Clemson’s Deshaun Watson 1 of 3 Heisman Finalists

Alabama has one previous Heisman Trophy victor (running back Mark Ingram, 2009). This time, Watson is pictured celebrating on the podium Saturday after he accounted for five touchdowns in the top-ranked Tigers’ 45-37 victory over North Carolina in the 2015 ACC Championship in Charlotte. He saved his best performance for last, posting 207 yards on the ground and 461 total yards (a school record) in Stanford’s Pac-12 title game win over USC on Saturday.

In 13 games, Watson has thrown for 3,512 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, while completing 69.5% of his passes and compiling a quarterback rating of 159.6, good for 11th in the country.

McCaffrey’s record-breaking season is made even more special when considering that he started slow. Heisman candidacy has been dominated by the quarterback position this century. He’s at 1,896 yards in 339 attempts, 46 fewer carries than Walker.

But there must be a victor and these are how the finalists stack up against one another leading up to the Heisman cermony.

He also scored 15 combined touchdowns and even recorded seven total tackles.

Louisiana State running back Leonard Fournette, who just weeks ago was considered by some experts as a shoe-in to win the award, will not be a finalist in NY – nor will Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield. “Exactly a year later, he will be in NY as a Heisman finalist”.

The 81st annual Heisman Memorial Trophy Presentation will take place Saturday at 7 p.m. CT in New York City.

Watson has helped lead the Clemson Tigers to a ideal season and the No. 1 ranking in the College Football playoff.

With the Rose Bowl against Iowa still to come on New Year’s Day, McCaffrey is second to Oregon’s Royce Freeman in the Pac-12 rushing race by the thinnest of margins.

McCaffrey, from Colorado, played his high school football at Valor Christian, where he led his team to two state championships his Junior and Senior seasons. Another stat to note, Henry broke the great Herschel Walker’s record for single season SEC rushing yards.

Now at Stanford, he plays football, but he truly does it all. 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 unbelievable, but none of this would be possible without my coaches and teammates. Now, on Tuesday, McCaffrey was named to the First Team of the USA Today Sports All-American College Football Team.

The Heisman Trophy vote I hold is one of many votes I have for major awards.

“I’m not here to tell you that I know who the best Heisman candidate is”. When the times looked tough for Clemson, Watson was routinely cool under fire and never cost Clemson in a critical situation.

He’s rushed for 1,847 yards while tallying 540 yards receiving.