Last week The Student Section’s Heisman Poll, formerly the Bloguin Heisman Poll, debuted with Leonard Fournette in pole position.
After eight weeks of college football, the Heisman Trophy picture is getting clearer. Fournette is the front-runner with a host of others within striking distance. If the past is any indication, this race is far from over.
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What you’ll see each week in the TSS Heisman Poll:
* The top total vote getters, with quotes from the voters in support of their candidate
* A list of all players receiving votes
* Poll notes that look at some interesting facts, figures and trends of the poll
* The TSSHP Roll Call of voters, with links to their respective blogs and twitter accounts
Without any further ado, the second 2015 installment of the TSS Heisman Poll:
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1) Leonard Fournette (RB – LSU): 22 points, 40.74% of votes, 7 first-place votes
Last week ranking: No. 1
Last week: Beat Western Kentucky (6-2), 48-20
Game stats: 26 carries for 150 yards, 1 TD, 1 reception
Season stats: 176 carries for 1,352 yards, 7.68 ypc, 15 rushing TD, 7 receptions
This week: Bye
COMMENTS
It may be difficult for anyone to knock Fournette off the top spot in my ballot, as long as he continues to accumulating rushing yards and leading LSU to wins. I am very intrigued to see what he does against Alabama. If he can rush for 120 yards, a couple of touchdowns, and can lead LSU to a win against the Crimson Tide, I’m not sure anyone else stands much of a chance.
– Kevin McGuire, The Student Section
Fournette has been nothing short of spectacular all season for the Tigers, who sit atop the hotly contested SEC West. With limited success at quarterback this season, the tailback has been most of the LSU offense. While Fournette is on top of the Heisman rankings, a big game in a win over Alabama this week could wrap it up.
– Ryan Palencer, The Student Section
What else can really be said at this point? Fournette was held to his season-low against Western Kentucky, which was still 150 yards. That is, you know, still really good.
– Joseph Nardone, The Student Section
2) Paxton Lynch (QB – Memphis): 8 points, 14.81% of votes, 2 first-place votes
Last week ranking: No. 3
Last week: Beat Tulsa (3-4) 66-42
Game stats: 32 of 44 passing (72.7%) for 447 yards, 4 passing TD, 1 rushing TD
Season stats: 174 of 244 passing (71.3%) for 2,366 yards, 17 TD vs INT, 2 rushing TD
This week: vs Tulane (2-5)
COMMENTS
It’s hard to believe we’re talking about a guy in this light who, as a starter in high school, had as many interceptions as touchdown passes … 10. It’s a testament to hard work and self belief.
– Bart Doan, The Student Section
Whether the award is about stats or about wins, Lynch has them both. He followed up a stellar performance against Ole Miss with a 447-yard effort against Tulsa. It’s also worth noting that he threw for more yards than Tulsa’s Dane Evans – who’s fourth in the nation in passing yards per game – when the teams went head-to-head last weekend.
– Terry Johnson, The Student Section
3) Trevone Boykin (QB – TCU): 7 points, 12.96% of votes, 0 first-place votes
Last week ranking: No. 2
Last week: Bye
Season stats:166 of 250 passing (66.4%) for 2,539 yards, 25 TD vs 5 INT, 77 carries for 440 yards and 5 rushing TD
This week: vs West Virginia (3-3) on Thursday
4) Ezekiel Elliott (RB – Ohio State): 5 points, 9.26% of votes, 0 first-place votes
Last week ranking: No. 5
Last week: Beat Rutgers (3-4) 49-7
Game stats: 19 rushes for 142 yards with 2 TD, 7.47 ypc, 2 TD, 3 receptions
Season stats: 167 rushes for 1,130 yards with 13 TD, 6.68 ypc, 23 receptions
This week: Bye
Also receiving votes: Greg Ward Jr. (QB – Houston), 2 points; Connor Cook (QB – Michigan State), 2 points; Seth Russell (QB – Baylor), 2 points; Christian McCaffrey (RB – Stanford), 2 points; Deshaun Watson (QB – Clemson), 2 points; C.J. Prosise (RB- Notre Dame), 1 point; Shock Linwood (RB – Baylor), 1 point
Dropped Out: Dalvin Cook (RB – FSU); Josh Doctson (WR – TCU); Jared Goff (QB – Cal)
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Poll Notes:
– Leaders from the past: At this point in the season in 2011, Andrew Luck was the front-runner. In 2012, Collin Klein took the lead from Geno Smith. In 2013, Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota were tied for first. Last season, Dak Prescott continued his stay on the top of the poll.
– Despite falling a percentage point in terms of overall votes, Leonard Fournette’s lead grew because Trevone Boykin dropped. Why did he drop? Out of sight out of mind. Boykin had a bye week. Fournette has a bye this week. It will be interesting to see the effect this has on next week’s poll. Ezekiel Elliott and Ohio State are also idle this week.
– A lot of new names popped into our poll this week. Deshaun Watson, Connor Cook, Christian McCaffrey, and Shock Linwood are all in good position to make a run up the rankings with a breakout performance.
– One game to keep an eye on is TCU’s Thursday night game against West Virginia. Trevone Boykin has the spotlight all to himself; it’s a chance for him to impress some voters with a big game.
– Another game to watch is Clemson against N.C. State. Clemson’s huge blowout of Miami has put the Tigers front and center in the battle for the College Football Playoff. With Deshaun Watson leading the charge, a big win and performance from him will greatly increase his Heisman presence.
– The Student Section‘s managing editor, Matt Zemek, has chosen to abstain from voting until the second poll of November.
TSS Heisman Poll Roll Call
Andrew Coppens – Madtown Badgers (@andyonfootball)
Bart Doan – The Student Section (@TheCoachBart)
Joseph Nardone- The Student Section (@JosephNardone)
Kevin Causey – The Student Section (@CFBZ)
Kevin McGuire – Nittany Lions Den/The Student Section (@kevinoncfb)
Matt Zemek – The Student Section (@SectionMZ)
Ryan Palencer- The Student Section (@RyanPalencer)
Scott King – Bearcats Blog/The Student Section (@bearcatsblog)
Scott Halasz – Buckeye Battle Cry (@ohiostatescott)
Terry Johnson – The Student Section (@SectionTPJ)
