Ranking The Top Five Heisman Trophy Candidates In Week 2
The 2016 college football season opened with a bang last week, with high-caliber matchups and big upsets. It was an entertaining week of football that showed exactly why this time of year is one of the best for sports fans.
Heading into Week 2 college football action, there are a few teams to keep an eye on. As we previously wrote about here at the Inquisitr, there are five teams who could be on upset alert. There is a strong chance that no upsets will end up happening when everything is said and done, but those five teams are all facing opponents that could shock the nation.
Looking past the teams, there are a handful of players to keep an eye on as well. While we are only in Week 2, the Heisman Trophy race is still underway, and the players are all looking to make an early statement.
It will be interesting to see which players step up and separate themselves from the pack this week. There were a few that set themselves atop of the Heisman power rankings following their Week 1 performances.
All of that being said, who are the top five Heisman Trophy candidates heading into Week 2 and how are they ranked among each other at this point in the season?
1. Nick Chubb, Running Back, Georgia Bulldogs
At this point in time, Nick Chubb deservingly sits atop the Heisman rankings. He carried the football 32 times for 222 yards and two touchdowns last week for the Georgia Bulldogs. Chubb may not stay at the top of the list for long, but he holds it heading into Week 2.
2. Lamar Jackson, Quarterback, Louisville Cardinals
Lamar Jackson is the sophomore star quarterback at Louisville that no one is giving the hype he deserves. He completed 17 of his 23 pass attempts last week against Charlotte for 286 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions. Jackson also picked up 119 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and is deserving of the No. 2 spot in these rankings.
3. J.T. Barrett, Quarterback, Ohio State Buckeyes
Urban Meyer didn’t have the best quarterback situation last year, but J.T. Barrett has changed that this season. He completed 21 of his 31 pass attempts last week against Bowling Green for 349 yards, six touchdowns, and just one interception. He also picked up 30 yards and a touchdown on the ground and should be on these rankings most of the season if he plays to his potential.
4. Deondre Francois, Quarterback, Florida State Seminoles
Many Florida State fans believe that Deondre Francois is the second-coming of Jameis Winston, or at the very least close to it. He put up huge numbers in his first game under center, completing 33 of his 52 pass attempts for 419 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions in a hard-fought win over Ole Miss. Francois also picked up 59 yards on the ground in the contest.
5. Christian McCaffery, Running Back, Stanford Cardinal
One of last year’s biggest stars, Christian McCaffery, belongs as the final player in the Week 2 Heisman rankings. He carried the football 22 times for 126 yards and two touchdowns, while also catching seven passes for 40 yards last week in a win over USC. McCaffery is going to be a workhorse this year for Stanford and should finish in the top-five Heisman rankings when everything is said.
Expect to see these rankings fluctuate a lot throughout the next few weeks. Players will gradually appear on this list more regularly, but for now, there will be a lot of new faces each week.
Who do you think the top five Heisman candidates should be heading into Week 2? What are your predictions for who will win the award at the end of the season? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!
[Photo by Jay LaPrete/AP Images]
