So, back in July, I thought it’d be a good idea to throw out a college football article previewing the 2016 Heisman race. Considering we have an adequate sample size of the 2016 season, I thought it might be worth revisiting.
Nope – bad idea. Revisiting old interests is often a bad thing – like trying out Rumple Minze after you haven’t had in years and forgot that you quit drinking it because you once drank an entire bottle and it made your skin green the next day and you almost died. Or, like – “checking up on an ex-lover” if you’re looking for a less extreme example.
Some things just need to be left in the past – like the 2016 SoBros Heisman watch list. Just…don’t even bother with it. Keep moving forward like your a credible football journalist.
No one can fault me for having Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey atop the list….right? We were all in agreement that they were contenders, no?
Neither of those running backs are having half the season they had in 2015. McCaffrey has been downright invisible. Fournette has shown flashes, but hasn’t maintained the dominance he had before facing Alabama last season.
Dalvin Cook at #3 – okay, I’m alright there. The Florida State running back is actually still on a lot of the media’s collective watch list. Deshaun Watson and J.T. Barrett are still hanging around in the race. In Watson’s case, he may be the presumptive runner-up.
I’ve even seen Baker Mayfield’s name trickle in on a few writers’ rankings. I’m okay with that.
But, Josh Dobbs at #7 is undeniably insane. What the hell was I thinking? Brad Kaaya at #9? That’s laugh out loud funny. Of the might 4-4 Miami Hurricanes – damn.
Royce Freeman at #10 – does he even play football anymore? I don’t know. Does Oregon even play football anymore?
Anyway, here’s Big Natural’s updated Heisman rankings:
10. Trevor Knight (go ahead – mock me)
9. Zach Terrell (my man captaining those undefeated Western Michigan Broncos)
8. J.T. Barrett
7. Jalen Hurts
6. Donnel Pumphrey
5. Jonathan Allen, Alabama DE – Sure, we’ve all seen the highlight of Allen giving Trevor Knight a Goldberg-esque spear, but he’s quietly put together one of the most quiet, dominant seasons on defense.
4. Deshaun Watson, Clemson QB – Breaking news: Deshaun Watson is still Deshaun Watson. Clemson’s undefeated, but have played in some close games that should not have been close.
3. Jabrill Peppers, Michigan LB/DB/EVERYTHING – The scarlet letter of Heisman candidacy is playing defense. Still, who can deny the season Peppers is having?
2. Jake Browning, Washington QB – If Texas A&M’s ranking in the College Football Playoff standings didn’t signify just how underrated the Huskies are, I don’t know what will. Browning has been stellar. Keep winning games and he’ll find himself in New York.
1. Lamar Jackson, Louisville QB – Jackson had his signature Heisman moment against Virginia. Showing guts like that combined with the stats makes him the clear favorite right now.
So, there you have it – wayyyyyyyy off from where I was in July. But, hey – you’re reading a writer who is a 37% game picker and who also picked Dorial Green-Beckham to be the Tennessee Titans leading receiver in 2016. So, how’s that for credibility?
FML.
Stoney Keeley is the editor of the SoBros Network, Tennessee Titans Featured Analyst for Pro Football Spot, Contributor to FanSided’s Bama Hammer, and covers the WWE for WrestlingNews.co. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley, @PFSpot, @WrestlingNewsCo, @Bama_Hammer
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