For the three years, I hosted the Bloguin Heisman Poll at Crystal Ball Run, and last year was the inaugural edition at TSS. Starting this week, the weekly poll of Bloguin writers begins again, and has been re-named from the Bloguin Heisman Poll to the TSS Heisman Poll.
Many teams have reached the midpoints of their seasons. This marks the perfect time to start our Heisman polling, as the true picture of teams and players has begun to emerge.
The 81st Heisman Trophy race could become a one-man runaway. In my history of following the Heisman race, this is rarely the case. Follow the race as we begin with our first vote. The end result is likely to be very different from what the current landscape suggests.
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What you’ll see each week in the Bloguin Heisman Poll:
* The top five 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 BHP Roll Call of voters, with links to their respective blogs and twitter accounts
Without any further ado, the first 2014 installment of the Bloguin Heisman Poll:
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1) Leonard Fournette (RB – LSU): 20 points, 41.67% of votes, 6 first-place votes
Last week: 31 carries for 180 yards, 2 TD, 1 reception
Season: 150 carries for 1,202 yards, 8.01 ypc, 14 rushing TD, 6 receptions
This week: vs Western Kentucky (6-1)
COMMENTS
No player around college football has been as dependable and consistent as LSU’s behemoth of a running back. Fournette is a one-man wrecking crew and is tearing through the SEC right now. What he does in the second half of the season could make or break LSU’s season. The game against Alabama coming up could be huge.
– Kevin McGuire, The Student Section
Simply put, there hasn’t been a more dominant season and performance from a running back in decades. Fournette is a scary combination of size, speed, vision and will. Maybe Bo Jackson or Herschel Walker were on his level, but few have been even close to what he has to offer.
– Andrew Coppens, Madtown Badgers
Fournette is one of those special runners that we don’t see every year. He has single-handedly made LSU a top-10 team. He’s the complete package.
– Scott Halasz, Buckeye Battle Cry
What else can be said? Who else can be ranked as the guy most likely to win the award? Fournette’s dominance is only comparable to a 22 year-old posting up a 10 year-old in shooty hoops.
– Joseph Nardone, The Student Section
2) Trevone Boykin (QB – TCU): 9 points, 18.75% of votes, 0 first-place votes
Last week: 27 of 32 passing (84%) for 436 yards, 4 TD, 13 carries for 74 yards and 1 rushing TD
Season: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: Bye
3) Paxton Lynch (QB – Memphis): 6 points, 12.50% of votes, 2 first-place votes
Last week: 39 of 54 passing (72.2%) for 384 yards, 3 TD vs 1 INT
Season: 142 of 200 passing (71%) for 1,919 yards, 13 TD vs INT, 1 rushing TD
This week: at Tulsa (3-3) on Friday
COMMENTS
As unpopular as this may be, I do believe the quarterback is the straw that stirs the drink. This straw has 13 touchdowns to one interception for an unbeaten team that railroaded Ole Miss of the SEC last weekend.
– Bart Doan, The Student Section
Great players are at their best against elite competition, and Lynch was exactly that against Ole Miss on Saturday, completing 39 of 54 passes (72.2%) for 384 yards and 3 TD’s. His precision passing will have the Tigers in the hunt for a New Year’s Day Bowl Bid.
– Terry Johnson, The Student Section
4) Ezekiel Elliott (RB – Ohio State): 4 points, 8.33% of votes, 0 first-place votes
Last week: 27 rushes for 153 yards with 1 TD, 5.67 ypc, 4 receptions
Season: 148 rushes for 988 yards with 11 TD, 6.68 ypc, 20 receptions
This week: at Rutgers (3-3)
5) Dalvin Cook (RB – Florida State): 3 points, 6.25% of votes, 0 first-place votes
Last week: 22 rushes for 163 yards with 2 TD, 7.41 ypc, 4 receptions
Season: 110 rushes for 955 yards with 10 TD, 8.68 ypc, 11 receptions, 1 receiving TD
This week: at Georgia Tech (2-5)
Also receiving votes: Josh Doctson (WR- TCU) 2 points; Greg Ward Jr (QB- Houston) 2 points; C.J. Prosise (RB- Notre Dame) 1 point; Jared Goff (QB- California) 1 point
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Poll Notes:
– Leaders from the past: At this point in the season in 2011, Andrew Luck was in pole position. In 2012, Geno Smith sat at the top of our poll. In 2013, it was Marcus Mariota. Last season, Dak Prescott had the most votes.
– How close were the other races at this point in the season in the past? In 2011, Luck led by 2.22 % over Russell Wilson. In 2012, Geno Smith led by 12.12 % over Collin Klein. In 2013, Marcus Mariota led by 9.26 % over Johnny Manziel. In 2014, Prescott had a 25.92 % lead over both Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota.
– Last year at this point in the poll, the eventual winner, Marcus Mariota, was tied for second with 18.52 % of the votes and no first place votes.
– The last running back to win the award was Mark Ingram in 2009. This year Leonard Fournette is the clear leader with Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook also in the top five. Is the momentum swinging away from the QB position and back to the RBs?
– If Fournette falters, will this be the year that a WR can break through? Josh Doctson is on some voters’ minds with his 60 receptions and 12 TDs. Corey Coleman of Baylor is another player to keep an eye on, as he leads the nation in receiving TDs with 16.
– The Student Section‘s managing editor, Matt Zemek, has chosen to abstain from voting until the second poll of November. TSS writer Ryan Palencer is also absent from this week’s ballot as he is on his honeymoon (he must have a heck of a bride to get married during college football season).
Bloguin 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)
