1. Jameis Winston, QB – Florida State
Winston, the reigning Heisman award winner is entering the 2014 season as arguably the best player in college football. Winston will look to become just the second player in NCAA history to win back-to-back Heisman awards joining former Ohio State running back Archie Griffin. In Winston’s way of another Heisman will be strong teams such as Oklahoma State, Clemson, Notre Dame, and Miami. Winston threw for 40 touchdowns last year and threw 10 interceptions, however he also looked a little over excited in both the ACC and BCS Championship Games.
2. Marcus Mariota, QB – Oregon
Once a possible first overall pick in last year’s NFL Draft, Mariota decided to return to Oregon after ending his season in disappointing fashion with losses to Stanford and Arizona Wildcats in November before finishing their season off strong with wins against Oregon State and Texas. A great fit for Oregon’s offense, Mariota is possibly the best quarterback in college football when healthy. Mariota threw for over 3,000 yards and had a 7.5 TD to INT ratio with 30 touchdowns and four interceptions. Another great asset for Mariota is his legs, rushing for close to 600 yards last season and nine touchdowns.
3. Bryce Petty, QB – Baylor
The best pure pocket passer in college football belongs to Bryce Petty. Last season Petty threw as close to perfection as anybody, completing 62% of his passes and throwing 30 touchdowns and only two interceptions in the regular season. Throwing for 4,340 yards last season, Petty will have the chance to throw for closer to 5,000 yards after Baylor brought in four ESPN 300 wide receivers in last season’s recruiting class. Not to mention bringing Robbie Rhodes in 2013, the number three wide receiver in the country.
4. Todd Gurley, RB – Georgia
Without a doubt the best running back in all of college football, Todd Gurley is almost a lock to be a first round pick. Gurley, last season was nagged by injuries which prevented him from playing in three contests. Potentially one of the most athletic running backs in college football, Gurley shows amazing speed along with being one of the best power rushers as well in the country. With QB Aaron Murray in Kansas City with the Chiefs, Gurley will be relied upon more. If Gurley can hand out more punishment than he receives than he may be holding the Heisman Trophy this December.
5. Brett Hundley, QB – UCLA
Hundley is a top five quarterback going into next year’s NFL Draft and is the driving force of the Bruins’ offense. While Hundley may have a higher completion percentage than Petty coming in at 67.8 percent, he also threw nine interceptions while throwing just twenty touchdowns. Hundley’s biggest problem is when it comes to pressuring himself, therefore the Bruins will want to try to find a running back to help take the load off of Hundley. Hundley has decent speed for his tallish frame, coming in at 6’3 and 222 pounds.
6. T.J Yeldon, RB – Alabama
A Heisman winning running back wouldn’t be new to Alabama as back in 2009, Mark Ingram brought home the award to Tuscaloosa. Last season, Yeldon rushed for 1,163 yards and 13 touchdowns. His best performance came against Texas A&M rushing for 149 yards and one touchdown on 25 carries. Averaging 6.0 yards per carry, Yeldon should see more production this season as the Alabama quarterback situation is far from being the best just not in the country but even in the SEC.
7. Nick Marshall, QB – Auburn
Nick Marshall burst on the scene last season for Auburn throwing for 1,759 yards and 12 touchdowns last season with five interceptions. He could also potentially be considered for sainthood after helping Auburn complete two miracles last season against both Georgia and Alabama respectively. Marshall whose play style is very similar to that of former Auburn star Cam Newton isn’t nearly as a passing threat as he is a rushing threat as he rushed for 1,023 yards and 11 touchdowns. Auburn, however does have better targets at the wide receiver this upcoming season and without Tre Mason, Marshall should be looking to throw more while rushing for over 1,000 yards at the same time.
8. Melvin Gordon, RB – Wisconsin
A great running back coming out of Wisconsin? Shocking. Gordon, is just another one of the great running backs to come out of Wisconsin in recent years. Gordon ran for over to 1,600 yards last season and averaged 7.8 yards per carry. In 13 games last season, Gordon ran for over 100 yards eight times and scored 12 touchdowns. Gordon should only see more time carrying the ball and should rush for close to 2,000 yards and fifteen scores. Gordon’s one downfall is his receiving game, only catching three passes over his three year career for 75 yards and one touchdown. Gordon, will have the chance to see more time on passing plays with James White moving onto the NFL.
9. Ameer Abdullah, RB – Nebraska
Another Big 10 running back makes the Heisman contenders list with Nebraska’s Ameer Abdullah who rushed for 1,690 yards last season for the Cornhuskers. The second consecutive season that he rushed for over 1,000 yards. He ran for over 100 yards in 11 of 13 games including a 225 yard performance against Illinois. Abdullah is also as much as a receiving threat as he is a rushing threat, catching 26 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns last season. A reigning All-Big 10 running back, Abdullah should easily make that list again if not being an All-American his senior season.
10. Taysom Hill, QB – BYU
Wait, who? In case you haven’t heard of him which there is a good chance you haven’t, Hill is potentially the best quarterback in college football outside the Power Five conferences. Hill, a threat both on the ground and in the air, should easily finish with close to 5,000 yards of total offense. Last season, Hill rushed for 1,344 yards and 10 touchdowns and threw for 2,938 yards and 19 touchdowns to go along with 14 interceptions. BYU will put up double-digit wins in 2014 most likely but strength of schedule may be one of the few things that hold this quarterback back from being in New York City in December.
Watch List:
Taylor Kelly, QB – Arizona State
Kelly should throw for close to 4,000 yards this season and close to 25 touchdowns, which will best last season when he threw for over 3,000 yards and also rushed for over 500. Kelly should lead ASU to another potential Pac-12 title run in the process.
Mike Davis, RB – South Carolina
Davis may be the best player not in the top ten candidates that is in the watch list. Now playing for what some consider an SEC powerhouse, with a tougher schedule, Davis should post over 100-yards in over half of South Carolina’s games. Davis, if healthy will sneak into the Heisman race and will be in New York City this December.
Trevor Knight, QB – Oklahoma
If the Trevor Knight that played in the Sugar Bowl shows up this season for OU, then he will easily sneak into the top 10 Heisman candidates if not the top five. Knight will post big numbers this season for Oklahoma and should help them win double digit games.
Duke Johnson, RB – Miami
A standout running back when healthy, Johnson is arguably the best running back in the ACC with lethal speed and explosiveness. The biggest hurdle in Heisman candidacy will be staying healthy after tearing his ACL last season. If healthy, Johnson should see over 200 carries and at his career yards per carry at 6.3 , he could rush for close to 1,300 yards or more.
Everett Golson, QB – Notre Dame
Golson, who was suspended last season will be looking to make his impact on Notre Dame like he once did in 2012 when he took the Fightin Irish to the 2013 BCS National Title Game before losing to Alabama 42-14. Over the past season, Golson took significant amount of time to improve his game as he was seen at The Opening Out in Oregon helping out with the quarterbacks. Golson is a great fit for Brian Kelly’s offense and should post big numbers for the Fightin Irish this upcoming season.
Christian Hackenberg, QB – Penn State
Hackenberg arguably the best pure passer in the Big Ten is missing an offensive line that will contain pressure from the great defensive lines in the Big Ten. If an offensive line can come together for the Nittany Lions, Hackenberg will have one of the best receiving cores in the country when judging by pure talent. He broke 11 school records as a freshman, and was named a captain for the 2014 season, the first sophomore in school history. Hackenberg will be in the 2015 Heisman talk and 2016 if he chooses not to go pro where he will be a top 10 pick easily.
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