Time for our Tuesday rankings, as detailed today, the Heisman Trophy Award has become nothing more than a QB award over the last 20 years. 18 winners since the year 2000 were signal callers. But the award is meant to honor the most outstanding player in college football and of course, QB is important, but we should be looking at this in a more relative sense. Relative to your position, how outstanding were you? Did you pass the eye test? Things along those lines. So, with that said, I’ve decided to dedicate this week’s top 5 to the non-QB’s.
Top 5 Non-QB’s That Could’ve Been Heisman Finalists
5- Tommy Eichenberg, OSU LB- This guy is all motor. 112 tackles on the season, he’s got a pick 6 to his name. He had 13 or more tackles in 4 games this season. He finished 17th in the nation in tackles but really one of very few to help anchor a top 12 defense.
4- Blake Corum, Mich RB- Throughout the season it felt like Corum was the most valuable RB in the nation, every time Michigan needed a big gainer he delivered. He missed the tail end of the season, but he was still one of the most outstanding players of the season. He finished the season 8th in the nation in rushing. 19 total TD’s. Best offensive player Michigan had all year.
3- Jalen Carter, GA d-line- Carter was a monster on the defensive line, drew double team after double team. He had a Heisman moment in the SEC title game when he lifted LSU’s QB and held him in the air like a rag doll. Carter finished the year with 3 sacks, multiple pass breakups, and 2 forced fumbles. But the stats don’t tell the story.
2- Bijan Robinson Texas RB- The most electrifying player in all of football this season. Running between the tackles, his usage in the receiving game. Robinson was incredible. Its not his fault Texas stinks. 1,894 total yards, 20 touchdowns. 4 games with at least 170 yards rushing.
Number 1!- Jalin Hyatt, UT WR- The best big play receiver of the season. 5th in the nation in receiving yards and he did it with 20-30 less catches than most of the guys around him. Also, want a Heisman moment? How about 207 yards receiving with 5 TD’s in the best game of the year vs Bama? Stud.