The college football season kickoff next week and there are plenty of players that could potentially take home the 2015 Heisman Trophy Award. While the ACC doesn’t have any of the preseason Heisman front runners, the conference has some players that could potentially be in New York for the finals ceremony.
Here are the top Heisman candidates from the ACC:
Honorable Mentions
Jalen Ramsey, defensive back, Florida State
A defensive player has not won the Heisman Trophy Award since Michigan’s Charles Woodson in 1997, but Jalen Ramsey is talented enough to be mention in the race. He is college football’s most versatile and dynamic player and quite possibly the nation’s best.
Whoever starts at quarterback for Florida State
The Florida State Seminoles are in the middle of a quarterback controversy in Tallahassee. As a redshirt junior, Sean Maguire has been in the program for four seasons, but he lacks in-game experience. Before transferring to Florida State last spring, Everett Golson played in 25 games in his career for Notre Dame, including the 2013 BCS National Championship game.
Whoever starts for Florida State in 2015, they will be surrounded by a number of talented players. Either Maguire or Golson could be dark horse Heisman candidates this season.
Tyler Boyd, Wide Receiver, Pittsburgh
If you’re creating a list of the top players in the ACC list for 2015, Tyler Boyd would be near the top of the list.
Ever since stepping on the field as a true freshman for Pittsburgh in 2013, Boyd has proven he is one of the best receivers in college football. In 2014, Boyd caught 78 balls for 1,261 yards and eight touchdowns.
Boyd is the unquestioned best receiver in the ACC and one of the most explosive in the country.
5. Dalvin Cook, Running back, Florida State
Now that Dalvin Cook has been reinstated to the Seminoles roster, he has to be considered one of the top Heisman candidates in the ACC. The running back rushed for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns in 2014, which includes 177-yard MVP performance in the ACC Championship against Georgia Tech.
With the uncertainty about who starts at quarterback for Florida State, the team could feed the ball to Cook early and often.
4. Brad Kaaya, Quarterback, Miami
If the Miami Hurricanes are to return their program to greatness, quarterback Brad Kaaya will have to be the guy to lead them there. Stepping in as a true freshman last season, Kaaya couldn’t have played any better for the Hurricanes.
Kaaya led the ACC in touchdowns (26), yards per attempt (8.46) and passer rating (145.9). He also broke Bernie Kosar’s Miami freshman school record for passing yards (3,198) and touchdowns.
The Hurricanes’ team goal is the win the ACC Coastal and if Kaaya can help the team achieve that, he could be in New York City in mid-December for the Heisman ceremony.
3. Justin Thomas, Quarterback, Georgia Tech
While head coach Paul Johnson’s triple-option offense at Georgia Tech doesn’t throw the ball around a lot, quarterback Justin Thomas is one of the better players in the ACC.
Last season, Thomas threw 18 touchdowns against only six interceptions for the Yellow Jackets. He also finished with 1,086 rushing yards, which was the third-highest in the conference.
Thomas will have some chances to impress the Heisman voters this season as Georgia Tech will have tough games against Clemson, Florida State, Miami, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame and Georgia. If the Yellow Jackets can win the ACC Championship in Charlotte and somehow get into the College Football Playoff, Thomas could receive a lot of votes from the southern media.
2. James Conner, Running Back, Pittsburgh
Not only is James Conner an easy choice for the best running back in the ACC, but he could also be considered the best running back in college football.
In 2014, Conner carried the ball 298 times as he rushed for 1,765 yards and 26 touchdowns. For his efforts, Conner was named 2014 ACC Player of the Year.
If Pittsburgh can contend for the ACC Coastal Division title, don’t be surprised to see Conner’s name get tossed into the Heisman ring. It may take a 2,000-yard season to win the award, but Conner is certainly capable of rushing well over that mark.
1. Deshaun Watson, Quarterback, Clemson
The 2015 ACC Preseason Player of the Year showed everyone what he can do in limited duty last season.
In eight games in 2014, Deshaun Watson threw for 1,466 yards, 14 touchdowns against just two interceptions. Watson did miss some games due to some injuries, including recovering from ACL surgery.
If he can stay healthy, Clemson will have a great shot to win every game during the regular season and make the College Football Playoff. Playing behind a nearly new offensive lineman certainly won’t help Watson.
