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Heisman Watch: Quarterbacks still dominate, but a running back is lurking

Graham Watson

Is it time for a running back to get on this list?

Well, not this week, but Baylor’s Lache Seastrunk is the most deserving running back out there and we’re keeping a close watch.

Against West Virginia last week, Seastrunk had 15 carries for 172 yards and two touchdowns. Unfortunately, the level of opponent he's facing continues to plague him and he won’t see the upper echelon of the Big 12 until November.

Still, if he continues to put up ridiculous numbers – he has 53 rushes for 589 yards and eight touchdowns while playing little more than one half every game – he’s going to be hard to ignore.

With that said, here’s a look at this week’s Heisman watch:

Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

Every week Mariota just does everything right. Against Colorado, he threw for 355 yards and had seven total touchdowns – five passing and two rushing – in just 2 ½ quarters of work. Oh, and he still hasn’t thrown an interception, which is amazing when one considers how much the Ducks pass. Things will get a little tougher this week, however, when the Ducks travel to Washington.

Comp %:
56.7

Yards:
1,358

TD:
14

INT:
0

Rush Yds.:
338

TD:
7

Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M

Johnny Football was off this week, but there’s no reason to move him off this list. He’s still been one of the nation’s top players. He will get an interesting test this week against Ole Miss, which is reeling after consecutive losses to Alabama and Auburn.

Comp %:
71.4

Yards:
1,489

TD:
14

INT:
4

Rush Yds.:
314

TD:
3

Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia

Murray orchestrated a game-tying drive with less than a minute remaining to force overtime against Tennessee and ultimately save his team’s national championship hopes. Week after week, Murray comes up with big plays to keep his team in the win column. He proved his amazing play against LSU was not a fluke.

Comp %:
64.9

Yards:
1,534

TD:
14

INT:
3

Rush Yds.:
73

TD:
3

Jameis Winston, QB, Florida St.

Winston has impressed every week this season and against Maryland, his best competition to date, he proved that he is a legitimate Heisman candidate. Winston completed 71.8 percent of his passes for 393 yards and five touchdowns and had yet another scrambling play where he got out of backfield trouble to complete a pass. While this was a great game, we’re all still waiting to see how he does against Clemson. That will determine his Heisman staying power.

Comp %:
73.2

Yards:
1,441

TD:
17

INT:
2

Rush Yds.:
135

TD:
2

Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson

Last week, we noted that Boyd needed to start playing spectacular to stay on this list and he answered the bell against Syracuse. He threw for 455 yards and five touchdowns in three quarters and while Syracuse isn’t exactly the class of the conference, Boyd did everything well. He found his receivers in space, he stayed out of trouble and he managed the game. He stays a Heisman candidate for another week.

Comp %:
66.0

Yards:
1,449

TD:
14

INT:
2

Rush Yds.:
154

TD:
4