The Tigers may never have had a better candidate (or opportunity) to bring home the stiff-armed trophy than with Deshaun Watson, who is just a sophomore. His first trip to the Big Apple will be for business.
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There are just three finalists this season: Alabama running back Derrick Henry, Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey and Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson. The Heisman show will begin at 5 p.m. PST and will be broadcast on ESPN.
“It feels very real”, McCaffrey said. Henry leads the nation with 1,986 rushing yards, 339 carries and 23 touchdowns.
Watson told TigerNet that one victor he really wants to meet is Charlie Ward – because coaches have told him he resembles the former Florida St. standout – but there are a number of players he would like to emulate. But as much as those accomplishments would mean from a football standpoint, he also dreamed of being able to take his mom along for one glorious ride. That’s something you can’t dance around, that’s something you can’t avoid. Henry was well behind LSU’s Leonard Fournette in the Heisman odds entering October, but starting with a 236-yard game against Texas A&M, Henry really got going and in his final seven games rushed for 1,321 yards (188.7 per game).
Henry finished the season with nine 100-yard games, including four 200-yard performances. Second, Watson has thrown for 3,512 yards, 30 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions.
“That’s a lot of hits on your body”, he said.
Each player posed with the Heisman Trophy both inside the sprawling hotel in Times Square and on the balcony overlooking the bright lights, bustle and noise of midtown Manhattan.
“It just felt like those years”, said Shaw, who had one more example. Opponents knew Henry was going to get the football and couldn’t stop him. “I’m on the sidelines listening to coach (Duane) Akina with one eye and with the other eye I’m like, ‘What is this dude Christian doing?’ He’s a spectacular treat”. There’s a still a bowl game left to be played, and since McCaffrey is averaging more yards per touch (8.4) than Sanders did in 1988, expect his new mark to stand for quite some time (unless McCaffrey breaks it himself next year, of course). The only other running backs to have a comparably dominant season while consistently playing against that many ranked teams were USC’s O.J. Simpson and Ohio State’s Eddie George.
“The votes are cast, there’s nothing you can do between now and then, so take it all in”, he said. Standing side by side, it’s hard to believe they play the same position. Yes, Andrew Luck couldn’t do it. Meanwhile, Watson was the dominant player on the nation’s No. 1 squad.
“Need to call my mom”, McCaffrey said.
A video of the impromptu celebration found its way to Twitter.
It took Henry two hours to make it into the city from the airport due to traffic delays. On kick returns – the easiest portion of the all-purpose yardage stat – McCaffrey had 600 more yards than Sanders. He is not only the most impressive player in college football but in my opinion the most talented player that could get drafted this year. “It’s a humbling community and it’s so fun to be around so many successful people”.
Last year John Huarte celebrated the 50th anniversary of his Heisman Trophy, won after a stellar 9-1 season at Notre Dame in which he passed for 2,062 yards and 16 touchdowns. Forty-five years later, McCaffrey hopes to follow in his footsteps.
“I was speechless. The first thing I thought of was death”.
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“I’m just enjoying the moment and happy to be here”, Henry said.
