2015 College Football Picks – Heisman Rankings Stock Report: Week 1

2015 College Football Picks – Heisman Rankings Stock Report: Week 1: The first week of the 2015 college football season is in the books, and while there weren’t a ton of premier matchups on the Week 1 scheduled, every game matters for those players hoping to make a push for the Heisman Trophy. Naturally, some Heisman candidates fared better than others in Week 1, and with that in mind, here is a closer look at the players that bolstered their Heisman Trophy chances in their openers and those that saw their stock take an early hit.

2015 College Football Picks – Heisman Rankings Stock Report: Week 1

Stock Up

Facing a ranked opponent, Alabama RB Derrick Henry made short work of the Wisconsin Badgers’ defense. He ran for 147 yards and three touchdowns on just 13 carries, and the Crimson Tide power running game looked as potent as ever. With an inexperienced quarterback and no Amari Cooper to throw to anymore, look for Henry to be fed the ball early and often. He could follow the same path Mark Ingram took to winning the Heisman.

It was easy to forget just how dynamic Braxton Miller was as Ohio State’s quarterback, and while he is no longer under center, he certainly looked explosive in his return to the field in a receiver/H-back role. Miller had three catches for 79 yards and a score and five carries for 61 yards and another score against Virginia Tech. In an offense full of playmakers, Miller could end up stealing the show.

He looked every bit the part of a feature back in Oregon’s opener, and RB Royce Freeman finished with 180 rushing yards and three scores on 21 carries. He even chipped in two catches for 18 yards. Freeman has less competition for touches this year, and since he was already in charge of goal-line duties, Freeman should finish with plenty of yards and scores in the Ducks’ high-powered attack.

Although they didn’t need to ride him in the opener, Georgia RB Nick Chubb still showed that the pre-season Heisman hype was well deserved. He ran for 120 yards and two scores on just 16 carries, and the Bulldogs’ offensive line looked as impressive as expected, as well. Look for Chubb to make a push for 2,000 yards and be in the thick of the Heisman conversation all year.

Stock Down

Big things were expected from Oklahoma RB Samaje Perine this season, and while he should still have a solid year, it appears the Sooners’ shift to a more spread-based attack is going to cut into his carries. Perine finished with just 33 yards on 11 carries in the opener, while first-year starter Baker Mayfield threw for 388 yards and three scores. Perine may not be the workhorse he was expected to be heading into the season.

Although it was only one game, it looks like J.T. Barrett is behind Cardale Jones in the quarterback competition at Ohio State. Granted, head coach Urban Meyer made it clear that the quarterback situation is not set in stone from one game to the next, Barrett has already missed one opportunity to make a case for the Heisman, and at best, he is likely to be in a rotation of some sort.

The defending ACC Player of the Year was expected to have an even bigger year in 2015, but Pittsburgh RB James Conner’s season came to an abrupt end when he tore is MCL in the opener. The injury leaves the Panthers without the focal point of their offense, and it leaves Conner’s Heisman push over before it could really even begin.

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