ECU Pirates QB Shane Carden is a Legitimate Heisman Contender

Whenever the East Carolina Pirates hit the field on game day, there is no doubt that senior quarterback Shane Carden is the best player on the field.

Carden’s numbers speak for themselves in showing that he is not your average gunslinger. In four short games, Carden has racked up 1,469 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and three interceptions.

Carden’s total yards currently rank third in the nation, while his touchdowns rank eighth on list of talented quarterbacks. Carden’s passer rating is pretty stellar as well, standing at 148.7. Not bad for a kid out of Houston (TX) that came to Greenville (NC) to bring pride and respect to this program.

To ECU fans, Carden’s hot start is not news. The fifth-year player has been wowing fans for his entire tenure and will be the best quarterback to ever suit up for the Pirates. However, with the rest of the nation taking notice, will this year continue to be magical for Carden and Co. and will he garner some Heisman attention with his play?

To answer this question, I look at the quarterbacks that I have seen come and go in my lifetime of loving and learning this sport. Growing up in the shadow of Lavell Edwards Stadium at BYU, I have been spoiled watching great quarterbacks (besides Riley Nelson) play in this program.

Looking at Carden’s season and finding ways of how to express my feelings of a real Heisman shot for Carden, luck would be on my side. Brandon Doman was talking about his days of playing college football at BYU and I can see some stark similarities with his situation and Carden’s.

Doman was leading BYU to an undefeated season his senior year in 2001. As Doman recalled, he was leading the nation in Heisman votes because of his great heroics in games the media loved him and the school put on a great PR campaign for him. There was even talk of this team playing Miami in the big national championship game. (If you didn’t know, BYU only has one national championship and it was almost 30 years ago (1984). The 2001 team was spanked by Hawaii on the last game of the season, 72-45. With that loss, the Heisman talk dried up for Doman and he didn’t get anymore attention.)

I see similarities with this example from Doman to Carden. Anyone who watched ECU blow the doors off of North Carolina saw Carden at his absolute best, and he has gotten the attention he deserves. Those who saw him against South Carolina saw a very lost and confused man under center and not Heisman quality. If Carden plays like that again, all talk of any consideration would end.

If Carden keeps playing as well as he has in the last two games, he will have a shot to have his seat at the big kid’s table and be invited to New York. He may not have that chance for how many outstanding athletes there are in the nation right now. Jameis Wintson, Marcus Mariota, Brett Hundley and even Taysom Hill are quarterbacks that would get an invite over Carden. Not because they are putting up better numbers, or even better quarterbacks. (Carden’s numbers are better than all of those quarterbacks aforementioned.) They are however, better athletes.

That is what the Heisman has become. Not who is the best player in college football, but who does more for their team and is a better all-around athlete. Looking back at the past four winners: Winston (2013), Johnny Manziel (2012). Robert Griffin III (2011) and Cam Newton (2010).

All of these winners have one thing in common: they are running quarterbacks. That is what this year’s quarterback candidates are no different. They can beat the defense with their legs and their arm, and this is a luxury that Carden does not have. He is a quarterback that can run, much like Aaron Rodgers, but is not a running quarterback like a Colin Kaepernick.

While I do not think it is pertinent to Carden’s success that he be a Heisman candidate, he has the skills that will help his team win games. Carden’s set of skills may not garner the attention of Heisman voters, but it will get the attention of NFL scouts. I can see him having a more successful career in the NFL than any of the running quarterbacks that will be in contention for the Heisman.