Clemson’s Watson Named Heisman Trophy Finalist

Alabama’s Derrick Henry and Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey are hoping to return to the Heisman Trophy to the running backs.

Running back Christian McCaffrey of the Stanford Cardinal stiff arms cornerback Iman Marshall of the USC Trojans on a kick return during the first quarter of the Pac-12 Championship game at Levi’s Stadium on December 5, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. Can’t wait to head up to NYC.

The fact that Fournette still leads the nation in rushing yards per game (158.3) despite his performance tapering off down the stretch speaks volumes about his dominance this season, as does his eight 150+ yard outbursts and 18 total touchdowns on the year.

The biggest award of the college football season will be handed out this Saturday night in New York City. A white running back at the college level and higher has become a rarity in recent years, although Stanford’s Toby Gerhart, also white, was a Heisman finalist in 2009 when he finished runner-up to Alabama’s Mark Ingram. He would be Clemson’s first Heisman victor.

While Henry is considered the favorite to win the award – won the past five years by quarterbacks – the other two finalists have made it a tight race.

Henry has blazed through school and SEC records in 2015, his first season as the primary running back.

“He just put icing on the cake, ” said tight end O.J. Howard, who witnessed those early pushup workouts as Henrys roommate. “He has been the leader of the only undefeated team in college football in every way”.

McCaffrey was, hands down, college football’s most outstanding player this season.

The SEC record is remarkable in a conference that has produced several great runners through the yet, and it’s whose record Henry broke that is even more telling. The Heisman Trophy has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid and the chance to go to NY as a finalist is incredible, but none of this would be possible without my coaches and teammates.

“I dont know that theres any player on the team that the team means more to them than it does to Derrick, ” Saban said. He gained 887 yards and scored 11 more touchdowns on the ground.

There are 929 Heisman voters, including 145 media representatives from each of six sections, plus 58 former winners and one vote that’s given to the public on an online ballot.

“Are you the Heisman trophy victor?”

McCaffrey might have half the touchdowns of Henry, but he had more yards from scrimmage (2,387 to 2,083) on only 11 more touches, against a comparable schedule, and with less help around him.

That goes back to my point – the best player doesn’t always win the Heisman.

Watson has guided Clemson to a 13-0 record this season and is 17-1 as the Tigers’ starter over the last two seasons. After several seconds looking for a receiver, he tucked the ball down and headed right toward the defender near the goal line on the fourth-down play. In terms of total offense, running and passing yards combined, all but Reynolds are in the top 30: Boykin is second, Watson ninth, Lynch 12th, Mayfield 14th, Ward 29th and Reynolds is 86th.