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Ranking the Top 10 Early Candidates for the 2015 Heisman Trophy

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By @atylerbrett

Ranking the Top 10 Early Candidates for the 2015 Heisman Trophy

Heisman Trophy Marcus Mariota
Brad Penner - USA TODAY Sports

Marcus Mariota ran away with the 2014 Heisman Trophy, capping a magnificent season with college football’s highest individual honor. While this year’s race ended in anticlimactic fashion, that’s no reason to think next year’s chase for the Heisman won’t be one for the ages. Here are 10 very early candidates for the 2015 Heisman Trophy, assuming some of more prominent underclassmen (like Mariota, Winston, Gordon, and Cooper) declare for the NFL.

10. Connor Cook, QB Michigan State

connor cook
Mike Carter - USA TODAY Sports

10. Connor Cook, QB Michigan State

connor cook
Mike Carter - USA TODAY Sports

Cook has already announced he’ll be back next season and will be the focal point of the Michigan State offense in 2015. The Spartans should once again be among the best in the Big Ten and Cook has been productive under center, throwing for 5,655 yards and 44 touchdowns over the last two seasons. Will an expanded role produce enough momentum for Cook to make it to NYC?

9. Royce Freeman, RB Oregon

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Scott Olmos - USA TODAY Sports

9. Royce Freeman, RB Oregon

royce freeman
Scott Olmos - USA TODAY Sports

Freeman quickly took control of the backfield rotation and led the Ducks in rushing as a true freshman with 1,299 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground. He figures to be the focal point of the offense in 2015 with 2014 Heisman winner Marcus Mariota likely going pro in what will continue to be one of the nation’s most prolific offenses.

8. Samaje Perine, RB Oklahoma

samaje perine
Kevin Jairaj - USA TODAY Sports

8. Samaje Perine, RB Oklahoma

samaje perine
Kevin Jairaj - USA TODAY Sports

Perine led all freshmen running backs this season (a very impressive group) with 1,579 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns. He has the benefit of holding the all-time single-game rushing record (427 yards vs Kansas) as the tentpole for his Heisman campaign next season and should see an expanded role in the Sooner offense as he continue to develop into an elite playmaker.

7. Anu Solomon, QB Arizona

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Casey Sapio - USA TODAY Sports

7. Anu Solomon, QB Arizona

anu solomon
Casey Sapio - USA TODAY Sports

Solomon is the dual-threat quarterback that makes a Rich Rodriguez offense roll and he showed phenomenal playmaking ability in his first season as the starter. The redshirt freshman accounted for 3,717 yards of total offense and 28 total touchdowns. With a larger role in the running game expected in 2015, Solomon could be Rich-Rod’s next Heisman contender at QB, much like Pat White or Devin Gardner before him.

6. Dalvin Cook, RB Florida State

dalvin cook
Andrew Weber - USA TODAY Sports

6. Dalvin Cook, RB Florida State

dalvin cook
Andrew Weber - USA TODAY Sports

As a true freshman, Cook showed that he is the future of the Florida State offense. He led the team with 905 yards rushing and scored eight touchdowns on the ground and often wasn’t called on until late in games for most of the season. If Winston leaves, FSU will lean more on the running game in 2015 and Cook will be there to deliver. He is always a threat to break off a big play and has the breakaway speed to turn every touch into points.

5. Nick Chubb, RB Georgia

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Mark Zerof - USA TODAY Sports

5. Nick Chubb, RB Georiga

nick chubb
Mark Zerof - USA TODAY Sports

Yet another true freshman running back who stepped up in 2014 to prove they were ready to contribute immediately, Chubb could be the best back in the country next season. Stepping into the starting role after Georgia lost Todd Gurley (twice), Chubb led the team with 1,281 yards rushing and 12 rushing touchdowns. His blend of size, strength, and speed spell trouble for opposing defenses and big things for a possible Heisman run in 2015.

4. Dak Prescott, QB Mississippi State

dak prescott
John David Mercer - USA TODAY Sports

4. Dak Prescott, QB Mississippi State

dak prescott
John David Mercer - USA TODAY Sports

After his Heisman campaign fizzled down the stretch in 2014, Prescott could be in great shape to take another run in 2015. He threw for 2,996 yards while rushing for 939 yards and scoring 37 total touchdowns on the year. With a solid bowl game, he should become just the seventh player in FBS history to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season, which would be a nice push for his Heisman candidacy this offseason.

3. Cody Kessler, QB USC

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Kirby Lee - USA TODAY Sports

3. Cody Kessler, QB USC

cody kessler
Kirby Lee - USA TODAY Sports

Kessler quietly had a very prolific season under center for USC, throwing for 3,505 yards and 36 touchdowns against just four interceptions. He seems to be flourishing under new head coach Steve Sarkisian and could take his game to another level entirely in 2015. Being a big-armed quarterback with a gaudy stat-line almost always means a trip to NYC as a Heisman finalist, so Kessler should definitely be in the mix next fall.

2. J.T. Barrett/Braxton Miller, QB Ohio State

jt barrett
Greg Bartram - USA TODAY Sports

2. J.T. Barrett/Braxton Miller, QB Ohio State

jt barrett
Greg Bartram - USA TODAY Sports

Whoever ends up under center at Ohio State, they’ll have an offense behind them that will catapult them into the Heisman conversation. Miller has a reputation as one of the country’s elite playmakers, while Barrett very nearly became a Heisman finalist himself in relief of him in 2014 (if not for the injury against Michigan). Whoever ends up as QB1, expect them to be in the mix for the Heisman in 2015.

1. Trevone Boykin, QB TCU

trevone boykin
Kevin Jairaj - USA TODAY Sports

1. Trevone Boykin, QB TCU

trevone boykin
Kevin Jairaj - USA TODAY Sports

After finishing fourth in the voting this season, Boykin is poised to make a serious run for the Heisman next fall. He showed incredible growth as a quarterback this season for TCU, throwing for 3,714 yards, rushing for 642 yards and scoring 38 total touchdowns. With the momentum of his near-miss as a finalist this year, expect Boykin to be a hot name for the Heisman in 2015.

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