2016 College Football Picks: Heisman Trophy Early Favorites and Contenders

2016 College Football Picks: Heisman Trophy Early Favorites and Contenders: It has only been a few weeks since Alabama RB Derrick Henry became the latest player to win the Heisman Trophy, and before the bowl season begins and a national champion is crowned, it is time to look ahead to next season and the early frontrunners for the 2016 Heisman Trophy. Despite Henry hoisting the trophy this season, recent history still suggests quarterbacks will have the upper hand. Quarterbacks have won the award in eight of the last 10 seasons and in five of the last six. On that note, let’s take a closer look at the 2016 candidates.

2016 College Football Picks: Heisman Trophy Early Favorites and Contenders

The Favorites

He finished third in the Heisman voting this year, and Clemson QB Deshaun Watson did so as a true sophomore coming off ACL surgery. Heading into the College Football Playoff, the dual-threat QB has piled up 4,399 yards of offense and 41 total touchdowns, and he amassed those numbers despite injuries to the receiving corps. There is no reason to expect Watson to regress next year, and if he has Clemson back in the mix for a playoff spot, Watson could go from Heisman finalist to Heisman winner in 2016.

Two years ago, Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett set school record for total offense and finished fifth in the Heisman voting and would have likely been at least a finalist had he not broke his ankle in the regular season finale against Michigan. The broken ankle led to a quarterback rotation this year with Cardale Jones, but with Jones departing after this season, Barrett will once again have the reins of Ohio State’s offense all to himself. The dual-threat weapon should post huge numbers as the full-time starter in 2016.

The Contenders

His versatility helped Stanford RB Christian McCaffrey break Barry Sanders’ single-season record for yards from scrimmage and finish as the runner-up in the Heisman voting. He is one of the few players that can change the game in multiple phases, and this season, he ran, caught and threw multiple touchdowns and scored on special teams. There is no reason to expect anything different in 2016.

The former walk-on probably deserved to be a Heisman finalist this year as he engineered the resurrection of the Oklahoma offense and helped the Sooners reach the College Football Playoff, and if he decides to stick around another year, QB Baker Mayfield should punch his ticket to New York. He ranked second in passing efficiency this year, throwing for 35 touchdowns and just five picks, and he added more than 400 rushing yards and seven more scores.

He cooled off after an incredible start, but LSU RB Leonard Fournette still finished third in the country in rushing, and he actually averaged more rushing yards per game than this year’s Heisman winner, Derrick Henry. Fournette will once again be the centerpiece of the Tigers’ offense, and with another year to add strength to his frame, a late-season letdown could be avoided. A 2,000-yard season is very possible.

Without a doubt, Florida State RB Dalvin Cook was underappreciated in 2015. He ran for 1,658 yards despite missing nearly two full games and playing through multiple injuries, and he averaged an incredible 7.9 yards per carry. More importantly, he was able to torch several highly-ranked run defenses and kept Florida State relevant despite a lack of stable quarterback play. He might be the most explosive player in the country, and if he stays healthy, he could lead the country in rushing.

Assuming his knee is fully healthy for the start for the year, Georgia RB Nick Chubb should restart a Heisman campaign that ended when he tore his ACL in his sixth game last year. Before he went down, he had 747 rushing yards and seven scores and was averaging 8.1 yards per carry. This is a guy that ran for 1,547 yards as a true freshman, and he should shine if he is at full strength.

Get more 2015 College Football betting odds for the 2015 season updated daily on NSAwins.com including updated odds to win the 2016 National Championship.