Written by Mark Schlabach at ESPN.com
Last year Derrick Henry crashed the quarterbacks’ Heisman House party. Now two bruising runners and one of the most versatile backs in the sport’s history will challenge two QBs for the Heisman.
DESHAUN WATSON
CLEMSON QB, JR.
2015 STATS 333-of-491, 4,104 yards, 35 TDs, 13 INTs; 207 carries, 1,105 yards, 12 TDs
Less than one year removed from a serious knee injury, Watson led Clemson to an undefeated regular season and a spot in the CFP national championship as a sophomore. Can he lead the Tigers to a title as an encore?
CHRISTIAN McCAFFREY
STANFORD RB, JR.
2015 STATS 337 rushes, 2,019 yards, 8 TDs; 45 catches for 645 yards, 5 TDs; 2 passing TDs; 2 return TDs
If McCaffrey didn’t play out West, he might have won the Heisman last season, when he became the first FBS player since 1996 to top 1,500 rushing yards, 500 receiving yards and 1,000 yards on kickoff returns in a single season.
BAKER MAYFIELD
OKLAHOMA QB, SR.
2015 STATS 269-of-395, 3,700 yards, 36 TDs, 7 INTs; 141 carries, 405 yards, 7 TDs
Mayfield has played with a sizable chip on his shoulder since not being offered a Big 12 scholarship out of high school, then earning and losing a starting job at Texas Tech before transferring. He’ll again be highly motivated after he was passed over as a Heisman finalist last season.
LEONARD FOURNETTE
LSU RB, JR.
2015 STATS 300 carries, 1,953 yards, 22 TDs; 19 catches, 253 yards, 1 TD
Fournette was a Heisman snub last season after a November swoon, including just 31 yards at Alabama. He still gained 1,953 yards with 22 touchdowns, but the Tigers will have to throw the ball more effectively to prevent him from fading down the stretch again.
DALVIN COOK
FSU RB, JR.
2015 STATS 229 carries, 1,691 yards, 19 TDs; 24 catches, 244 yards, 1 TD
Cook ran for 1,691 yards last season despite struggling with injuries that caused him to miss most of two games. If FSU is going to unseat Clemson in the ACC and return to the playoff, Cook will have to be the catalyst.
POSITION AWARDS
DAVEY O’BRIEN: TOP QB
Deshaun Watson Clemson Baker Mayfield Oklahoma J.T. Barrett Ohio State
DOAK WALKER: TOP RB
Christian McCaffrey Stanford Leonard Fournette LSU Dalvin Cook Florida State
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