In what is the year of the runningback headlined with such names as Christian McCaffrey, Dalvin Cook, Leonard Fournette and Nick Chubb. It is will be a very easy task to overlook the rest of the field this season while the others will likely be contending for the Heisman based on their team's success. This brings me to Jr USF RB Marlon Mack,
a two time All-AAC First Team RB, American Conference Rookie of the Year 2014. Marlon set the school record for rushing yards in his sophomore year, as well as being the conference rushing leader in both his freshman and sophomore years. He's set to shatter the school record for rushing yards and leave his legacy at USF as he chases his own record in his junior campaign which started with a fluffer game against Towson where he carried the ball 9 times for 58 yards and a score in a half.
4.Amba Etta Tawo - Syracuse
After fading in the Maryland offense over his sophomore and junior years. The 6'2 senior has transfered to Syracuse and currently leads the FBS in receiving yards. In one game with Syracuse he has already matched his 2014 reception count and sits 12 yards shy of his production from that season. When I watch a college receiver I try to avoid certain stereotypes and hype trains such as yards and touchdowns as markers. Instead I like to use receptions as a basis on a receivers consistency and bulk of his workload, take Amari Cooper for example who averaged over 10 receptions per game in his last year with the Crimson Tide and he's off doing it on Sundays now. If Amba Etta Tawo can maintain his high work rate and show the consistency he wasn't able to display with the Terps, there's a much better chance of him getting drafted than had he stayed in Maryland.
Albeit against Colgate Etta Tawo made some spectacular catches and mostly looked effortless while doing so. I'd like to see what he does vs some of the higher end defensive backs that he'll face as the Orange have a tough schedule this year playing 4 ranked teams (Louisville, Notre Dame, Clemson and FSU)
3.Lamar Jackson - Louisville
Lamar Jackson had a quietly strong freshman campaign with the Cardinals going for 1800-12TD-8INT to go with his 960-11TD ground performance. But Lamar Jackson's first half against Charlotte was for the record books. Literally, he threw 6 touchdowns to 6 different receivers, missed nearly as many throws going 16/23 also add in the 2 scores on the ground with 119 yards and you have yourself a hell of a game.
Louisville traditionally fields a good defense so expect plenty of opportunities for this young man to find paydirt often on Saturdays
2.D'Onta Foreman - Texas
I won't pretend I knew about D'Onta Foreman before Sunday night and I'm not ashamed to say I'm all in. Not since Ricky Williams or Cedric Benson have I seen a Longhorn runningback shamelessly put his pads down and barrel forward every single carry, Not once while watching Sundays showdown did I see Foreman fall backwards or get stood up 1v1. Heck it took gang tackling to stop his momentum from carrying defenders for first down yardage.
Now that all the enamor is out of the way I can leave myself posing a few thinking points, how much of the performance stemmed from the Notre Dame game hype, or the national spotlight of being a primetime game, does that make him a prime time performer, all these questions can be answered as the season plays out
1. Greg Ward Jr - Houston
This may not be an underrated player now or even possibly before the season started and the Cougars upset the Sooners. But the reason Greg Ward Jr lands here at #1 is the dark horse potential he has of taking the Heisman if his Cougars can manage a CFP appearance, which would be a first for a non power-5 team to do, granted the CFP is only 2 years old 3 with this years edition, however during the BCS era there was never a team from a non power 5 conference to compete for the big crystal.
Now Greg Ward Jr is a threat in the air and on the ground running a very effective pistol option which takes advantage of his athleticism.If Houston can win out including the late season match with Louisville don't be surprised if Greg Ward Jr is on the Heisman shortlist
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