G-Rex's Heisman Primer

There is only one college football game this weekend (Army-Navy), but one event that does take place this weekend is the annual presentation of the Heisman Trophy (in New York), awarded to the best player in NCAA Division I FBS college football. There are three finalists, as well as plenty of other deserving candidates who didn't get an invite.

Snubs

Oklahoma Junior QB Baker Mayfield: 243-354, 3,389 yards, 35 TD, 5 INT; 131 rushes, 420 yards, 7 TD

Mayfield made a strong case for the Heisman, and believes he should have been a finalist. He led the Sooners through the wild Big 12 and emerged with just one loss, a championship, and a spot in the Playoff. Mayfield threw at least two touchdown pass in all but one game (which he threw one in).

Ohio State Junior RB Ezekiel Elliott: 262 rushes, 1,672 yards, 19 TD; 26 catches, 176 yards

It was the Michigan State game that not only ended Ohio State's title hopes, but also Elliott's Heisman hopes. He carried the ball just 12 times for 33 yards, and both he (in a post game "rant") and Urban Meyer admitted they should have given him the ball more. In every other game (including the next week vs. Michigan), Zeke rushed for over 100 yards.

LSU Sophomore RB Leonard Fournette: 271 rushes, 1,741 yards, 18 TD; 18 catches, 209 yards

Early in the season, it looked like Fournette winning the Heisman was almost a foregone conclusion. He had at least 150 yards rushing in his first seven games, but then he got contained by Alabama (19 carries, 31 yards) and Arkansas (19 carries, 91 yards) in consecutive weeks, dwindling his Heisman chances.

Navy Senior QB Keenan Reynolds: 46-84, 964 yards, 6 TD, 1 INT; 220 rushes, 1,093 yards, 19 TD

If the Heisman were a career award, Reynolds would probably win it. Reynolds is a four year starter who holds the NCAA record for most career rushing touchdowns (84), and he led the Midshipmen to the AAC Championship Game this season (where they lost to Houston).

  

Finalists

Stanford Sophomore RB Christian McCaffrey: 319 rushes, 1,847 yards, 8 TD; 41 catches, 540 yards, 4 TD

McCaffrey broke Barry Sanders record for most all-purpose yards in a season while leading the Cardinal to a Pac-12 Championship and the Rose Bowl. He may be the most versatile player in the country; he has also thrown two touchdown passes (he's attempted three) and returned a kickoff for a touchdown.

Alabama Junior RB Derrick Henry: 339 rushes, 1,986 yards, 23 TD; 10 catches, 97 yards
Henry was a workhorse back for the Tide, breaking the SEC record for most rushing yards in a season while averaging 26 carries a game, including 46 and 44 in his last two games (an Iron Bowl win and an SEC Championship win) respectively.

Clemson Sophomore QB Deshaun Watson: 287-413, 3,512 yards, 30 TD, 11 INT; 163 rushes, 887 yards, 11 TD

Watson came back from ACL surgery and piloted the Tigers to an undefeated season and an ACC Championship. The dual-threat had four games of 100 or more yards rushing and five games of three or more passing touchdowns.

G-Rex's Pick: Watson
Watson isn't the favorite to win the Heisman (many have him behind both McCaffrey and Henry), he should be. He's the only finalist who plays quarterback, widely thought of as the most important position. He also has intangibles like leadership and poise, and he led Clemson to an unbeaten season, which no other team in NCAA Division I accomplished. McCaffrey is highly versatile and productive, but Stanford lost twice and didn't make the Playoff. Henry is a very powerful runner, but he didn't do much else besides run the ball. Watson was extremely productive passing the ball and running the ball, and he didn't lose a game, something the others can't say.
G-Rex's Rankings: Watson, McCaffrey, Henry