It feels good to have you back, college football.
Week One was full of surprisingly close games and outstanding individual performances, some of which we didn't see coming - I'm looking at you, Kenny Hill.
The Texas A&M quarterback used the Thursday night spotlight to shred a top-10 team in South Carolina to the tune of 511 yards, breaking Johnny Manziel's school records in the process. His performance put himself on the Heisman map, but how far up the list did he make it?
DARK HORSES
10) Kevin Hogan, QB, Stanford
Last Week: 8
Hogan was methodical in Stanford's rout of UC Davis, going 12-16 passing for 204 yards and 3 TDs, and added another on the ground. The performance was nothing special, but he has a chance to really put himself on the Heisman map this weekend when the Cardinal face USC at home. Good numbers and win will throw him into legitimate contention, but a poor performance and a loss will essentially end his chances.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWh1pz9ms8Q
9) Taylor Kelly, QB, Arizona State
Last Week: 10
The Sun Devil's quarterback put up mediocre numbers against Weber State on Thursday night (238 pass yards, 1 TD), but he didn't play the whole game as ASU dominated from start to finish. They have two easy road games upcoming against New Mexico and Colorado before facing a murderous row of UCLA, USC, Stanford, and Washington. If Kelly can put up the good numbers were accustomed to seeing of him and navigate his team through that tough stretch of games, he'll be challenging Mariota and Winston at the top of Heisman contention.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpG7MfWF7BE
8 ) T.J. Yeldon, RB, Alabama
Last Week: NR
Yeldon is your default Alabama player on the list, and he didn't disappoint against West Virginia. He ran for 126 yards and had three total touchdowns (one receiving), and kept the Tide's offense moving when the Mountaineers were threatening to take over the game. With 'Bama's quarterback competition still open, expect Yeldon to continue to put up numbers with a heavy workload.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsMjAFuc-Uk
7) Melvin Gordon III, RB, Wisconsin
Last Week: 9
Gordon was having himself a game against the vaunted LSU defense, but a hip flexor injury limited him to only four carries in the second half. That ultimately stopped the Badger's offense and allowed for LSU to come back and win the game, and it also may have stripped Gordon of his Heisman moment. Still, he ran for 140 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, but he could have been around 200 yards if he didn't get hurt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hyiAQQZlsY
6) Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA
Last Week: 4
Hundley and UCLA’s offense looked downright terrible against a lowly Virginia team over the weekend, but the Bruin’s defense managed to keep their championship hopes - and Hundley’s Heisman aspirations - alive. He accumulated 281 yards of total offense while his only touchdown came on the ground in UCLA’s only touchdown drive. It might have just been a case of opening-day jitters, but Hundley needs to turn things around quick.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSsEy6gaDPg
CONTENDERS
5) Kenny Hill, QB, Texas A&M
Last Week: NR
KENNY HILL!!!! This kid grabbed all the headlines after he absolutely dismantled No. 9 South Carolina - ending the Gamecock’s 18-game home winning streak - with 511 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. Hill skyrocketed up the board due to the amount of hype that his performance generated, putting him on the Heisman map. That said, he still has to prove he’s not a one-hit wonder. But, man, he was fun to watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkJDXs35kdo
4) Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor
Last Week: 3
Petty had a good first half against SMU on Sunday night (161 yards passing, 3 total TDs), but he sat out the second half due to two cracked vertebrae in his back. The Bears didn’t need him - winning 45-0 - and Petty says he’ll be good to go next week.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzFhkaZ2_-w
3) Todd Gurley II, RB, Georgia
Last Week: 5
Goodness gracious did Todd Gurley have himself a game against Clemson. Not only did he have a monster day running the ball (198 yards, 3 TDs), he decided to return a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown (it was really more like 105 yards, but the NCAA only allows return stats to go up to 100). One thing that was clear is that this year’s Georgia team will only go as far as Gurley takes them, and it looks like he can take them a long way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgaILsVdU9o
2) Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Last Week: 2
Mariota did what we’re accustomed to seeing him do. He didn’t turn the ball over, accounted for over 300 yards of offense, and had four total touchdowns - and he only played a half in the Ducks’ 62-13 win over South Dakota. Things get a lot tougher next week when Oregon faces Michigan State, and a good performance against the Spartans might be enough to take over the top spot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=homClBTAbMQ
1) Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Last Week: 1
Winston struggled against Oklahoma State, throwing two picks, but he did have 370 passing yards and led his Seminoles to a hard fought victory. The reigning Heisman trophy winner didn’t play his best, but he did enough to keep his top spot.
Oh yeah, and he wowed us with this incredible run:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs-74zwdnTQ
Who's your Heisman favorite? Who should we keep our eyes on this week? Leave a response in the comments!
Back to the NCAA Newsfeed