Heisman Trophy Power Rankings: Boykin, Elliott the preseason favorites
The college football season is fast approaching, and this year will see one of the most wide-open Heisman Trophy races in recent memory.
Each of the last five and 13 of the last 15 winners of the Heisman have been quarterbacks, and the last player to win the award who wasn't a quarterback or running back was in 1997. These rankings are heavily skewed in favor of quarterbacks and running backs as a result.
Here's a look at the top 10 preseason candidates in order.
1. Trevone Boykin, Sr., QB, TCU, +450
Boykin finished fourth in Heisman voting in 2014, and the three players ahead of him will now be playing their football on Sundays. Boykin returns to again lead TCU's high-octane offense.
2. Ezekiel Elliott, Jr., RB, Ohio State, +700
Elliott closed out last season with three consecutive 200-yard rushing performances, including 246 yards and four touchdowns in Ohio State's national title win over Oregon.
3. Nick Chubb, Soph., RB, Georgia, +1200
The 2014 season was supposed to be Todd Gurley's swan song between the hedges, but Chubb stole the show, rushing for at least 110 yards and a touchdown in each of his eight starts, including two 200-yard games.
4. Leonard Fournette, Soph., RB, LSU, +1200
The No. 1 overall recruit in the 2014 class, many saw Fournette's freshman season as a failure. But he improved as the season went on, closing out the season with back-to-back games with over 140 yards rushing.
5. Deshaun Watson, Soph., QB, Clemson, +1600
Injuries derailed Watson's freshman season, but his ceiling remains high. In parts of eight games, Watson threw for 14 touchdowns and two interceptions, also running for 200 yards and five touchdowns.
6. Derrick Henry, Jr., RB, Alabama, +1800
With a new quarterback under center and Amari Cooper and T.J. Yeldon moving on to the NFL, the keys to the Alabama offense are in Henry's hands. This will be his opportunity for the breakout many anticipated a year ago.
7. Jeremy Johnson, Jr., QB, Auburn, +1200
Nick Marshall deserves a lot of credit for the way he ran Gus Malzahn's offense, but Johnson adds a whole other element. Cam Newton is an unfair comparison, but there's reason for optimism.
8. J.T. Barrett, Soph., QB, Ohio State, +900
Barrett would instantly move up a few spots if he had the starting quarterback job locked up. He'll split some votes with Elliott, which also hurts his stock.
9. Cody Kessler, Sr., QB, USC, +1200
Kessler had a breakout 2014 campaign in new head coach Steve Sarkisian's up-tempo offense. He loses some of his top targets, but another year in the system will do him good.
10. Scooby Wright III, Jr., LB, Arizona, +10000
Wright returns to Tucson following a ridiculous junior season in which he garnered a handful of second- and third-place votes. He'll make a serious run at becoming the first defensive player to win the award since Charles Woodson in 1997.
(Odds courtesy: Bovada)