1. Nick Chubb, Georgia RB
2015: 468 yards on 56 carries, 4 TD
This week: vs. Southern University
Georgia is rolling, and Chubb is a big reason for its success. In the Bulldogs’ 52-20 win over South Carolina, Chubb ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns. He’s averaging 8.4 yards per carry in 2015 behind a strong offensive line, good reads and a lot of speed. It’s likely he’ll have another big game Saturday, and I see him being at the top of the Heisman race all season.
2. Leonard Fournette, LSU RB
2015: 387 yards on 47 carries, 6 TD
This week: at Syracuse
He’s played just two games this season, but Fournette is widely considered one of the best college football players in the country. He ran all over Auburn last Saturday, racking up 228 yards and three touchdowns on just 19 carries. Fournette has great acceleration and runs extremely hard, making him very difficult to bring down. If he keeps running this well, Fournette might be at the top of my list next week.
3. Trevone Boykin, TCU QB
2015: 65-of-99, 985 yards, 10 TD, 3 INT
This week: at Texas Tech
Boykin hasn’t been as flashy and big-play oriented this season, and that’s made me like him as a quarterback even more. His pocket presence has improved and he’s taking time to read the defense properly instead of panicking and relying on his scrambling abilities too early. Boykin scored six touchdowns last week against SMU, with five in the air and one on the ground. He passed for 454 yards after going 21-of-30. He’s executing TCU’s high-scoring offense very well and looking better every week, which led to him being named the Big 12’s Offensive Co-Player of the Week.
4. Derrick Henry, Alabama RB
2015: 370 yards on 54 carries, 7 TD
This week: vs. Louisiana-Monroe
Even though Alabama lost to Ole Miss on Saturday, Henry had a good game. He rushed for 127 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. Henry’s averaging 6.9 yards per carry this season and has 51 receiving yards on seven catches. Alabama’s offense is still figuring itself out, but one thing is for sure — Henry has to be the go-to guy. If the offensive line can create more opportunities for him, Henry can rack up big numbers in the SEC and give himself a better chance at the Heisman.
5. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma QB
2015: 74-of-110, 1062 yards, 10 TD, 2 INT
This week: Bye Week
Heisman voters love quarterbacks, and Mayfield is playing really well in his first season with Oklahoma, so I’m making him my dark horse pick this week. Mayfield was the other Big 12 Offensive Co-Player of the Week after going 32-of-38 with 487 passing yards and four touchdowns, along with two scores on the ground. He’s running Oklahoma’s offense incredibly well by getting multiple players involved and looking really comfortable in the spotlight.
