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Heisman Watch: My Top 3, who’s rising, who’s falling after Week 2
By John Crist
Published:
Two weeks into the 2016 campaign, it’s fair to shake up the Top 3. Some of the preseason contenders have failed to produce.
Florida State running back Dalvin Cook, for example, is yet to crack 100 yards rushing in either of his two games. With the emergence of quarterback Deondre Francois, Cook might not even be the best candidate on his own team.
In the SEC, Ole Miss signal caller Chad Kelly threw three touchdown passes Saturday against Wofford. Still, his four-turnover performance in the opener against aforementioned FSU will linger in the minds of voters. Georgia tailback Nick Chubb was sensational in Week 1, although he was average at best in Week 2.
Should Kelly upset Alabama on Saturday in Oxford, he’ll re-enter the conversation. Starting with at Missouri in Week 3, Chubb takes on five consecutive conference opponents. Perhaps another 200-yard outing or two is imminent.
Here is how I’m handicapping the race thus far. While the top spot remains the same, some fresh faces are making noise.
top 3
1. Stanford RB Christian McCaffrey
Week 2: didn’t play (bye)
2016: 22-126-2 rushing, 7-40-0 receiving, 2-16-0 punt returns, 1-28-0 kick returns
The Cardinal only played one game this season before getting a week off, so McCaffrey wasn’t on display Saturday.
Nevertheless, he remains the most versatile weapon in the college game with his ability to affect outcomes as a runner, receiver and return man. McCaffrey never goes long stretches without having his hands on the football.
With USC scheduled to visit The Farm in Week 3, McCaffrey is a good bet to have a big day against the rebuilding Trojans.
2. Louisville QB Lamar Jackson
Week 2: 20-39-411-1-1 passing, 21-199-4 rushing
2016: 37-62-697-7-1 passing, 32-318-6 rushing
After eight total touchdowns in the season opener hosting Charlotte, Jackson accounted for five more at Syracuse.
Jackson is a terrifying dual-threat quarterback, falling just 1 yard shy on the ground of a 400-passing/200-rushing performance in Week 2. While he’s far from a pinpoint passer, his running ability can make any secondary nervous.
We’ll find out in Week 3 if Jackson is for real. No. 2 Florida State is coming to Louisville. So is ESPN’s College GameDay.
3. Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett
Week 2: 14-22-149-0-0 passing, 15-55-2 rushing
2016: 35-53-498-6-1 passing, 22-85-3 rushing
He didn’t have to do much through the air to put away overmatched Tulsa, although he did score twice on the ground.
With the Buckeyes no longer flip-flopping between Barrett and the departed Cardale Jones at quarterback, Barrett has re-established himself as one of the best in the country at the game’s most important position.
Not only is he running an offense that lets him rack up the stats, but Ohio State is a College Football Playoff threat.
on the rise
Notre Dame QB DeShone Kizer
Despite being forced to share the job with Malik Zaire in a Week 1 loss at Texas, Kizer threw 5 touchdown passes without an interception. Now that Zaire is out of the way and Kizer is officially QB1 again in South Bend, he should be prolific.
Because Notre Dame always plays a daunting schedule full of high-profile games, voters will be able to watch Kizer closely early and often.
California WR Chad Hansen
Yes, a receiver hasn’t won the Heisman since Desmond Howard in 1991. Yes, Cal plays a defense-optional brand of pigskin in the Pac-12 that doesn’t get a lot of respect nationally. Those are clear hurdles for Hansen.
However, he caught 14 passes for 160 yards and 2 TDs in Week 1, followed by a 14-190-1 outing in Week 2. Those numbers will get noticed.
Washington QB Jake Browning
Another player off to a fast start in relative anonymity out West, Browning is lighting it up for a Huskies team a lot of experts believe can be a sneaky Final Four entrant. In two games, he’s thrown for 581 yards and 8 scores.
Once pesky Portland State is out of the way in Week 3, Browning will face Arizona, Stanford and Oregon before earning a bye.
falling fast
Clemson QB Deshaun Watson
Perhaps the front-runner coming into 2016, Watson struggled in Week 1 at Auburn facing a Tigers defense chock full of talent. But then in Week 2 at home, he was picked off twice and couldn’t put away lowly Troy until late.
Watson is only completing 52.9 percent of his passes and has thrown just 4 TDs against 3 INTs. His entire Clemson team looks asleep at the wheel.
LSU RB Leonard Fournette
Unfairly penalized because he didn’t suit up in Week 2, Fournette was held out of the Jacksonville State game due to an ankle injury suffered in the opener against Wisconsin. He should be a go Saturday to face Mississippi State.
It will be interesting to see if LSU’s switch from Brandon Harris to Danny Etling at quarterback has any noticeable effect on Fournette.
UCLA QB Josh Rosen
Already considered by some to be the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Rosen was picked off three times in the season-opening loss at Texas A&M. But he did throw for 349 yards, and that was with his wideouts not playing well.
Rosen was good it not great seven days later at home against UNLV, so his candidacy never really got off the ground this year.
John Crist is the senior writer for Saturday Down South, a member of the FWAA and a voter for the Heisman Trophy. Send him an e-mail, like him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.
John Crist is an award-winning contributor to Saturday Down South.
