the real question is whether or not Hurts will get any Heisman votes and all. Despite being in a similar situation last year, Hurts got zero votes. He has played a little better this season, though he has yet to have a standout game. His only chance at winning the award is if the rest of the contenders fall, and Hurts is the last man standing.
5. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: 7)- It's clear Taylor is healthy again. In a 45-17 romp over the Hoosiers, Taylor had 29 carries for 183 yards and one touchdown. Taylor is very much the odd man out among the running back group of Barkley, Love, and Adams, so he's going to need some incredible performances to even make it to New York City. If not, he'll get a few third-place votes, but will not be anywhere near the top vote-getters.
4. Josh Adams, Notre Dame (Last Week: 4)- Adams left Notre Dame's win over Wake Forest early but stays in the Heisman conversation thanks to ND's win. He leads FBS in rushes of at least sixty yards with seven.
3. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 3)- The biggest thing going for Love's Heisman campaign was that he led the country in rushing. Unfortunately, that distinction now belongs to SDSU's Rashaad Penny. But there is another stat that helps Love: he has a rush of at least 50 yards in every game this season.
2. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 2)- Well, it happened. The unthinkable happened. For weeks sportswriters proclaimed that the Heisman race was all but over; that Saquon Barkley was guaranteed to take home the hardware. Now, Barkley is coming off his second straight game of limited productivity. More importantly, the Nittany Lions lost both of those games and are now virtually eliminated from CFP contention. Barkley will still make it to New York, but he's no longer the favorite to win.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- What more can I say about Baker Mayfield that hasn't been said already. The man played like he was possessed on Saturday as this Sooners defeated their in-state rivals, the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Not only did Mayfield play like the best quarterback in the nation, he played like the best player in the nation. How else do you explain his 598 passing yards and five touchdowns on just 24 attempts (besides Hollywood Brown)?
Thanks for reading everyone.
6. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 8)- At this point, the real question is whether or not Hurts will get any Heisman votes and all. Despite being in a similar situation last year, Hurts got zero votes. He has played a little better this season, though he has yet to have a standout game. His only chance at winning the award is if the rest of the contenders fall, and Hurts is the last man standing.
5. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: 7)- It's clear Taylor is healthy again. In a 45-17 romp over the Hoosiers, Taylor had 29 carries for 183 yards and one touchdown. Taylor is very much the odd man out among the running back group of Barkley, Love, and Adams, so he's going to need some incredible performances to even make it to New York City. If not, he'll get a few third-place votes, but will not be anywhere near the top vote-getters.
4. Josh Adams, Notre Dame (Last Week: 4)- Adams left Notre Dame's win over Wake Forest early but stays in the Heisman conversation thanks to ND's win. He leads FBS in rushes of at least sixty yards with seven.
3. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 3)- The biggest thing going for Love's Heisman campaign was that he led the country in rushing. Unfortunately, that distinction now belongs to SDSU's Rashaad Penny. But there is another stat that helps Love: he has a rush of at least 50 yards in every game this season.
2. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 2)- Well, it happened. The unthinkable happened. For weeks sportswriters proclaimed that the Heisman race was all but over; that Saquon Barkley was guaranteed to take home the hardware. Now, Barkley is coming off his second straight game of limited productivity. More importantly, the Nittany Lions lost both of those games and are now virtually eliminated from CFP contention. Barkley will still make it to New York, but he's no longer the favorite to win.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- What more can I say about Baker Mayfield that hasn't been said already. The man played like he was possessed on Saturday as this Sooners defeated their in-state rivals, the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Not only did Mayfield play like the best quarterback in the nation, he played like the best player in the nation. How else do you explain his 598 passing yards and five touchdowns on just 24 attempts (besides Hollywood Brown)?
Thanks for reading everyone.
Saturday, November 4, 2017
Heisman Watch Week 9
Today features one of the biggest games of the entire season: #5 Oklahoma vs. #11 Oklahoma State. Besides playoff consequences, there are also major Heisman implications. The losing team's QB could be (and probably will be) eliminated from the race. Let's get started.
9. Trace McSorley, Penn State (Last Week: 4)- McSorley falls five spots after losing to Ohio State. Unlike Barkley, McSorley takes a lot of the blame for the Nittany Lions falling, though he did lead PSU in rushing. McSorley was already struggling with getting recognition, now he finds himself with his Heisman campaign nearly done.
8. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 9)- Hurts had a bye in Week 8 but moves up thanks to McSorley's fall. He faces his biggest test of the season so far when he and the Crimson Tide take on #19 LSU.
7. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: 6)- The freshman left the game early with a left leg injury and that hurt his stats, as he had only 12 rushes for 73 yards. Wisconsin still managed to beat Illinois 24-10.
6. J.T. Barrett, Ohio State (Last Week: 8)- Barrett had his potential Heisman moment as his Buckeyes defeated #2 Penn State and gave them their first loss of the season. Barrett was absolutely sensational, as he threw for 328 yards and four scores. He also ran 17 times for 95 carries (giving him a 5.6 average). All of a sudden, Barrett is looking like a Heisman finalist.
5. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: 5)- Like I said in the intro, Rudolph needs to beat Oklahoma to stay in the Heisman conversation. Even if he doesn't have a great game, the win should be enough.
4. Josh Adams, Notre Dame (Last Week: 7)- Adams made short work of the great NC State defense (spearheaded by elite draft prospect Bradley Chubb), giving him and the Irish back-to-back wins over Top 15 teams. With his 202 rushing yards in this game, Adams has three 200-yard games this season. He also ran for a touchdown here.
3. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 2)- Love did not play in Stanford's gritty 15-14 win over Oregon State, as he had an ankle injury. Despite not playing this game, he still leads the nation in rushing.
2. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 3)- Mayfield beat Texas Tech (his favorite team) as he threw for 281 yards and four touchdowns while also adding a score on the ground. It's pretty evident that Mayfield is currently the best QB in the country.
1. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 1)- Barkley had easily his worst game of the season against Ohio State. Not only did the Lions lose, but Barkley ran for only 44 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries. He did have four catches for 23 yards, but it wasn't enough to save the day. If you remove his 36-yard TD run, his remaining 20 carries only netted eight yards. He still holds on to the lead here, but it sure is close. Don't be surprised if Mayfield takes the top spot next week.
Thanks for reading everyone.
Friday, October 27, 2017
Heisman Watch Week 8
We open this week with a eulogy to Rashaad Penny. His brief Heisman campaign was the only hope for a smaller school player to win, but that hope has been snuffed out. That being said, his departure from our Heisman watch does not really affect the chances of a running back winning. This year is a bit of an aberration, as this is very much a quarterback-dominated award. In fact, there have only been two running backs to buck the QB trend and win the Heisman: Mark Ingram and Derrick Henry (Reggie Bush had his trophy vacated). This year we are almost guaranteed to see a running back take home the hardware. In fact, we might only see one QB invited to New York City. What a strange year this is. Also, we are finally cutting the list down to nine players. The number of guys who can win is slowly dwindling. Let's get started.
9. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 8)-. Another week, another typical game for Hurts. Alabama won 45-7 against fellow SEC team Tennessee while Hurts had good, not great, stats. He went 13 for 21 for 198 yards, a touchdown, and zero picks.
8. J.T. Barrett, Ohio State (Last Week: 10)- Barrett has been incredible since his Buckeyes lost to Oklahoma in Week 2. He has yet to throw an interception and OSU has not lost a game. If they can beat Penn State this week, Barrett will be a true Heisman contender and OSU will have a shot at making the playoffs.
7. Josh Adams, Notre Dame (Last Week: 7)- One of the biggest pros for Josh Adam is his strength of schedule. He's already faced Georgia, Michigan State, and USC and has yet to face North Carolina State, Miami (Fl), and Stanford. It's one of the toughest schedules in the country and will certainly legitimize Adams's Heisman chances. He had a spectacular game against USC in Week 8, even though he was slightly overshadowed by teammate Brandom Wimbush. The only blemish on the speedster's record is his 53-yard performance against Georgia. But seeing as Georgia has one of the best defenses in the country, that's a little understandable.
6. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: 6)- Taylor has come out of nowhere to become a fringe Heisman finalist. On 22 carries against Maryland, he ran for 126 yards and one touchdown. Taylor has run for at least one touchdown in each game this season.
5. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: 4)- If you like stats, then Rudolph's your guy. The Cowboy leads the nation in passing yards and yards per game. He needs to beat Oklahoma and make the playoffs in order to keep this campaign going.
4. Trace McSorley, Penn State (Last Week: 5)- I'm honestly very surprised that McSorley has made it this high here. He continues to get overshadowed by Barkley but has managed to play very well and withstand the emergence of players like Adams and Taylor.
3. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 3)- Mayfield's 200.4 passer rating is the best in college football and has only thrown two interceptions this season (hi Sam Darnold). He's the best chance of any non-RB to win the Heisman.
2. Bryce Love, Stanford (Last Week: 2)- The Stanford Cardinal leads the nation in rushing yards and will probably be the season's rushing leader. He's an incredible talent that defies all expectations or the human body.
1. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 1)- It seems a bygone conclusion that Barkley will win the Heisman. After all, even one of the best defenses in the country couldn't slow him down. He is one of the best runners in the country and on top of that, he leads Penn State in receptions. He also benefits from playing on the big state, something that Love does not have. You may think that's unimportant, but it's the reason why Derrick Henry beat out Christian McCaffrey (also from Stanford) to win the Heisman two years ago.
Thanks for reading everyone.
9. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 8)-. Another week, another typical game for Hurts. Alabama won 45-7 against fellow SEC team Tennessee while Hurts had good, not great, stats. He went 13 for 21 for 198 yards, a touchdown, and zero picks.
8. J.T. Barrett, Ohio State (Last Week: 10)- Barrett has been incredible since his Buckeyes lost to Oklahoma in Week 2. He has yet to throw an interception and OSU has not lost a game. If they can beat Penn State this week, Barrett will be a true Heisman contender and OSU will have a shot at making the playoffs.
7. Josh Adams, Notre Dame (Last Week: 7)- One of the biggest pros for Josh Adam is his strength of schedule. He's already faced Georgia, Michigan State, and USC and has yet to face North Carolina State, Miami (Fl), and Stanford. It's one of the toughest schedules in the country and will certainly legitimize Adams's Heisman chances. He had a spectacular game against USC in Week 8, even though he was slightly overshadowed by teammate Brandom Wimbush. The only blemish on the speedster's record is his 53-yard performance against Georgia. But seeing as Georgia has one of the best defenses in the country, that's a little understandable.
6. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: 6)- Taylor has come out of nowhere to become a fringe Heisman finalist. On 22 carries against Maryland, he ran for 126 yards and one touchdown. Taylor has run for at least one touchdown in each game this season.
5. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: 4)- If you like stats, then Rudolph's your guy. The Cowboy leads the nation in passing yards and yards per game. He needs to beat Oklahoma and make the playoffs in order to keep this campaign going.
4. Trace McSorley, Penn State (Last Week: 5)- I'm honestly very surprised that McSorley has made it this high here. He continues to get overshadowed by Barkley but has managed to play very well and withstand the emergence of players like Adams and Taylor.
3. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 3)- Mayfield's 200.4 passer rating is the best in college football and has only thrown two interceptions this season (hi Sam Darnold). He's the best chance of any non-RB to win the Heisman.
2. Bryce Love, Stanford (Last Week: 2)- The Stanford Cardinal leads the nation in rushing yards and will probably be the season's rushing leader. He's an incredible talent that defies all expectations or the human body.
1. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 1)- It seems a bygone conclusion that Barkley will win the Heisman. After all, even one of the best defenses in the country couldn't slow him down. He is one of the best runners in the country and on top of that, he leads Penn State in receptions. He also benefits from playing on the big state, something that Love does not have. You may think that's unimportant, but it's the reason why Derrick Henry beat out Christian McCaffrey (also from Stanford) to win the Heisman two years ago.
Thanks for reading everyone.
Monday, October 23, 2017
Heisman Watch Week 7
We start this week's rankings by saying goodbye to Luke Falk and Lamar Jackson, both of whom are no longer in the Heisman race. Falk threw five interceptions against unranked Cal while Lamar Jackson and Lousiville fell to Boston College. Let's get started.
10. J.T. Barrett, Ohio State (Last Week: NR)- Barrett and Ohio State have been absent from the national conversation since they lost to Oklahoma but that all changed this week. The Buckeyes steamrolled Nebraska as Barrett threw for five touchdowns and ran for two more.
9. Rashaad Penny, San Diego State (Last Week: 4)- I told you last week, SDSU needed to stay undefeated in order for Penny to win the Heisman. Unfortunately, they lost by 17 points to unranked Boise State and tumbled from the rankings. Penny meanwhile, only ran for 53 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries.
8. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 9)- Hurts had a very typical Hurts game in Alabama's win over Arkansas. He went 12 for 19 for 155 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also ran for 41 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
7. Josh Adams, Notre Dame (Last Week: 8)- Adams was on a bye this week but moves up thanks to other players slipping. If he wants to move into the top five, he'll need to keep having big games and long runs.
6. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: NR)- The talented freshman from Wisconsin makes his debut here after running for 219 yards and one touchdown against Purdue. On top of that, Wisconsin is undefeated and a national title contender (albeit a sneaky one).
5. Trace McSorley, Penn State (Last Week: 5)- McSorley had the week off in Week 7.
4. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: 6)- Rudolph and the Cowboys aired it out in their win over Baylor. Rudolph threw for 459 yards and three touchdowns as Oklahoma State won by 43 points.
3. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 3)- A week after losing their first game of the season to unranked Iowa State, the Sooners bounced back by beating the Texas Longhorns. The score was a little closer than you would like (29-24), but a win is a win. Mayfield threw for 302 yards and a score while also running seven times for 27 carries.
2. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 2)- Love had yet another big game as the Cardinals whooped Oregon. The dynamo ran for 147 yards and two scores as Stanford won by 42 points.
1. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 1)- Despite Love playing well and Barkley having a bye week, the Nittany Lion retains our top spot.
Thanks for reading everyone.
10. J.T. Barrett, Ohio State (Last Week: NR)- Barrett and Ohio State have been absent from the national conversation since they lost to Oklahoma but that all changed this week. The Buckeyes steamrolled Nebraska as Barrett threw for five touchdowns and ran for two more.
9. Rashaad Penny, San Diego State (Last Week: 4)- I told you last week, SDSU needed to stay undefeated in order for Penny to win the Heisman. Unfortunately, they lost by 17 points to unranked Boise State and tumbled from the rankings. Penny meanwhile, only ran for 53 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries.
8. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 9)- Hurts had a very typical Hurts game in Alabama's win over Arkansas. He went 12 for 19 for 155 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also ran for 41 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
7. Josh Adams, Notre Dame (Last Week: 8)- Adams was on a bye this week but moves up thanks to other players slipping. If he wants to move into the top five, he'll need to keep having big games and long runs.
6. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (Last Week: NR)- The talented freshman from Wisconsin makes his debut here after running for 219 yards and one touchdown against Purdue. On top of that, Wisconsin is undefeated and a national title contender (albeit a sneaky one).
5. Trace McSorley, Penn State (Last Week: 5)- McSorley had the week off in Week 7.
4. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: 6)- Rudolph and the Cowboys aired it out in their win over Baylor. Rudolph threw for 459 yards and three touchdowns as Oklahoma State won by 43 points.
3. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 3)- A week after losing their first game of the season to unranked Iowa State, the Sooners bounced back by beating the Texas Longhorns. The score was a little closer than you would like (29-24), but a win is a win. Mayfield threw for 302 yards and a score while also running seven times for 27 carries.
2. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 2)- Love had yet another big game as the Cardinals whooped Oregon. The dynamo ran for 147 yards and two scores as Stanford won by 42 points.
1. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 1)- Despite Love playing well and Barkley having a bye week, the Nittany Lion retains our top spot.
Thanks for reading everyone.
NBA Predictions 2017-2018
Basketball is back baby. This season follows on the heels of a particularly exciting offseason that saw a number of notable players move teams. This includes Jimmy Butler, Gordon Hayward, Kyrie Irving, Jeff Teague, Paul George, Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade, Derrick Rose, Brook Lopez, and Avery Bradley. It will be interesting to see how all these offseason moves play out.
Last year, it seemed destined that the Golden State Warriors would win the NBA Championship. After all, they were coming off a season where they had set a record for most regular season wins (73) and had four of the best players in the world: Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant. Lo and behold, the Warriors went 16-1 in the postseason and won their second title in three years. This year, they are once again the favorites. Shocking, I know. But what of the other teams and playoff hopefuls? How will they fare this season? This post will take a look at each team and predict the regular seasons, awards, and playoffs. Let's get started.
Atlantic Division:
After surprisingly finishing last season with the best record in the East, the Celtics are favorites to win the Atlantic. Thanks to trades with Cleveland and Detroit the C's have a very different team from last year. Instead of featuring Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, and Jae Crowder, the Celtics will now showcase Gordon Hayward, Kyrie Irving, and Marcus Morris. There might be a few chemistry issues, but this team will win the division for sure.
The biggest threat in this division to Boston is Toronto. The Raptors are a perennial playoff team and return their core team of DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, Serge Ibaka, and Jonas Valuncias. They have the talent to be a 50 win team but it will be tough to reach that level.
In third place. we have the Philadelphia 76ers, quite possibly one of the most interesting teams in the league. This could be the year we finally see the Process take shape. Rookies Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz are ready to go and superstar center Joel Embiid might actually stay healthy all season long. The ceiling is high but the pitfalls are real.
In the basement of this division, we have the Knicks and the Nets. Neither of these teams is in a position to win right now, but the Knicks are just a little bit closer thanks to unicorn Kristaps Porzingis. Now that they're rid of Phil Jackson and Carmelo Anthony, the future of the Knicks is looking kind of hopeful. Unfortunately for the Nets, things are looking a little bleaker. There's not much hope when your backcourt features Jeremy Lin and D'Angelo Russell.
Central Division:
The defending runner-ups Cleveland Cavaliers are the easy favorites here. They might not go full-speed in the regular season, a strategy they employed last year, but that doesn't mean they'll slip to any lower than first in this division. Coming in second will be the Milwaukee Bucks, the team most poised to break into the conference's upper echelon.
The Detroit Pistons had a disappointing season in 2017 but look to rebound thanks to new additions Avery Bradley and Luke Kennard, which should help ease their shooting woes. If all goes well, they will challenge for a playoff spot. Key to their playoff contention will be their center, Andre Drummond. Two years ago he led the league in double-doubles and rebounds as the Pistons nabbed the 8th seed. Last year, he failed to repeat as an All-Star and struggled at the free throw line.
Both the Pacers and the Bulls lost their biggest stars: Paul George and Jimmy Butler, respectively. Both teams, especially Chicago, are in full rebuilding mode and will be out of the playoff race. I'm picking Indiana to finish ahead of Chicago thanks to center Myles Turner.
Southeast Division:
This division belongs to the Washington Wizards, who managed to resign Otto Porter Jr., one of the biggest free agents on the market this summer. They also have one of the league's best backcourts in John Wall and Bradley Beal. They should cross the 50-win mark here, especially since they are by far the best team in this division.
The Miami Heat are nowhere near the heights when they had LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh, but they are by no means a bottom-feeder. Hassan Whiteside is one of the best centers in the league and he has a great supporting cast that includes Goran Dragic and Justice Winslow.
The only other team in this division that will contend for a playoff spot- the Charlotte Hornets. This defensive squad is led by former All-Star Kemba Walker and also features former Kentucky Wildcat Malik Monk and Nicolas Batum. Their success will largely depend on how well Dwight Howard plays. Although he was once regarded as the best big-man in the game, Howard's last few stints with the Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, and LA Lakers can only be described as disappointing.
Speaking of Atlanta, they are facing a rebuilding season after losing players such as Paul Millsap and Howard. That being said, the future looks bright thanks to players like John Collins and Taurean Prince. Orlando will finish in the basement of the division, though Aaron Gordon continues to turn heads.
Pacific Division:
What else is there to say about Golden State? They retained all of their core players from last year and added players such as Nick Young and rookie Jordan Bell. While they are the clear favorites, the rest of the division is a little murkier. The conversation has to start with the LA Clippers. Although they lost J.J. Reddick and Chris Paul, the team is still loaded with players such as Blake Griffin, Danilo Gallinari, Austin Rivers, and Milos Teodosic.
The Lakers are one of the most intriguing teams in the league thanks to flashy rookie Lonzo Ball. Sure, his dad will steal a lot of the headlines, but don't let that distract you from this potential franchise player. The Lakers are young and untested, and that goes for head coach Luke Walton. It will be up to him to develop players such as Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, and Brandon Ingram.
Neither the Sacremento Kings nor the Phoenix Suns will contend for the playoffs, but they have some young players who could feature in this league for years to come. This includes Buddy Hield, Devin Booker, and Josh Jackson.
Southwest Division:
There's trouble in Texas as both the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs will contend for the division title. I'm going to give the edge to the Rockets and their incredible backcourt of James Harden and Chris Paul.
In third place, we have the New Orleans Pelicans. The big-man duo of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins proved to be a little underwhelming this season, but those chemistry issues should be sorted out by now. Rajon Rondo's injury problems might cost them a spot in the playoffs, however.
Bringing up the rear we have the Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks. The Grizzlies have developed a well-earned reputation for being one of the most consistent franchises around but should see a decline this year. Both Marc Gasol and Mike Conley are getting on in years and Tony Allen, one of the franchise's biggest unsung heroes, has moved on to New Orleans. Meanwhile, the Mavs are in tank mode. Franchise legend Dirk Nowitzki is nowhere near the player he used to be, but rookie Dennis Smith Jr. could contend for Rookie of the Year.
Northwest Division:
Thanks to the additions of Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, the Thunder will be one of the most exciting teams to watch. However, they will face some stiff competition from the Minnesota Timberwolves. On paper, Tom Thibodeau's squad looks like one of the league's best. This includes Jeff Teague, Jimmy Butler, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Andrew Wiggins.
In third place, we have the Portland Trail Blazers, last year's #8 seed. Though they ultimately fell short in the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes, any team with Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum is good enough to compete for a playoff spot.
The Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz should find themselves in the 7-10 range. The Nuggets are preseason sleepers to make the playoffs while the Jazz will find themselves taking a step down after losing their star player Gordon Hayward.
East Seeds: 1. Boston Celtics 2. Cleveland Cavaliers 3. Toronto Raptors 4. Washington Wizards
5. Milwaukee Bucks 6. Miami Heat 7. Philadelphia 76ers 8. Detroit Pistons
West Seeds: 1. Golden State Warriors 2. Houston Rockets 3. Oklahoma City Thunder
4. San Antonio Spurs 5. Minnesota Timberwolves 6. Los Angeles Clippers
7. Portland Trail Blazers 8. New Orleans Pelicans
East Playoffs:
I'm predicting two sweeps in the first round (Boston over Detroit and Cleveland over Philly) while Toronto beats Miami in five and Washington beats Milwaukee in six. The Bucks have the best chance of scoring an upset, but I don't see it happening.
The Raptors might steal a game from Cleveland, but that's it. The Wizards on the other hand, should push their series with the Celtics to six games before bowing out. The semifinals between Cleveland and Boston should be an epic series. They have history from last year and the Kyrie Irving trade from this offseason. It'll be close, but I'm picking Cleveland in seven.
West Playoffs:
Like the East, I see two sweeps in the first round of the West: Golden State over New Orleans and Houston over Portland. The Clippers have enough talent to make their series with OKC interesting but will still lose in five. The Timberwolves have all the talent in the world but lack the postseason experience of San Antonio. Thus, I predict the Spurs win in six.
Last year, the Spurs were winning Game 1 by 21 points before their star player Kwahi Leonard suffered an injury. The Spurs went on to be swept. Now, if Kwahi is healthy, the physical Spurs will test GSW. The Dubs will win in five games where they will take on the Houston Rockets. The Rockets will have a hellacious series against the Thunder and will win in seven. I think the Western Conference finals will also go to seven games as the Dubs eek out a win.
Finals:
For the fourth year in a row, the Golden State Warriors will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA finals. I know a lot of fans will be upset about that, but what's wrong with seeing the two best teams play? Golden State leads the series 2-1 and should earn win #3. Cleveland did beef up in the offseason but are still no match for the Dubs.
Finals MVP: Kevin Durant
Regular Season Awards:
MVP: Kwahi Leonard
Coach: Gregg Popovich
Defensive: Draymond
Rookie: Dennis Smith Jr.
6th Man: Greg Monroe
MIP: Myles Turner
Thanks for reading everyone.
Last year, it seemed destined that the Golden State Warriors would win the NBA Championship. After all, they were coming off a season where they had set a record for most regular season wins (73) and had four of the best players in the world: Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant. Lo and behold, the Warriors went 16-1 in the postseason and won their second title in three years. This year, they are once again the favorites. Shocking, I know. But what of the other teams and playoff hopefuls? How will they fare this season? This post will take a look at each team and predict the regular seasons, awards, and playoffs. Let's get started.
Atlantic Division:
After surprisingly finishing last season with the best record in the East, the Celtics are favorites to win the Atlantic. Thanks to trades with Cleveland and Detroit the C's have a very different team from last year. Instead of featuring Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, and Jae Crowder, the Celtics will now showcase Gordon Hayward, Kyrie Irving, and Marcus Morris. There might be a few chemistry issues, but this team will win the division for sure.
The biggest threat in this division to Boston is Toronto. The Raptors are a perennial playoff team and return their core team of DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, Serge Ibaka, and Jonas Valuncias. They have the talent to be a 50 win team but it will be tough to reach that level.
In third place. we have the Philadelphia 76ers, quite possibly one of the most interesting teams in the league. This could be the year we finally see the Process take shape. Rookies Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz are ready to go and superstar center Joel Embiid might actually stay healthy all season long. The ceiling is high but the pitfalls are real.
In the basement of this division, we have the Knicks and the Nets. Neither of these teams is in a position to win right now, but the Knicks are just a little bit closer thanks to unicorn Kristaps Porzingis. Now that they're rid of Phil Jackson and Carmelo Anthony, the future of the Knicks is looking kind of hopeful. Unfortunately for the Nets, things are looking a little bleaker. There's not much hope when your backcourt features Jeremy Lin and D'Angelo Russell.
Central Division:
The defending runner-ups Cleveland Cavaliers are the easy favorites here. They might not go full-speed in the regular season, a strategy they employed last year, but that doesn't mean they'll slip to any lower than first in this division. Coming in second will be the Milwaukee Bucks, the team most poised to break into the conference's upper echelon.
The Detroit Pistons had a disappointing season in 2017 but look to rebound thanks to new additions Avery Bradley and Luke Kennard, which should help ease their shooting woes. If all goes well, they will challenge for a playoff spot. Key to their playoff contention will be their center, Andre Drummond. Two years ago he led the league in double-doubles and rebounds as the Pistons nabbed the 8th seed. Last year, he failed to repeat as an All-Star and struggled at the free throw line.
Both the Pacers and the Bulls lost their biggest stars: Paul George and Jimmy Butler, respectively. Both teams, especially Chicago, are in full rebuilding mode and will be out of the playoff race. I'm picking Indiana to finish ahead of Chicago thanks to center Myles Turner.
Southeast Division:
This division belongs to the Washington Wizards, who managed to resign Otto Porter Jr., one of the biggest free agents on the market this summer. They also have one of the league's best backcourts in John Wall and Bradley Beal. They should cross the 50-win mark here, especially since they are by far the best team in this division.
The Miami Heat are nowhere near the heights when they had LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh, but they are by no means a bottom-feeder. Hassan Whiteside is one of the best centers in the league and he has a great supporting cast that includes Goran Dragic and Justice Winslow.
The only other team in this division that will contend for a playoff spot- the Charlotte Hornets. This defensive squad is led by former All-Star Kemba Walker and also features former Kentucky Wildcat Malik Monk and Nicolas Batum. Their success will largely depend on how well Dwight Howard plays. Although he was once regarded as the best big-man in the game, Howard's last few stints with the Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, and LA Lakers can only be described as disappointing.
Speaking of Atlanta, they are facing a rebuilding season after losing players such as Paul Millsap and Howard. That being said, the future looks bright thanks to players like John Collins and Taurean Prince. Orlando will finish in the basement of the division, though Aaron Gordon continues to turn heads.
Pacific Division:
What else is there to say about Golden State? They retained all of their core players from last year and added players such as Nick Young and rookie Jordan Bell. While they are the clear favorites, the rest of the division is a little murkier. The conversation has to start with the LA Clippers. Although they lost J.J. Reddick and Chris Paul, the team is still loaded with players such as Blake Griffin, Danilo Gallinari, Austin Rivers, and Milos Teodosic.
The Lakers are one of the most intriguing teams in the league thanks to flashy rookie Lonzo Ball. Sure, his dad will steal a lot of the headlines, but don't let that distract you from this potential franchise player. The Lakers are young and untested, and that goes for head coach Luke Walton. It will be up to him to develop players such as Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, and Brandon Ingram.
Neither the Sacremento Kings nor the Phoenix Suns will contend for the playoffs, but they have some young players who could feature in this league for years to come. This includes Buddy Hield, Devin Booker, and Josh Jackson.
Southwest Division:
There's trouble in Texas as both the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs will contend for the division title. I'm going to give the edge to the Rockets and their incredible backcourt of James Harden and Chris Paul.
In third place, we have the New Orleans Pelicans. The big-man duo of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins proved to be a little underwhelming this season, but those chemistry issues should be sorted out by now. Rajon Rondo's injury problems might cost them a spot in the playoffs, however.
Bringing up the rear we have the Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks. The Grizzlies have developed a well-earned reputation for being one of the most consistent franchises around but should see a decline this year. Both Marc Gasol and Mike Conley are getting on in years and Tony Allen, one of the franchise's biggest unsung heroes, has moved on to New Orleans. Meanwhile, the Mavs are in tank mode. Franchise legend Dirk Nowitzki is nowhere near the player he used to be, but rookie Dennis Smith Jr. could contend for Rookie of the Year.
Northwest Division:
Thanks to the additions of Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, the Thunder will be one of the most exciting teams to watch. However, they will face some stiff competition from the Minnesota Timberwolves. On paper, Tom Thibodeau's squad looks like one of the league's best. This includes Jeff Teague, Jimmy Butler, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Andrew Wiggins.
In third place, we have the Portland Trail Blazers, last year's #8 seed. Though they ultimately fell short in the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes, any team with Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum is good enough to compete for a playoff spot.
The Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz should find themselves in the 7-10 range. The Nuggets are preseason sleepers to make the playoffs while the Jazz will find themselves taking a step down after losing their star player Gordon Hayward.
East Seeds: 1. Boston Celtics 2. Cleveland Cavaliers 3. Toronto Raptors 4. Washington Wizards
5. Milwaukee Bucks 6. Miami Heat 7. Philadelphia 76ers 8. Detroit Pistons
West Seeds: 1. Golden State Warriors 2. Houston Rockets 3. Oklahoma City Thunder
4. San Antonio Spurs 5. Minnesota Timberwolves 6. Los Angeles Clippers
7. Portland Trail Blazers 8. New Orleans Pelicans
East Playoffs:
I'm predicting two sweeps in the first round (Boston over Detroit and Cleveland over Philly) while Toronto beats Miami in five and Washington beats Milwaukee in six. The Bucks have the best chance of scoring an upset, but I don't see it happening.
The Raptors might steal a game from Cleveland, but that's it. The Wizards on the other hand, should push their series with the Celtics to six games before bowing out. The semifinals between Cleveland and Boston should be an epic series. They have history from last year and the Kyrie Irving trade from this offseason. It'll be close, but I'm picking Cleveland in seven.
West Playoffs:
Like the East, I see two sweeps in the first round of the West: Golden State over New Orleans and Houston over Portland. The Clippers have enough talent to make their series with OKC interesting but will still lose in five. The Timberwolves have all the talent in the world but lack the postseason experience of San Antonio. Thus, I predict the Spurs win in six.
Last year, the Spurs were winning Game 1 by 21 points before their star player Kwahi Leonard suffered an injury. The Spurs went on to be swept. Now, if Kwahi is healthy, the physical Spurs will test GSW. The Dubs will win in five games where they will take on the Houston Rockets. The Rockets will have a hellacious series against the Thunder and will win in seven. I think the Western Conference finals will also go to seven games as the Dubs eek out a win.
Finals:
For the fourth year in a row, the Golden State Warriors will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA finals. I know a lot of fans will be upset about that, but what's wrong with seeing the two best teams play? Golden State leads the series 2-1 and should earn win #3. Cleveland did beef up in the offseason but are still no match for the Dubs.
Finals MVP: Kevin Durant
Regular Season Awards:
MVP: Kwahi Leonard
Coach: Gregg Popovich
Defensive: Draymond
Rookie: Dennis Smith Jr.
6th Man: Greg Monroe
MIP: Myles Turner
Thanks for reading everyone.
Friday, October 13, 2017
Heisman Watch Week 6
Week 6 is in the record books and it did not go quietly. Two top ten teams (Oklahoma and Michigan State) fell to unranked teams while the Heisman race continued to heat up. Let's get started.
10. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 3)- Louisville lost its second game of the season and took down Jackson's Heisman chances with it. It doesn't matter how well Jackson plays now, there's next to no chance of him winning the Heisman again. Still, he didn't play badly against NC State. He threw for 354 yards and accounted for three interceptions.
9. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 9)- Alabama faced their toughest test of the season thus far in Texas A&M, but the Crimson Tide escaped unscathed. Hurts played well again as he threw for a score and 123 yards while also running for 56 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.
8. Josh Adams, Notre Dame (Last Week: 10)- As Notre Dame climbs up the rankings, Adams's Heisman chances slowly rise. The star back is sixth in FBS in rushing, is second in YPA (his 9.0 trails only Brice Love), and is the most important piece in the nation's best running attack (sorry Alabama and Navy fans). In a 23-point win over UNC, Adams ran for 118 yards and a score on 13 carries.
7. Trace McSorley, Penn State (Last Week: 7)- McSorley continues to get overshadowed by his more famous teammate, but his performances have been nothing to scoff at. Against Northwestern, McSorley threw for 245 yards and one touchdown while also rushing for another one.
6. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: 4)- Rudolph didn't play in Week 6 and that hurt his standing here. In a week where we saw great performances from players such as Josh Adams and Brice Love, Rudolph's week off hurt him.
5. Luke Falk, Washington State (Last Week: 8)- As crazy as this might sound, Falk might be the last chance the quarterbacks have to win the Heisman. Hurts is not playing well enough to be treated as a serious contender, Sam Darnold & Josh Rosen have completely faded from the Heisman conversation, Jackson feels like a total afterthought, and Rudolph & Baker Mayfield have their resumes tainted with a loss. If Falk does win the Heisman, no one will be able to say he isn't deserving of it. Against 4-1 Oregon, Falk threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns.
4. Rashaad Penny, San Diego State (Last Week: 6)- Last week, I said that in order for Penny to win the Heisman, SDSU had to go undefeated. Let me add two things to that list: Penny needs to keep playing well and other contenders have to fall. All three of those things happened in Week 6. The Aztecs ran over UNLV, Penny ran for 170 yards and two touchdowns, and former top contender Baker Mayfield picked up his first loss of the season.
3. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- The Baker Mayfield Heisman campaign finds itself in nearly the same position as Lamar Jackson's campaign a couple of weeks ago. Both men lost but played well in the loss. In a one-possession loss to Iowa State, Mayfield threw for 306 yards and scored thrice. He's still very much in the race because of two reasons: his win over Ohio State and the fact that Oklahoma could still make the playoffs.
2. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 5)- Thanks to Love's stellar play, Stanford knocked off #20 Utah. Love ran for 152 yards and a score on 20 carries and caught 2 passes for 14 yards. Love has been absolutely sensational this year and if it weren't for another running back, he would definitely top this list.
1. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 2)- Last week, I had a hard time deciding who would be #1: gunslinger Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma or top prospect running back Saquon Barkley. This week, the answer is obvious. Mayfield lost to an unranked team while Barkley ran for 75 yards and two touchdowns.
Thanks for reading everyone.
10. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 3)- Louisville lost its second game of the season and took down Jackson's Heisman chances with it. It doesn't matter how well Jackson plays now, there's next to no chance of him winning the Heisman again. Still, he didn't play badly against NC State. He threw for 354 yards and accounted for three interceptions.
9. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 9)- Alabama faced their toughest test of the season thus far in Texas A&M, but the Crimson Tide escaped unscathed. Hurts played well again as he threw for a score and 123 yards while also running for 56 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.
8. Josh Adams, Notre Dame (Last Week: 10)- As Notre Dame climbs up the rankings, Adams's Heisman chances slowly rise. The star back is sixth in FBS in rushing, is second in YPA (his 9.0 trails only Brice Love), and is the most important piece in the nation's best running attack (sorry Alabama and Navy fans). In a 23-point win over UNC, Adams ran for 118 yards and a score on 13 carries.
7. Trace McSorley, Penn State (Last Week: 7)- McSorley continues to get overshadowed by his more famous teammate, but his performances have been nothing to scoff at. Against Northwestern, McSorley threw for 245 yards and one touchdown while also rushing for another one.
6. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: 4)- Rudolph didn't play in Week 6 and that hurt his standing here. In a week where we saw great performances from players such as Josh Adams and Brice Love, Rudolph's week off hurt him.
5. Luke Falk, Washington State (Last Week: 8)- As crazy as this might sound, Falk might be the last chance the quarterbacks have to win the Heisman. Hurts is not playing well enough to be treated as a serious contender, Sam Darnold & Josh Rosen have completely faded from the Heisman conversation, Jackson feels like a total afterthought, and Rudolph & Baker Mayfield have their resumes tainted with a loss. If Falk does win the Heisman, no one will be able to say he isn't deserving of it. Against 4-1 Oregon, Falk threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns.
4. Rashaad Penny, San Diego State (Last Week: 6)- Last week, I said that in order for Penny to win the Heisman, SDSU had to go undefeated. Let me add two things to that list: Penny needs to keep playing well and other contenders have to fall. All three of those things happened in Week 6. The Aztecs ran over UNLV, Penny ran for 170 yards and two touchdowns, and former top contender Baker Mayfield picked up his first loss of the season.
3. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- The Baker Mayfield Heisman campaign finds itself in nearly the same position as Lamar Jackson's campaign a couple of weeks ago. Both men lost but played well in the loss. In a one-possession loss to Iowa State, Mayfield threw for 306 yards and scored thrice. He's still very much in the race because of two reasons: his win over Ohio State and the fact that Oklahoma could still make the playoffs.
2. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 5)- Thanks to Love's stellar play, Stanford knocked off #20 Utah. Love ran for 152 yards and a score on 20 carries and caught 2 passes for 14 yards. Love has been absolutely sensational this year and if it weren't for another running back, he would definitely top this list.
1. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 2)- Last week, I had a hard time deciding who would be #1: gunslinger Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma or top prospect running back Saquon Barkley. This week, the answer is obvious. Mayfield lost to an unranked team while Barkley ran for 75 yards and two touchdowns.
Thanks for reading everyone.
Sunday, October 8, 2017
Heisman Watch Week 5
It's around this point of the season where we begin to start looking at some of the real Heisman contenders. For example, guys like Josh Rosen, Nick Chubb, and Calvin Ridley may have been contenders in prior weeks, but are now virtually eliminated from contention. With that being said, why don't we take a look at some contenders who do have a chance to win? Let's get started.
10. Josh Adams, Notre Dame (Last Week: NR)- It's a little surprising that Adams has yet to generate any Heisman love thus far. He's a top ten rusher this year, Notre Dame is a ranked team, and he has consistently put on flashy and impressive performances. In Notre Dame's five-possession win against Miami (OH), Adams rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns.
9. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: NR)- A week after falling off the rankings, Hurts slides back in. It's just too hard to ignore his performances. He has yet to have a bad game this season and his Crimson Tide are still undefeated. 'Bama thoroughly handled Ole Miss as Hurts threw for two scores and ran for one more.
8. Luke Falk, Washington State (Last Week: 10)- On a Friday night, #16 Washington State took on #5 USC. Had this been on a Saturday, this game would likely have been buried away. Instead, Washington State and Luke Falk had the national spotlight on them. This was USC's chance to prove that they were worthy of contending for a national championship and Sam Darnold's chance to prove he was worthy of being a Heisman contender. Instead, Washington State picked up their fifth win of the season while Luke Falk vaulted up the Heisman watch. Falk threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns.
7. Trace McSorley (Last Week: 9)- McSorley is still trailing his teammate in terms of Heisman momentum, but he is doing his best to catch up. McSorley threw for 315 yards and two scores while also adding a rushing score.
6. Rashaad Penny, San Diego State (Last Week: 8)- It's quite clear that SDSU needs to stay undefeated for Penny to be treated as a serious Heisman contender. That's just the way it goes for non-Power 5 players. So far so good though, as the Aztecs beat Northern Illinois 34-28. Penny ran for 107 yards while also catching two passes for 32 yards and one touchdown.
5. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 7)- Stanford may no longer have the nation's attention, but Love is still playing well. Against ASU, Love ran for 301 yards and three scores as Stanford won 34-24.
4. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: 5)- OKSU was tested against Texas Tech, but the Cowboys managed to pull out the win. Rudolph had an incredible five touchdowns- three passing and two rushing.
3. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 3)- For Jackson to be taken seriously as a Heisman contender again, he needs to win next week against North Carolina State as well as have a sensational performance. In the meantime, Jackson threw for three scores and zero picks against Murray State.
2. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 2)- At some point this season, Barkley win reign atop this Heisman watch, I'm sure of it. Until then, he'll have to do with being just short against Baker Mayfield. In Week 5, Barkley ran for 56 yards and hauled in 4 passes for 51 yards as Penn State dismantled Indiana.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- Mayfield is still our Heisman pick at this point of the season. The Sooners didn't play in Week 5, but they will return to action in Week 6 against Iowa State.
Thanks for reading everyone.
10. Josh Adams, Notre Dame (Last Week: NR)- It's a little surprising that Adams has yet to generate any Heisman love thus far. He's a top ten rusher this year, Notre Dame is a ranked team, and he has consistently put on flashy and impressive performances. In Notre Dame's five-possession win against Miami (OH), Adams rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns.
9. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: NR)- A week after falling off the rankings, Hurts slides back in. It's just too hard to ignore his performances. He has yet to have a bad game this season and his Crimson Tide are still undefeated. 'Bama thoroughly handled Ole Miss as Hurts threw for two scores and ran for one more.
8. Luke Falk, Washington State (Last Week: 10)- On a Friday night, #16 Washington State took on #5 USC. Had this been on a Saturday, this game would likely have been buried away. Instead, Washington State and Luke Falk had the national spotlight on them. This was USC's chance to prove that they were worthy of contending for a national championship and Sam Darnold's chance to prove he was worthy of being a Heisman contender. Instead, Washington State picked up their fifth win of the season while Luke Falk vaulted up the Heisman watch. Falk threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns.
7. Trace McSorley (Last Week: 9)- McSorley is still trailing his teammate in terms of Heisman momentum, but he is doing his best to catch up. McSorley threw for 315 yards and two scores while also adding a rushing score.
6. Rashaad Penny, San Diego State (Last Week: 8)- It's quite clear that SDSU needs to stay undefeated for Penny to be treated as a serious Heisman contender. That's just the way it goes for non-Power 5 players. So far so good though, as the Aztecs beat Northern Illinois 34-28. Penny ran for 107 yards while also catching two passes for 32 yards and one touchdown.
5. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 7)- Stanford may no longer have the nation's attention, but Love is still playing well. Against ASU, Love ran for 301 yards and three scores as Stanford won 34-24.
4. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: 5)- OKSU was tested against Texas Tech, but the Cowboys managed to pull out the win. Rudolph had an incredible five touchdowns- three passing and two rushing.
3. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 3)- For Jackson to be taken seriously as a Heisman contender again, he needs to win next week against North Carolina State as well as have a sensational performance. In the meantime, Jackson threw for three scores and zero picks against Murray State.
2. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 2)- At some point this season, Barkley win reign atop this Heisman watch, I'm sure of it. Until then, he'll have to do with being just short against Baker Mayfield. In Week 5, Barkley ran for 56 yards and hauled in 4 passes for 51 yards as Penn State dismantled Indiana.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- Mayfield is still our Heisman pick at this point of the season. The Sooners didn't play in Week 5, but they will return to action in Week 6 against Iowa State.
Thanks for reading everyone.
Monday, October 2, 2017
Heisman Watch Week 4
I'd like to start this Heisman watch with a bit of a disclaimer. I'm sure this goes without saying, but just because a player is trending high on the Heisman watch right now does not mean they will necessarily be a real contender in a few weeks. That's just the nature of the highly volatile and explosive Heisman race. With that being said, let's get started.
10. Luke Falk, Washington State (Last Week: NR)- Falk is best known for airing it out and accumulating a massive amount of passing yards, but it also happens that he is quite good at it. During #18 Washington State's win over Nevada, Falk threw for 478 yards and five touchdowns as the Cougars won their fourth game of the season.
9. Trace McSorley, Penn State (Last Week: NR)- Barkley has so far gotten all of Penn State's Heisman love, but McSorley is starting to eat into that. Yes, Barkley stole the show in Week 4, but it would be unwise to overlook his teammate's performance. Against Iowa, McSorley threw for 284 yards and one touchdown while also adding 64 yards on the ground.
8. Rashaad Penny, San Diego State (Last Week: NR)- Penny is FBS's leading rusher and the way he is going, he'll find himself on top of the leaderboard at the end of the season as well. Against Air Force, Penny ran for 128 yards and three scores as the Aztecs remain undefeated.
7. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 9)- Love needed a big win to kickstart his Heisman campaign and he just might have gotten it against UCLA in Week 4. Love ran for a career-high 263 yards and one touchdown as the Cards beat the Bruins by 24.
6. Royce Freeman, Oregon (Last Week: 6)- His Ducks may have lost to Oregon State, but Freeman produced another solid effort. He ran for 81 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries while also catching three passes for 19 yards.
5. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: 3)- Just a week after cracking our Top Three, Rudolph takes a hit. Sure, he still had good numbers against TCU (398 passing yards and three total touchdowns) but his Cowboys still lost. On top of that, he had two costly interceptions that cost his team the game. Rudolph is by no means out of the Heisman conversation, but his campaign has definitely taken a hit.
4. Sam Darnold USC (Last Week: 4)- Honestly, I'm not sure what to do with Darnold. Yes, USC keeps winning and he has good stats, but he is struggling way more than he should and is throwing way, WAY too many interceptions. I honestly struggle with ranking him every week.
3. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 5)- Many people have said that Jackson is no longer a Heisman contender after losing to Clemson, but I don't see it that way. Sure, Jackson struggled mightily, but it was his team that really let him down. Besides, that was the only bad game he's had this season. Against Kent State in Week 4, Jackson had three total touchdowns while throwing for 299 yards.
2. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 2)- Many people have Barkley at #1 on their list, but I don't think he's there just yet. For one, our #1 pick has done nothing to warrant losing that spot. Second of all, Barkley is losing some Heisman shine thanks to his teammate Trace McSorley. Still, you can't argue with how well Barkley has been playing this season. Against Iowa, Barkley ran for 201 yards and one touchdown while also catching 12 passes for 94 yards.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- In an ideal world, Mayfield and Oklahoma wouldn't have struggled so much against winless Baylor. But they did, and Mayfield was put in a tough situation. He did make the most of that tough situatiion as the Sooners escaped with a win and Mayfield threw for 283 yards and three scores.
Thanks for reading everyone.
10. Luke Falk, Washington State (Last Week: NR)- Falk is best known for airing it out and accumulating a massive amount of passing yards, but it also happens that he is quite good at it. During #18 Washington State's win over Nevada, Falk threw for 478 yards and five touchdowns as the Cougars won their fourth game of the season.
9. Trace McSorley, Penn State (Last Week: NR)- Barkley has so far gotten all of Penn State's Heisman love, but McSorley is starting to eat into that. Yes, Barkley stole the show in Week 4, but it would be unwise to overlook his teammate's performance. Against Iowa, McSorley threw for 284 yards and one touchdown while also adding 64 yards on the ground.
8. Rashaad Penny, San Diego State (Last Week: NR)- Penny is FBS's leading rusher and the way he is going, he'll find himself on top of the leaderboard at the end of the season as well. Against Air Force, Penny ran for 128 yards and three scores as the Aztecs remain undefeated.
7. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 9)- Love needed a big win to kickstart his Heisman campaign and he just might have gotten it against UCLA in Week 4. Love ran for a career-high 263 yards and one touchdown as the Cards beat the Bruins by 24.
6. Royce Freeman, Oregon (Last Week: 6)- His Ducks may have lost to Oregon State, but Freeman produced another solid effort. He ran for 81 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries while also catching three passes for 19 yards.
5. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: 3)- Just a week after cracking our Top Three, Rudolph takes a hit. Sure, he still had good numbers against TCU (398 passing yards and three total touchdowns) but his Cowboys still lost. On top of that, he had two costly interceptions that cost his team the game. Rudolph is by no means out of the Heisman conversation, but his campaign has definitely taken a hit.
4. Sam Darnold USC (Last Week: 4)- Honestly, I'm not sure what to do with Darnold. Yes, USC keeps winning and he has good stats, but he is struggling way more than he should and is throwing way, WAY too many interceptions. I honestly struggle with ranking him every week.
3. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 5)- Many people have said that Jackson is no longer a Heisman contender after losing to Clemson, but I don't see it that way. Sure, Jackson struggled mightily, but it was his team that really let him down. Besides, that was the only bad game he's had this season. Against Kent State in Week 4, Jackson had three total touchdowns while throwing for 299 yards.
2. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 2)- Many people have Barkley at #1 on their list, but I don't think he's there just yet. For one, our #1 pick has done nothing to warrant losing that spot. Second of all, Barkley is losing some Heisman shine thanks to his teammate Trace McSorley. Still, you can't argue with how well Barkley has been playing this season. Against Iowa, Barkley ran for 201 yards and one touchdown while also catching 12 passes for 94 yards.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- In an ideal world, Mayfield and Oklahoma wouldn't have struggled so much against winless Baylor. But they did, and Mayfield was put in a tough situation. He did make the most of that tough situatiion as the Sooners escaped with a win and Mayfield threw for 283 yards and three scores.
Thanks for reading everyone.
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Heisman Watch Week 3
This was a weird week for the Heisman watch. I had to keep off hot players such as Kelly Bryant and Rashaad Penny while keeping on colder players such as Josh Rosen and Derrius Guice. I had a hard time deciding these rankings and honestly, I'm not 100% sure about the ones you're about to read. You could make an argument for just about every entry here, except for #1 (who is the consensus favorite pretty much everywhere). Nonetheless, let's get started.
10. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 9)- You could argue that Hurts does not deserve to be anywhere near the Heisman watch, but I could actually argue that 10 is too low of a spot for him. He's the quarterback of the #1 team in the country and he has yet to have a bad game this season (granted, it's only three weeks long). Against Colorado State, Hurts threw for two touchdowns and 248 yards while adding 103 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
9. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 10)- Stanford may have fallen off the rankings but their star RB is still very much involved in the Heisman race. After all, the loss to San Diego State can in no way be blamed on him. The Cardinals' passing game was atrocious as starting quarterback Kelly Chryst went 9 for 20 with 72 yards, zero touchdowns, and two picks. The defense meanwhile, gave up more than 300 yards of total offense. Love on the other hand, ran for 183 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.
8. Josh Rosen, UCLA (Last Week: 6)- After all the credit Rosen got for engineering a comeback against Texas A&M in Week 1, he deserves a lot of the blame for the Bruins losing to unranked Memphis in a close game. Rosen did account for five touchdowns but he also threw two crucial interceptions that crippled the team.
7. Derrius Guice, LSU (Last Week: 3)- Guice has fallen off most other Heisman watch lists but I'm going to give him a little credit here. He finds himself in a similar position as Love. His team lost in Week 3 (to Mississippi State) but the blame really falls on the passing game and defense. Guice ran for 76 yards and 15 carries. It wasn't a great performance, but it's enough to keep him around.
6. Royce Freeman, Oregon (Last Week: 7)- I honestly did not expect Freeman to be around for this long. By this time last year any chance he had of going to New York had vaporized. Now, he finds himself knocking on the door of the Top 5. Against top-tier NFL draft prospect Josh Allen and Wyoming, Freeman ran for 157 yards and three touchdowns as his Ducks won 49-13. It must also be noted that Freeman caught a pass for 50 yards.
5. Lamar Jackson, LSU (Last Week: 2)- Yes, Louisville got pounded by Clemson, but Jackson was definitely not the reason why. He got almost no help from his teammates. The Louisville D was utterly dumbfounded by Dabo Swinney's offense and Jackson's receivers found themselves dropping catches far more than they probably would have liked. Despite all of the incompetence that could be found along the Louisville sideline, Jackson threw for three touchdowns and 317 yards while also adding 64 yards on 17 carries. Needless to say, those 64 yards were more than the rest of the team combined.
4. Sam Darnold, USC (Last Week: 4)- I always struggle with ranking Darnold. The only really great game he has had this year was in Week 2 against Stanford. In Week 3, he struggled against unranked Texas much more than he should have. Not only did it take USC two overtime periods to put away the persistent Longhorns, but Darnold's completion percentage was weak (57.14%), he accumulated -12 rushing yards, and he threw two interceptions. Still, USC pulled off the win and that's the most important thing.
3. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: 8)- It's easy to see a scenario where two quarterbacks from the Sooner State are invited to New York City. Rudolph is certainly doing his part to make sure that happens. The gunslinger threw five touchdowns in the first half as his Cowboys rolled past Pittsburgh.
2. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 5)- In terms of rushing, Barkley was pretty limited against Georgia State. After all, he only ran for 47 yards on 10 carries. That being said, he also caught four passes for 142 yards and one touchdown.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- As I said in the intro, Mayfield is everyone's pick for the Heisman right now. The man who is drawing comparisons to Seattle's Russell Wilson had s sensational Week 3 as he threw for four touchdowns and 331 yards against Tulsa.
Thanks for reading everyone.
10. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 9)- You could argue that Hurts does not deserve to be anywhere near the Heisman watch, but I could actually argue that 10 is too low of a spot for him. He's the quarterback of the #1 team in the country and he has yet to have a bad game this season (granted, it's only three weeks long). Against Colorado State, Hurts threw for two touchdowns and 248 yards while adding 103 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
9. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: 10)- Stanford may have fallen off the rankings but their star RB is still very much involved in the Heisman race. After all, the loss to San Diego State can in no way be blamed on him. The Cardinals' passing game was atrocious as starting quarterback Kelly Chryst went 9 for 20 with 72 yards, zero touchdowns, and two picks. The defense meanwhile, gave up more than 300 yards of total offense. Love on the other hand, ran for 183 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.
8. Josh Rosen, UCLA (Last Week: 6)- After all the credit Rosen got for engineering a comeback against Texas A&M in Week 1, he deserves a lot of the blame for the Bruins losing to unranked Memphis in a close game. Rosen did account for five touchdowns but he also threw two crucial interceptions that crippled the team.
7. Derrius Guice, LSU (Last Week: 3)- Guice has fallen off most other Heisman watch lists but I'm going to give him a little credit here. He finds himself in a similar position as Love. His team lost in Week 3 (to Mississippi State) but the blame really falls on the passing game and defense. Guice ran for 76 yards and 15 carries. It wasn't a great performance, but it's enough to keep him around.
6. Royce Freeman, Oregon (Last Week: 7)- I honestly did not expect Freeman to be around for this long. By this time last year any chance he had of going to New York had vaporized. Now, he finds himself knocking on the door of the Top 5. Against top-tier NFL draft prospect Josh Allen and Wyoming, Freeman ran for 157 yards and three touchdowns as his Ducks won 49-13. It must also be noted that Freeman caught a pass for 50 yards.
5. Lamar Jackson, LSU (Last Week: 2)- Yes, Louisville got pounded by Clemson, but Jackson was definitely not the reason why. He got almost no help from his teammates. The Louisville D was utterly dumbfounded by Dabo Swinney's offense and Jackson's receivers found themselves dropping catches far more than they probably would have liked. Despite all of the incompetence that could be found along the Louisville sideline, Jackson threw for three touchdowns and 317 yards while also adding 64 yards on 17 carries. Needless to say, those 64 yards were more than the rest of the team combined.
4. Sam Darnold, USC (Last Week: 4)- I always struggle with ranking Darnold. The only really great game he has had this year was in Week 2 against Stanford. In Week 3, he struggled against unranked Texas much more than he should have. Not only did it take USC two overtime periods to put away the persistent Longhorns, but Darnold's completion percentage was weak (57.14%), he accumulated -12 rushing yards, and he threw two interceptions. Still, USC pulled off the win and that's the most important thing.
3. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: 8)- It's easy to see a scenario where two quarterbacks from the Sooner State are invited to New York City. Rudolph is certainly doing his part to make sure that happens. The gunslinger threw five touchdowns in the first half as his Cowboys rolled past Pittsburgh.
2. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 5)- In terms of rushing, Barkley was pretty limited against Georgia State. After all, he only ran for 47 yards on 10 carries. That being said, he also caught four passes for 142 yards and one touchdown.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 1)- As I said in the intro, Mayfield is everyone's pick for the Heisman right now. The man who is drawing comparisons to Seattle's Russell Wilson had s sensational Week 3 as he threw for four touchdowns and 331 yards against Tulsa.
Thanks for reading everyone.
Friday, September 15, 2017
Heisman Watch Week 2
Week 2 was an interesting one in college football. #15 Georgia survived some ugly quarterback play from Jake Fromm to outlast #24 Notre Dame, #5 Oklahoma gained revenge on #2 Ohio State for last year's loss, and of course, the Heisman race continued.
We saw a number of memorable performances this week and unfortunately, we cannot rank all of them here. After all, doing so would completely defeat the purpose of this. Nonetheless, let's send a little love to some honorable mentions, including Ronald Jones II of USC and Kelly Bryant of Clemson. Let's get started.
10. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: NR)- Christian who? Love's early-season success has folks in Palo Alto already forgetting former Heisman runner-up and NFL rookie Christian McCaffrey. Against Stanford's loss to USC, Love ran for 160 yards and one score.
9. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 10)- Was Hurts outstanding against Fresno State? No, but he didn't have to be. The Crimson Tide coasted to an easy 41-10 win as Hurts went for 14-18 with 128 yards and one touchdown. Hurts also added 154 yards and two scores on the ground.
8. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: NR)- If you like a quarterback with big stats, then Rudolph's the guy for you. The Cowboy went 28 for 38 while racking up 335 passing yards and three scores.
7. Royce Freeman, Oregon (Last Week: 8)- Freeman and the entire Oregon Ducks team continues to fly under the radar, but Freeman is still making some Heisman buzz. Against Nebraska, Freeman carried the ball 29 times for 153 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught a pass for nine yards as the Ducks won.
6. Josh Rosen, UCLA (Last Week: 9)- Again, I might not be as high on Rosen as other writers are, but I still think he's very much in this Heisman race. Against Hawaii, Rosen had a dazzling game. He went 22 for 25 while throwing for 329 yards and five touchdowns.
5. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 6)- By his own top standards, Barkley had a quiet Week 2. Against Pittsburgh, Barkley had 14 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown. However, he is losing some of Penn State's Heisman buzz, as QB Trace McSorley is playing very well.
4. Sam Darnold, USC (Last Week: 4)- Darnold bounced back from his disappointing game against Western Michigan in Week 1 to impress against #14 Stanford. Yes, he did throw two interceptions, but he also went 21 of 26 for four touchdowns and 316 passing yards.
3. Derrius Guice, LSU (Last Week: 3)- Guice has had two great games this season but it still feels as if he's being overlooked in the Heisman race. In Week 2, he ran circles against Chattanooga as he ran for 102 yards and two scores on 15 carries.
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2. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 1)- Through no fault of his own, Jackson falls a spot. The man seems unstoppable, but another story has cropped up. Against UNC in Week 2, the reigning Heisman winner threw for 393 yards and three touchdowns while also running for 132 yards and three touchdowns. There's no doubt about him being an absolutely incredible player, there's just a little fatigue surrounding him. The Lamar Jackson story has been told, fans and the media have moved on to other things. It's a testament to how well Jackson is playing that he's still one of the front-runners. If he wants to regain the #1 spot, he'll need to beat Clemson, the reigning national champions, next week.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 2)- The man who has overtaken Jackson in our Heisman watch is the man who finished third to Jackson (and Deshaun Watson) in last year's Heisman race: Baker Mayfield of the Oklahoma Sooners. Beating #2 Ohio State was a monumental win for Mayfield. Every Heisman winner needs a defining game. For Johnny Manziel, it was his win over #1 Alabama. For Reggie Bush (who was later stripped of the award), it was against #9 Notre Dame in what is now regarded as one of the best college football games in history. This win over the Buckeyes could very well be that game for Mayfield. After all, he did throw for 386 yards and three scores as the Sooners won by 15.
Thanks for reading everyone.
We saw a number of memorable performances this week and unfortunately, we cannot rank all of them here. After all, doing so would completely defeat the purpose of this. Nonetheless, let's send a little love to some honorable mentions, including Ronald Jones II of USC and Kelly Bryant of Clemson. Let's get started.
10. Brice Love, Stanford (Last Week: NR)- Christian who? Love's early-season success has folks in Palo Alto already forgetting former Heisman runner-up and NFL rookie Christian McCaffrey. Against Stanford's loss to USC, Love ran for 160 yards and one score.
9. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 10)- Was Hurts outstanding against Fresno State? No, but he didn't have to be. The Crimson Tide coasted to an easy 41-10 win as Hurts went for 14-18 with 128 yards and one touchdown. Hurts also added 154 yards and two scores on the ground.
8. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State (Last Week: NR)- If you like a quarterback with big stats, then Rudolph's the guy for you. The Cowboy went 28 for 38 while racking up 335 passing yards and three scores.
7. Royce Freeman, Oregon (Last Week: 8)- Freeman and the entire Oregon Ducks team continues to fly under the radar, but Freeman is still making some Heisman buzz. Against Nebraska, Freeman carried the ball 29 times for 153 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught a pass for nine yards as the Ducks won.
6. Josh Rosen, UCLA (Last Week: 9)- Again, I might not be as high on Rosen as other writers are, but I still think he's very much in this Heisman race. Against Hawaii, Rosen had a dazzling game. He went 22 for 25 while throwing for 329 yards and five touchdowns.
5. Saquon Barkley, Penn State (Last Week: 6)- By his own top standards, Barkley had a quiet Week 2. Against Pittsburgh, Barkley had 14 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown. However, he is losing some of Penn State's Heisman buzz, as QB Trace McSorley is playing very well.
4. Sam Darnold, USC (Last Week: 4)- Darnold bounced back from his disappointing game against Western Michigan in Week 1 to impress against #14 Stanford. Yes, he did throw two interceptions, but he also went 21 of 26 for four touchdowns and 316 passing yards.
3. Derrius Guice, LSU (Last Week: 3)- Guice has had two great games this season but it still feels as if he's being overlooked in the Heisman race. In Week 2, he ran circles against Chattanooga as he ran for 102 yards and two scores on 15 carries.
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2. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 1)- Through no fault of his own, Jackson falls a spot. The man seems unstoppable, but another story has cropped up. Against UNC in Week 2, the reigning Heisman winner threw for 393 yards and three touchdowns while also running for 132 yards and three touchdowns. There's no doubt about him being an absolutely incredible player, there's just a little fatigue surrounding him. The Lamar Jackson story has been told, fans and the media have moved on to other things. It's a testament to how well Jackson is playing that he's still one of the front-runners. If he wants to regain the #1 spot, he'll need to beat Clemson, the reigning national champions, next week.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 2)- The man who has overtaken Jackson in our Heisman watch is the man who finished third to Jackson (and Deshaun Watson) in last year's Heisman race: Baker Mayfield of the Oklahoma Sooners. Beating #2 Ohio State was a monumental win for Mayfield. Every Heisman winner needs a defining game. For Johnny Manziel, it was his win over #1 Alabama. For Reggie Bush (who was later stripped of the award), it was against #9 Notre Dame in what is now regarded as one of the best college football games in history. This win over the Buckeyes could very well be that game for Mayfield. After all, he did throw for 386 yards and three scores as the Sooners won by 15.
Thanks for reading everyone.
Friday, September 8, 2017
Heisman Watch Week 1
The first week of college football has come and gone, bringing a lot of action and news with it. Alabama proved it was the best team in the country, Louisville and USC overcame scares, Jake Olson made history, and UCLA had a comeback for the ages.
Of course, all of that impacts our Heisman race. We only have one drop out from last week: Deondre Francois of Florida State, who suffered an injury against Alabama and will miss the entire season. That being said, let's get started.
10. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 10)- Like last year, Hurts was not the main reason Alabama beat FSU (the real reason was 'Bama's defense and special teams unit). Nonetheless, Hurts played decently well, as he threw for 96 yards and a touchdown while also adding 55 yards on the ground. Games like these will keep him in the Heisman conversation, but only on the outskirts. If he wants to win, he'll have to start doing a lot more.
9. Josh Rosen, UCLA (Last Week: NR)- I'm sure a number of you are surprised to find Rosen ranked so low. After all, other pundits have him as high as #1. I don't dispute that he had a great game against Texas A&M, there's just the problem that he had a pretty weak first half. He eventually rebounded to finish with four touchdowns and 491 passing yards, but the slow start prevents him from being ranked higher.
8. Royce Freeman, Oregon (Last Week: 9)- In limited playing time, Freeman racked up 200 total yards and four rushing touchdowns. Unfortunately, his performance did play a little under the radar as he was playing against Southern Utah.
7. Nick Chubb, Georgia (Last Week: 7)- Like Freeman, Chubb saw his time on the field limited. He did however, still run for 96 yards and two touchdowns. He'll need to have a big game against #24 Notre Dame next week if he wants to move up.
6. Saquon Barley, Penn State (Last Week: 8)- Barkley dazzled for the Nittany Lions as they rolled over the Akron Zips. He ran for 172 yards and two touchdowns while also catching three passes for 54 yards.
5. JT Barrett, Ohio State (Last Week: 5)- Barrett quietly had a great game as OSU picked up its first conference win of the season. He went 20 for 35 for 304 yards and three touchdowns while adding 61 yards and a touchdown on the ground. This isn't the first year Barrett has been inexplicably left out of the Heisman conversation, but it might also be the year he gets invited to New York.
4. Sam Darnold, USC (Last Week: 1)- If you just look at the stat line, then Darnold had a decent game. He threw for 289 yards and ran for a touchdown. But if you watched the game, then you know that the stats don't tell the full story. Darnold threw two picks, racked up -6 rushing yards, and struggled mightily against Western Michigan. This game didn't kill his chances of winning the Heisman, but it certainly hurt.
3. Derrius Guice, LSU (Last Week: 3)- Guice put up good numbers against BYU as he ran for 122 yards and two scores. It was a pretty quiet game but you can be sure that Guice will explode sometime soon.
2. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 4)- Some quarterbacks threw a touchdown this week. Others ran for a touchdown. Baker Mayfield on the other hand, threw one incompletion. Honestly, I had no idea that was even possible.
1. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 1)- Yes, the Cardinals had a bit of a scare against Purdue, but Jackson once again played beautifully. In total, he accounted for two touchdowns and 485 yards. It seems like he has a really good chance of becoming a repeat Heisman winner.
Thanks for reading.
Of course, all of that impacts our Heisman race. We only have one drop out from last week: Deondre Francois of Florida State, who suffered an injury against Alabama and will miss the entire season. That being said, let's get started.
10. Jalen Hurts, Alabama (Last Week: 10)- Like last year, Hurts was not the main reason Alabama beat FSU (the real reason was 'Bama's defense and special teams unit). Nonetheless, Hurts played decently well, as he threw for 96 yards and a touchdown while also adding 55 yards on the ground. Games like these will keep him in the Heisman conversation, but only on the outskirts. If he wants to win, he'll have to start doing a lot more.
9. Josh Rosen, UCLA (Last Week: NR)- I'm sure a number of you are surprised to find Rosen ranked so low. After all, other pundits have him as high as #1. I don't dispute that he had a great game against Texas A&M, there's just the problem that he had a pretty weak first half. He eventually rebounded to finish with four touchdowns and 491 passing yards, but the slow start prevents him from being ranked higher.
8. Royce Freeman, Oregon (Last Week: 9)- In limited playing time, Freeman racked up 200 total yards and four rushing touchdowns. Unfortunately, his performance did play a little under the radar as he was playing against Southern Utah.
7. Nick Chubb, Georgia (Last Week: 7)- Like Freeman, Chubb saw his time on the field limited. He did however, still run for 96 yards and two touchdowns. He'll need to have a big game against #24 Notre Dame next week if he wants to move up.
6. Saquon Barley, Penn State (Last Week: 8)- Barkley dazzled for the Nittany Lions as they rolled over the Akron Zips. He ran for 172 yards and two touchdowns while also catching three passes for 54 yards.
5. JT Barrett, Ohio State (Last Week: 5)- Barrett quietly had a great game as OSU picked up its first conference win of the season. He went 20 for 35 for 304 yards and three touchdowns while adding 61 yards and a touchdown on the ground. This isn't the first year Barrett has been inexplicably left out of the Heisman conversation, but it might also be the year he gets invited to New York.
4. Sam Darnold, USC (Last Week: 1)- If you just look at the stat line, then Darnold had a decent game. He threw for 289 yards and ran for a touchdown. But if you watched the game, then you know that the stats don't tell the full story. Darnold threw two picks, racked up -6 rushing yards, and struggled mightily against Western Michigan. This game didn't kill his chances of winning the Heisman, but it certainly hurt.
3. Derrius Guice, LSU (Last Week: 3)- Guice put up good numbers against BYU as he ran for 122 yards and two scores. It was a pretty quiet game but you can be sure that Guice will explode sometime soon.
2. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma (Last Week: 4)- Some quarterbacks threw a touchdown this week. Others ran for a touchdown. Baker Mayfield on the other hand, threw one incompletion. Honestly, I had no idea that was even possible.
1. Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Last Week: 1)- Yes, the Cardinals had a bit of a scare against Purdue, but Jackson once again played beautifully. In total, he accounted for two touchdowns and 485 yards. It seems like he has a really good chance of becoming a repeat Heisman winner.
Thanks for reading.
Thursday, September 7, 2017
2017-2018 NFL Season Predictions
My, it's a wonderful time to be a sports fan. The race for the MLB playoffs is heating up, the NBA is mere weeks away, hockey is right around the corner, and of course, the return of football is on our doorsteps. If you're a college football fan then you have a little less time to wait, but pro football fans are getting ready.
The last NFL season was full of exciting and interesting stories. We had Tom Brady's suspension, the emergence of Matt Ryan as a truly elite quarterback, the injuries to star players such as Luke Kuechly and JJ Watt, and the declining ratings.
Now that the season is almost upon us, it's time to start making some predictions. Who will win Offensive Rookie of the Year? What new coach will have the most success? Which rising star will take the next step to becoming an elite player? And most importantly, who will win the Super Bowl? In this article, we'll cover each division and make our picks for the playoffs, Super Bowl, and individual awards. Let's get started.
AFC North:
The AFC North might be the toughest division in the AFC. There are three teams ready to make the playoffs (sorry Cleveland) and feasibly could all make it. Despite all that, the Steelers remain atop the division. With Martavis Bryant cleared to play the entire season, the Steelers' high-powered offense should be running at full speed. It's hard not to when you have the best running back and wide receiver in the game. There are still some questions about their defense, but the addition of rookie stud T.J. Watt should help mitigate some of those concerns.
In a toss-up between Baltimore and Cincinnati, the Ravens get the edge. Both teams had disappointing, injury-filled seasons last year, but at least the Bengals had their starting QB. The Ravens get Joe Flacco back while giving him a new weapon in Jeremy Maclin. Granted, Flacco is a better postseason QB than he is in the regular season, but he's still good enough to lead them to the playoffs. The Bengals will contend for a wild card spot, but losing two starters on the offensive line will hurt them.
In the basement of the division is the Cleveland Browns. The good news for Browns fans is that they will win more than one game last year. Losing Myles Garrett for two weeks does hurt, but the Browns defense is definitely better than last year. How well the Browns actually do depends on rookie QB DeShone Kizer. The former Notre Dame QB has been named the starter, but Cody Kessler is breathing down his neck.
AFC East:
The consensus Super Bowl pick this year is the Patriots. In fact, some experts have them going undefeated, which would make them the first team to do so since 1972's Larry Csonka and the Miami Dolphins. Going undefeated is a bit of a stretch (they might not even beat the Chiefs tonight), but the Patriots should handily win the AFC East. They added some weapons for Tom Brady, including Mike Gillislee and Brandin Cooks while also shoring up their defense. Even if Brady doesn't stay healthy, backup Jimmy Garoppolo has what it takes to lead them to the playoffs.
The Dolphins surprisingly made the playoffs last year thanks in good part to RB Jay Ajayi. Unfortunately, there are concerns about Ajayi's health for this season and if he can stay on the field. There are also concerns about new QB Jay Cutler. After all, the former Chicago Bear was retired in the summer before being brought in to replace the injured Ryan Tannehill. While Cutler did play well in the preseason, the regular season is a whole different beast.
The Buffalo Bills are reportedly looking towards the future, as they are apparently willing to trade their starting QB and RB (Tyrod Taylor and LeSean McCoy, respectively). That being said, they should still put together a decent season. Rookie WR Zay Jones is potentially poised to have a great year while the additions of fullbacks Mike Tolbert and Patrick DiMarco should help bolster the run game.
There is no doubt in my mind that the New York Jets will finish last in the AFC East and possibly the entire league. Their starting QB is perennial backup Josh McCown while losing a number of talented players, including WR Brandon Marshall, safety Calvin Pryor, and C Nick Mangold. It's going to be a long season for Jets fans.
AFC South:
Two years ago, the Tennessee Titans finished with the second-worst record in the league. Now, they're expected to win the division. That turnaround can mainly be attributed to QB Marcus Mariota. Though he has dealt with injuries, Mariota has played very well and shown that he can be a franchise QB. Armed with an offense that includes playmakers such as Corey Davis, Eric Decker, and DeMarco Murray, Mariota is poised to have a true breakout year. It also helps that the AFC South is arguably the weakest division in football (and has been for some time).
The Texans and the Colts will jockey for second place, but I'm giving the edge to Houston, who won the division last year, even with mediocre QB play. There are still injury concerns surrounding J.J. Watt and Will Fuller V, Tom Savage is very unproven, and their shutdown corner A.J. Bouye has departed. They could feasibly still contend for the division title, but it seems unlikely. The Colts on the other hand, will be without franchise QB Andrew Luck for some time, and backup Scott Tolzien has proven to be very ineffective. Their defense, which has been very good in years past, is feeling a bit depleted thanks to the losses of players like Robert Mathis and Mike Adams.
Remember last season, when the Jaguars were supposed to break up. Now, they're comfortably headed for a top 5 draft pick. New starting QB Chad Henne is extremely unproven while former elite WR Allen Robinson is coming off a very disappointing season. Their defense is also unproven, though CB Jalen Ramsey impressed in his rookie season.
AFC West:
Oakland could feasibly have won the Super Bowl last year, but a freak injury to QB Derek Carr derailed those plans. The weakest part of their game was undoubtedly the run game, but bringing back the retired Marshawn Lynch should help with that. Amari Cooper is poised to become an elite WR, safety Karl Joseph is on the up, and the addition of Cordarrelle Patterson certainly helps. Look for the Raiders to win this division handily.
The Chiefs drafted their QB of the future this year when they selected Patrick Mahomes, but Alex Smith is still their starter. Smith, a franchise QB in his own right, should be extra motivated this season to succeed. The losses of Jeremy Maclin (cut) and Spencer Ware (injury) hurt, but the Chiefs are still a solid bet to make the playoffs. Also, look for rookie RB Kareem Hunt to have a big year.
The only thing holding the Broncos back here is their QB play. Neither Trevor Siemian nor Paxton Lynch has proven themselves to be worthy starters, but the rest of the team is ready to go. The team is loaded with talent thanks to players such as Von Miller, Aqib Talib, Jamaal Charles, Devontae Booker, Demaryius Thomas, and Chris Harris Jr.
Some pundits have the Chargers making the playoffs, but I don't see them escaping this crowded division. The move to Los Angeles certainly has their fortunes up in the air, as they might not really have much fan support at home games. There is also concern over the defense's ability to make plays, Keenan Allen's ability to stay healthy, and whether Melvin Gordon can improve on his impressive season from last year.
NFC North:
Green Bay fans have been starved for another Super Bowl victory since they last won one in 2010. There's no reason why that year can't be this year. Aaron Rodgers is the best QB in the league, they added Martellus Bennett from the Patriots, their offensive line is great, their secondary has improved from last year, and Jordy Nelson is an elite WR. They should beat out Minnesota for the division title. QB Teddy Bridgewater is still out, so Sam Bradford will still be starting. Meanwhile, big things are expected of rookie back Dalvin Cook.
Although the Detroit Lions made the playoffs last year, that will be tougher to do this season, especially since their division has improved. Their offensive line was an issue last year, but they added two superstars in T.J. Lang and Rick Wagner. Their secondary is still a major issue, however. While they will contend for a wild card spot, it will be tough.
The Chicago Bears should improve on their mediocre year that saw them end up with the third spot in the draft (although they traded up one spot to nab Mitchell Trubisky). Both Trubisky and Mike Glennon should start this year, although Bears fans are clamoring for the former Tar Heel to start. The Bears are a better team than their record for last year suggests, although their defense is severely lacking. Being in a tough decision will also hurt their record.
NFC East:
This just might the best division in football. We start off with the Dallas Cowboys, last year's #1 NFC seed. Losing Ezekiel Elliot for six games will definitely hurt their record, but they're still good enough to win the division. Their defense is formidable, Dak Prescott is developing nicely, and their offensive line is the best in the world. Expect stiff competition from New York though, as they have gotten better this offseason by adding Brandon Marshall and Evan Engram. RB Paul Perkins looks to have a good sophomore year and Landon Collins could win Defensive Player of the Year. It'll be close, but the Cowboys narrowly win out.
Philadelphia started the season 4-0 last year but then cooled off significantly. This year they'll battle for a wild card spot but the division they play in will make things tough. Carson Wentz is coming along nicely, and the addition of Alshon Jeffery is a welcome one, but he doesn't yet seem capable of leading a team to the playoffs. Granted, that could change as soon as next year,
The Redskins shockingly won the division two years ago but now no one is picking them to win. It seems like this will probably be Kirk Cousins's last year with the franchise thanks to his problems with management. That could affect his performance and motivation this year, so be sure to keep an eye out for that.
NFC South:
Historically speaking, teams who lose the Super Bowl usually don't make the playoffs next year. That being said, the Falcons are talented enough to buck that trend. Losing offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan to the 49ers will hurt, but seeing as the offense still includes Matt Ryan, Tevin Coleman, Julio Jones, Mohammed Sanu, Devonta Freeman, and Taylor Gabriel, things should be just fine.
Speaking of teams who lose the Super Bowl one year and miss the playoffs the next year, meet the Carolina Panthers. Granted, they lost star corner Josh Norman to Washington and defensive POY Luke Kuechly to an injury, things just seemed funky. But Kuechly is healthy now, they drafted Christian McCaffrey, and signed players like Matt Kalil and Julius Peppers. With a roster like that, the Panthers should contend for a wild card spot.
Coming in third is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs have an explosive offense featuring talents like Jameis Winston, Cameron Brate, Mike Evans, Doug Martin, and O.J. Howard. Their defense is more of a question mark, but their offense should be enough for them to win games. That being said, the distinction between them and the New Orleans Saints is not that great. Like the Bucs, the Saints have a top-notch offense with guys like Adrian Peterson, Drew Brees, Michael Thomas, Mark Ingram, and Willie Snead. However, I think TB is on the rise and I rank them just ahead of the Saints.
NFC West:
This could be the year we see Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll make their third Super Bowl visit, and it's not hard to see why. Russell Wilson has evolved into an elite QB and has weapons such as C.J. Prosise, Alex Collins, and Doug Baldwin. The defense is arguably the best in the NFC with players like Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, and Malik McDowell. They are a lock to win this division.
Besides Seattle, the only other team with a shot at making the playoffs is the Cards. They had a disappointing season last year, but look ready to bounce back. David Johnson is one of the best running backs in the league, Patrick Peterson is arguably the best cornerback in football, and Larry Fitzgerald defies the laws of time. If Carson Palmer can keep it together, the Cardinals should fight for a wild card spot.
Neither the Rams nor the 49ers will be in playoff contention this year, but I think the Rams are just a tad better. Jared Goff is better than Brian Hoyer, Todd Gurley is better than Carlos Hyde, and Aaron Donald could be the defensive POY. The 'Niners could take a big step with the addition of players such as Solomon Thomas, Elvis Dumervil, and Pierre Garcon, but it still won't be enough to escape last place in the NFC West.
NFC Seeds: 1. Seattle 2. Green Bay 3. Atlanta 4. Dallas 5. New York 6. Carolina
AFC Seeds: 1. New England 2. Oakland 3. Pittsburgh 4. Tennessee 5. Kansas City 6. Baltimore
NFC Playoffs:
Carolina and Atlanta will face off for the third time this season. I really believe that Carolina could have the upset here, but Atlanta's the safer pick. No one on Carolina can cover Julio Jones and the Atlanta defense is sneaky good. In the other wild-card matchup, I like Dallas over New York. The Giants may have an explosive offense but they won't be able to stop Zeke. In the next round, Seattle topples Dallas with their run-stopping defense while Atlanta picks holes through Green Bay's secondary. In the conference finals, Russell Wilson steps up and has a big game as the Seahawks move on to the Super Bowl.
AFC Playoffs:
We start with a bit of an upset as the Chiefs pick up the win on the road. The battle-tested Chiefs have too much experience for the upstart Titans to handle. Then, Pittsburgh handles their division rivals and heads to northern California to do battle with the Raiders. They put up a good fight but ultimately fall to Oakland. The Patriots are pushed to the limit by the Chiefs but pick up the win anyway. In the AFC title game, Touchdown Tommy lights up the Steelers' secondary to book a trip to Minnesota.
Super Bowl:
In a rematch from three years ago, we see two elite teams do battle. This should be an excellent game and it's really hard to pick a winner. I'm going to pick the Patriots though since they are the best team in football. Tom Brady will a record 5th MVP Award as Boston celebrates (and the rest of the nation weeps).
Regular Season Awards:
MVP: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay
Offensive Player: David Johnson, Arizona
Defensive Player: Von Miller, Denver Broncos
Offensive Rookie: Leonard Fournette, Jacksonville
Defensive Rookie: T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh
Coach: Mike Mularkey, Tennessee
Comeback Player: J.J. Watt, Houston
Thanks for reading everyone.
The last NFL season was full of exciting and interesting stories. We had Tom Brady's suspension, the emergence of Matt Ryan as a truly elite quarterback, the injuries to star players such as Luke Kuechly and JJ Watt, and the declining ratings.
Now that the season is almost upon us, it's time to start making some predictions. Who will win Offensive Rookie of the Year? What new coach will have the most success? Which rising star will take the next step to becoming an elite player? And most importantly, who will win the Super Bowl? In this article, we'll cover each division and make our picks for the playoffs, Super Bowl, and individual awards. Let's get started.
AFC North:
The AFC North might be the toughest division in the AFC. There are three teams ready to make the playoffs (sorry Cleveland) and feasibly could all make it. Despite all that, the Steelers remain atop the division. With Martavis Bryant cleared to play the entire season, the Steelers' high-powered offense should be running at full speed. It's hard not to when you have the best running back and wide receiver in the game. There are still some questions about their defense, but the addition of rookie stud T.J. Watt should help mitigate some of those concerns.
In a toss-up between Baltimore and Cincinnati, the Ravens get the edge. Both teams had disappointing, injury-filled seasons last year, but at least the Bengals had their starting QB. The Ravens get Joe Flacco back while giving him a new weapon in Jeremy Maclin. Granted, Flacco is a better postseason QB than he is in the regular season, but he's still good enough to lead them to the playoffs. The Bengals will contend for a wild card spot, but losing two starters on the offensive line will hurt them.
In the basement of the division is the Cleveland Browns. The good news for Browns fans is that they will win more than one game last year. Losing Myles Garrett for two weeks does hurt, but the Browns defense is definitely better than last year. How well the Browns actually do depends on rookie QB DeShone Kizer. The former Notre Dame QB has been named the starter, but Cody Kessler is breathing down his neck.
AFC East:
The consensus Super Bowl pick this year is the Patriots. In fact, some experts have them going undefeated, which would make them the first team to do so since 1972's Larry Csonka and the Miami Dolphins. Going undefeated is a bit of a stretch (they might not even beat the Chiefs tonight), but the Patriots should handily win the AFC East. They added some weapons for Tom Brady, including Mike Gillislee and Brandin Cooks while also shoring up their defense. Even if Brady doesn't stay healthy, backup Jimmy Garoppolo has what it takes to lead them to the playoffs.
The Dolphins surprisingly made the playoffs last year thanks in good part to RB Jay Ajayi. Unfortunately, there are concerns about Ajayi's health for this season and if he can stay on the field. There are also concerns about new QB Jay Cutler. After all, the former Chicago Bear was retired in the summer before being brought in to replace the injured Ryan Tannehill. While Cutler did play well in the preseason, the regular season is a whole different beast.
The Buffalo Bills are reportedly looking towards the future, as they are apparently willing to trade their starting QB and RB (Tyrod Taylor and LeSean McCoy, respectively). That being said, they should still put together a decent season. Rookie WR Zay Jones is potentially poised to have a great year while the additions of fullbacks Mike Tolbert and Patrick DiMarco should help bolster the run game.
There is no doubt in my mind that the New York Jets will finish last in the AFC East and possibly the entire league. Their starting QB is perennial backup Josh McCown while losing a number of talented players, including WR Brandon Marshall, safety Calvin Pryor, and C Nick Mangold. It's going to be a long season for Jets fans.
AFC South:
Two years ago, the Tennessee Titans finished with the second-worst record in the league. Now, they're expected to win the division. That turnaround can mainly be attributed to QB Marcus Mariota. Though he has dealt with injuries, Mariota has played very well and shown that he can be a franchise QB. Armed with an offense that includes playmakers such as Corey Davis, Eric Decker, and DeMarco Murray, Mariota is poised to have a true breakout year. It also helps that the AFC South is arguably the weakest division in football (and has been for some time).
The Texans and the Colts will jockey for second place, but I'm giving the edge to Houston, who won the division last year, even with mediocre QB play. There are still injury concerns surrounding J.J. Watt and Will Fuller V, Tom Savage is very unproven, and their shutdown corner A.J. Bouye has departed. They could feasibly still contend for the division title, but it seems unlikely. The Colts on the other hand, will be without franchise QB Andrew Luck for some time, and backup Scott Tolzien has proven to be very ineffective. Their defense, which has been very good in years past, is feeling a bit depleted thanks to the losses of players like Robert Mathis and Mike Adams.
Remember last season, when the Jaguars were supposed to break up. Now, they're comfortably headed for a top 5 draft pick. New starting QB Chad Henne is extremely unproven while former elite WR Allen Robinson is coming off a very disappointing season. Their defense is also unproven, though CB Jalen Ramsey impressed in his rookie season.
AFC West:
Oakland could feasibly have won the Super Bowl last year, but a freak injury to QB Derek Carr derailed those plans. The weakest part of their game was undoubtedly the run game, but bringing back the retired Marshawn Lynch should help with that. Amari Cooper is poised to become an elite WR, safety Karl Joseph is on the up, and the addition of Cordarrelle Patterson certainly helps. Look for the Raiders to win this division handily.
The Chiefs drafted their QB of the future this year when they selected Patrick Mahomes, but Alex Smith is still their starter. Smith, a franchise QB in his own right, should be extra motivated this season to succeed. The losses of Jeremy Maclin (cut) and Spencer Ware (injury) hurt, but the Chiefs are still a solid bet to make the playoffs. Also, look for rookie RB Kareem Hunt to have a big year.
The only thing holding the Broncos back here is their QB play. Neither Trevor Siemian nor Paxton Lynch has proven themselves to be worthy starters, but the rest of the team is ready to go. The team is loaded with talent thanks to players such as Von Miller, Aqib Talib, Jamaal Charles, Devontae Booker, Demaryius Thomas, and Chris Harris Jr.
Some pundits have the Chargers making the playoffs, but I don't see them escaping this crowded division. The move to Los Angeles certainly has their fortunes up in the air, as they might not really have much fan support at home games. There is also concern over the defense's ability to make plays, Keenan Allen's ability to stay healthy, and whether Melvin Gordon can improve on his impressive season from last year.
NFC North:
Green Bay fans have been starved for another Super Bowl victory since they last won one in 2010. There's no reason why that year can't be this year. Aaron Rodgers is the best QB in the league, they added Martellus Bennett from the Patriots, their offensive line is great, their secondary has improved from last year, and Jordy Nelson is an elite WR. They should beat out Minnesota for the division title. QB Teddy Bridgewater is still out, so Sam Bradford will still be starting. Meanwhile, big things are expected of rookie back Dalvin Cook.
Although the Detroit Lions made the playoffs last year, that will be tougher to do this season, especially since their division has improved. Their offensive line was an issue last year, but they added two superstars in T.J. Lang and Rick Wagner. Their secondary is still a major issue, however. While they will contend for a wild card spot, it will be tough.
The Chicago Bears should improve on their mediocre year that saw them end up with the third spot in the draft (although they traded up one spot to nab Mitchell Trubisky). Both Trubisky and Mike Glennon should start this year, although Bears fans are clamoring for the former Tar Heel to start. The Bears are a better team than their record for last year suggests, although their defense is severely lacking. Being in a tough decision will also hurt their record.
NFC East:
This just might the best division in football. We start off with the Dallas Cowboys, last year's #1 NFC seed. Losing Ezekiel Elliot for six games will definitely hurt their record, but they're still good enough to win the division. Their defense is formidable, Dak Prescott is developing nicely, and their offensive line is the best in the world. Expect stiff competition from New York though, as they have gotten better this offseason by adding Brandon Marshall and Evan Engram. RB Paul Perkins looks to have a good sophomore year and Landon Collins could win Defensive Player of the Year. It'll be close, but the Cowboys narrowly win out.
Philadelphia started the season 4-0 last year but then cooled off significantly. This year they'll battle for a wild card spot but the division they play in will make things tough. Carson Wentz is coming along nicely, and the addition of Alshon Jeffery is a welcome one, but he doesn't yet seem capable of leading a team to the playoffs. Granted, that could change as soon as next year,
The Redskins shockingly won the division two years ago but now no one is picking them to win. It seems like this will probably be Kirk Cousins's last year with the franchise thanks to his problems with management. That could affect his performance and motivation this year, so be sure to keep an eye out for that.
NFC South:
Historically speaking, teams who lose the Super Bowl usually don't make the playoffs next year. That being said, the Falcons are talented enough to buck that trend. Losing offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan to the 49ers will hurt, but seeing as the offense still includes Matt Ryan, Tevin Coleman, Julio Jones, Mohammed Sanu, Devonta Freeman, and Taylor Gabriel, things should be just fine.
Speaking of teams who lose the Super Bowl one year and miss the playoffs the next year, meet the Carolina Panthers. Granted, they lost star corner Josh Norman to Washington and defensive POY Luke Kuechly to an injury, things just seemed funky. But Kuechly is healthy now, they drafted Christian McCaffrey, and signed players like Matt Kalil and Julius Peppers. With a roster like that, the Panthers should contend for a wild card spot.
Coming in third is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs have an explosive offense featuring talents like Jameis Winston, Cameron Brate, Mike Evans, Doug Martin, and O.J. Howard. Their defense is more of a question mark, but their offense should be enough for them to win games. That being said, the distinction between them and the New Orleans Saints is not that great. Like the Bucs, the Saints have a top-notch offense with guys like Adrian Peterson, Drew Brees, Michael Thomas, Mark Ingram, and Willie Snead. However, I think TB is on the rise and I rank them just ahead of the Saints.
NFC West:
This could be the year we see Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll make their third Super Bowl visit, and it's not hard to see why. Russell Wilson has evolved into an elite QB and has weapons such as C.J. Prosise, Alex Collins, and Doug Baldwin. The defense is arguably the best in the NFC with players like Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, and Malik McDowell. They are a lock to win this division.
Besides Seattle, the only other team with a shot at making the playoffs is the Cards. They had a disappointing season last year, but look ready to bounce back. David Johnson is one of the best running backs in the league, Patrick Peterson is arguably the best cornerback in football, and Larry Fitzgerald defies the laws of time. If Carson Palmer can keep it together, the Cardinals should fight for a wild card spot.
Neither the Rams nor the 49ers will be in playoff contention this year, but I think the Rams are just a tad better. Jared Goff is better than Brian Hoyer, Todd Gurley is better than Carlos Hyde, and Aaron Donald could be the defensive POY. The 'Niners could take a big step with the addition of players such as Solomon Thomas, Elvis Dumervil, and Pierre Garcon, but it still won't be enough to escape last place in the NFC West.
NFC Seeds: 1. Seattle 2. Green Bay 3. Atlanta 4. Dallas 5. New York 6. Carolina
AFC Seeds: 1. New England 2. Oakland 3. Pittsburgh 4. Tennessee 5. Kansas City 6. Baltimore
NFC Playoffs:
Carolina and Atlanta will face off for the third time this season. I really believe that Carolina could have the upset here, but Atlanta's the safer pick. No one on Carolina can cover Julio Jones and the Atlanta defense is sneaky good. In the other wild-card matchup, I like Dallas over New York. The Giants may have an explosive offense but they won't be able to stop Zeke. In the next round, Seattle topples Dallas with their run-stopping defense while Atlanta picks holes through Green Bay's secondary. In the conference finals, Russell Wilson steps up and has a big game as the Seahawks move on to the Super Bowl.
AFC Playoffs:
We start with a bit of an upset as the Chiefs pick up the win on the road. The battle-tested Chiefs have too much experience for the upstart Titans to handle. Then, Pittsburgh handles their division rivals and heads to northern California to do battle with the Raiders. They put up a good fight but ultimately fall to Oakland. The Patriots are pushed to the limit by the Chiefs but pick up the win anyway. In the AFC title game, Touchdown Tommy lights up the Steelers' secondary to book a trip to Minnesota.
Super Bowl:
In a rematch from three years ago, we see two elite teams do battle. This should be an excellent game and it's really hard to pick a winner. I'm going to pick the Patriots though since they are the best team in football. Tom Brady will a record 5th MVP Award as Boston celebrates (and the rest of the nation weeps).
Regular Season Awards:
MVP: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay
Offensive Player: David Johnson, Arizona
Defensive Player: Von Miller, Denver Broncos
Offensive Rookie: Leonard Fournette, Jacksonville
Defensive Rookie: T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh
Coach: Mike Mularkey, Tennessee
Comeback Player: J.J. Watt, Houston
Thanks for reading everyone.
Friday, August 25, 2017
Heisman Watch Week 0
It's the most wonderful time of the year. And no, I'm not talking Christmas, that over-commercialized bonanza. I'm talking of course, about football season. It's time for tailgating, wings, yelling at the TV, stressing over the waiver wire, and disappearing for the entire weekend. Of course, when we talk about football, college football specifically, then we have to talk about the Heisman Trophy.
The Heisman is the most prestigious individual award in all of American sports. Some past winners include Cam Newton, Carson Palmer, Charles Woodson, Bo Jackson, Herschel Walker, Doug Flutie, Earl Campbell, Tony Dorsett, Desmond Howard, and Marcus Mariota. This year's winner will have their name forever immortalized for future generations to read.
On a personal level, the Heisman race is by far The Sports Examiner's biggest and most popular attraction. We track the race every week and pick our winner at the end of the season. Last year's winner was QB Lamar Jackson. He had a sensational season, but it made for a slightly uninteresting race. Jackson was hot all season long and it became apparent that he would take home the award. Here's hoping we have a more interesting race this season.
Before we present our Top 10, here are a few honorable mentions. We have WR Calvin Ridley from Alabama, his teammate Bo Scarbrough, Longhorn QB Shane Buechele, Oklahoma State's Mason Rudolph, QB Jake Browning from Washington, and new Florida Gator Malik Zaire. Let's get started.
10. Jalen Hurts, Alabama
When the season ended last year, Hurts was in the Top 5 of our Heisman watch. Admittedly, we were a little high on him, but it was hard not to be too impressed with him. After all, he did play for runner-up Alabama and put up numerous noteworthy performances throughout the year. That being said, the Crimson Tide defense was the real reason they were so successful, not Hurts. He did play well, but he wasn't even the most outstanding player on his own team. This year however, Hurts has a chance to contend for the gold. He plays for one of the best teams in the country, has weapons like Ridley and Scarbrough, and should be better than he was last year.
9. Royce Freeman, Oregon
It seems like Freeman always starts out as a Heisman contender, but never seems to actually follow through. That being said, he is a talented running back. In fact, he's one of the top 10 running backs in the country. He can be a bit inconsistent at times, but it's clear that he's very talented. He's a dark horse for sure, but he's still in the race.
8. Saquon Barkley, Penn State
Last year was a coming out party for Barkley. Penn State nearly made the playoffs and Barkley looked like a real beast. He's one of the five best backs in football and was a Heisman long shot last year. This year, he could become a real contender. I'm a little lower on him than most people, but even I can't rank him lower than 8.
7. Nick Chubb, Georgia
You could argue that Chubb is the best running back in college football. Everything we've seen from his first two seasons in the league. The only reason he isn't ranked higher is the same reason he has never been a Heisman finalist: injuries. A nasty leg injury cost him most of the 2015 season and also cut into his 2016 season. If he can stay on the field and produce, he should move up this list.
6. Deondre Francois, Florida State
I have to admit, I'm all in on this guy. As a freshman last year, he displayed poise, confidence, and leadership. On top of that, he has a great arm and is a sensational quarterback. He was a frequent name on our Heisman watch last season and will probably do the same again this year.
5. JT Barrett, Ohio State
Barrett has had an interesting career. He's competed for the starting job multiple times while also winning a national championship and winning a number of awards, including being Offensive MVP of the 2016 Fiesta Bowl. Somewhat surprisingly, he has never been a Heisman finalist. Could that change this year?
4. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
A lot of people have this guy as their preseason pick to win the award, and it makes a lot of sense. Oklahoma is expected to contend for a national title, he was a Heisman finalist last year, and he is one of the top 5 quarterbacks in college football. Side note: my top five are Mayfield, Barrett, UCLA's Josh Rosen, USC's Sam Darnold (more on him later), and Lamar Jackson. The bottom five in my top ten are Francois, Browning, Buechele, Rudolph, and Michigan's Wilton Speight. If I was a batting man, I would certainly put money on Mayfield reaching New York City.
3. Derrius Guice, LSU
Can I just say that I was high on Guice before anyone else was? In fact, at the end of last year, I gave him the college football rising star award. In limited playing time last year (thanks to starter Leonard Fournette being injured), Guice got a chance to play and show the world what a special player he is. In my opinion, he's the second-best back in college football and will show the world that this season. By the way, I might just love LSU running backs, because Fournette was my preseason Heisman pick last year.
2. Lamar Jackson, Louisville
It might seem a little surprising to see that last year's winner is only #2 here. After all, shouldn't he be the consensus #1 pick? My issue is not with his performance, I believe he will continue to put up mind-blowing stats. My problem is that I believe the media is tired of him. The media was all over him last year (including me, I gave him two TSE awards last year) and are looking for a new story. There's a reason only one man has ever won two Heismans (that man being Archie Griffin). However, Jackson is too dynamic of a player to ignore. He will be invited back to New York City, but there's a chance he will not win.
1. Sam Darnold, USC
Remember when I said the media was tired of Jackson and needed a new story? Well they found one in Sam Darnold. I had the chance to watch him play at the Colisseum last year, and let me tell you, the hype is real. Darnold is the real deal and will definitely contend for the Heisman this year. That's why he is my preseason pick to win the 2017 Heisman trophy.
Thanks for reading everyone. Check back soon for our updated watch.
The Heisman is the most prestigious individual award in all of American sports. Some past winners include Cam Newton, Carson Palmer, Charles Woodson, Bo Jackson, Herschel Walker, Doug Flutie, Earl Campbell, Tony Dorsett, Desmond Howard, and Marcus Mariota. This year's winner will have their name forever immortalized for future generations to read.
On a personal level, the Heisman race is by far The Sports Examiner's biggest and most popular attraction. We track the race every week and pick our winner at the end of the season. Last year's winner was QB Lamar Jackson. He had a sensational season, but it made for a slightly uninteresting race. Jackson was hot all season long and it became apparent that he would take home the award. Here's hoping we have a more interesting race this season.
Before we present our Top 10, here are a few honorable mentions. We have WR Calvin Ridley from Alabama, his teammate Bo Scarbrough, Longhorn QB Shane Buechele, Oklahoma State's Mason Rudolph, QB Jake Browning from Washington, and new Florida Gator Malik Zaire. Let's get started.
10. Jalen Hurts, Alabama
When the season ended last year, Hurts was in the Top 5 of our Heisman watch. Admittedly, we were a little high on him, but it was hard not to be too impressed with him. After all, he did play for runner-up Alabama and put up numerous noteworthy performances throughout the year. That being said, the Crimson Tide defense was the real reason they were so successful, not Hurts. He did play well, but he wasn't even the most outstanding player on his own team. This year however, Hurts has a chance to contend for the gold. He plays for one of the best teams in the country, has weapons like Ridley and Scarbrough, and should be better than he was last year.
9. Royce Freeman, Oregon
It seems like Freeman always starts out as a Heisman contender, but never seems to actually follow through. That being said, he is a talented running back. In fact, he's one of the top 10 running backs in the country. He can be a bit inconsistent at times, but it's clear that he's very talented. He's a dark horse for sure, but he's still in the race.
8. Saquon Barkley, Penn State
Last year was a coming out party for Barkley. Penn State nearly made the playoffs and Barkley looked like a real beast. He's one of the five best backs in football and was a Heisman long shot last year. This year, he could become a real contender. I'm a little lower on him than most people, but even I can't rank him lower than 8.
7. Nick Chubb, Georgia
You could argue that Chubb is the best running back in college football. Everything we've seen from his first two seasons in the league. The only reason he isn't ranked higher is the same reason he has never been a Heisman finalist: injuries. A nasty leg injury cost him most of the 2015 season and also cut into his 2016 season. If he can stay on the field and produce, he should move up this list.
6. Deondre Francois, Florida State
I have to admit, I'm all in on this guy. As a freshman last year, he displayed poise, confidence, and leadership. On top of that, he has a great arm and is a sensational quarterback. He was a frequent name on our Heisman watch last season and will probably do the same again this year.
5. JT Barrett, Ohio State
Barrett has had an interesting career. He's competed for the starting job multiple times while also winning a national championship and winning a number of awards, including being Offensive MVP of the 2016 Fiesta Bowl. Somewhat surprisingly, he has never been a Heisman finalist. Could that change this year?
4. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
A lot of people have this guy as their preseason pick to win the award, and it makes a lot of sense. Oklahoma is expected to contend for a national title, he was a Heisman finalist last year, and he is one of the top 5 quarterbacks in college football. Side note: my top five are Mayfield, Barrett, UCLA's Josh Rosen, USC's Sam Darnold (more on him later), and Lamar Jackson. The bottom five in my top ten are Francois, Browning, Buechele, Rudolph, and Michigan's Wilton Speight. If I was a batting man, I would certainly put money on Mayfield reaching New York City.
3. Derrius Guice, LSU
Can I just say that I was high on Guice before anyone else was? In fact, at the end of last year, I gave him the college football rising star award. In limited playing time last year (thanks to starter Leonard Fournette being injured), Guice got a chance to play and show the world what a special player he is. In my opinion, he's the second-best back in college football and will show the world that this season. By the way, I might just love LSU running backs, because Fournette was my preseason Heisman pick last year.
2. Lamar Jackson, Louisville
It might seem a little surprising to see that last year's winner is only #2 here. After all, shouldn't he be the consensus #1 pick? My issue is not with his performance, I believe he will continue to put up mind-blowing stats. My problem is that I believe the media is tired of him. The media was all over him last year (including me, I gave him two TSE awards last year) and are looking for a new story. There's a reason only one man has ever won two Heismans (that man being Archie Griffin). However, Jackson is too dynamic of a player to ignore. He will be invited back to New York City, but there's a chance he will not win.
1. Sam Darnold, USC
Remember when I said the media was tired of Jackson and needed a new story? Well they found one in Sam Darnold. I had the chance to watch him play at the Colisseum last year, and let me tell you, the hype is real. Darnold is the real deal and will definitely contend for the Heisman this year. That's why he is my preseason pick to win the 2017 Heisman trophy.
Thanks for reading everyone. Check back soon for our updated watch.
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