McCaffrey was an all-purpose yardage machine, racking up an FBS record 3,496 yards. That’s something you can’t avoid…
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Some consider Reggie Bush’s 2005 campaign, with its 2,611 all-purpose yards, to be the gold standard for running backs in the modern age of college football.
The dynamic McCaffrey rushed for 1,847 yards, caught 41 passes for 540 yards and added another 1,109 yards on kick and punt returns.
But such an argument ignores the real data: Sanders had more touches in 1988 (394) than McCaffrey has so far in 2015 (387).
McCaffrey’s statistical case for the sport’s ultimate individual award couldn’t be any clearer. Whether the school lands a second will be announced Saturday. This wasn’t a flashy, glamorous, or heavily talked about race, but in the end it’s probably as close as it’s been in a few years. That is the most of any conference in that time span.
The only knock on the Cardinal running back is his lack of touchdowns.
Before Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey was a Heisman Trophy finalist, he was just one of many young football players wanting to be like Terrell Owens. Yet many media members have been talking of Henry as the presumed victor for several weeks now, similar to the narrative surrounding Ingram in 2009. John Elway finished second to Georgia’s Herschel Walker in 1982. But there is also hope that McCaffrey’s fate will be different.
People don’t always remember many years later who won an SEC title, but they always remember national titles.
Bourret said Watson is the first Clemson player to ever be named a finalist for the prestigious award. The last three Heisman winners were OR quarterback Marcus Mariota, Florida State signal-caller Jameis Winston, and Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel. And if not for the complete collapse of his team in the final month of the regular season, there is little question that he would be taking a flight to NY this week with a legitimate shot at winning the prestigious honor. Many who have watched the McCaffrey family say that Christian is good, but his brothers may be better than he is.
Maybe even a repeat of 1989, when eight players were named a finalist (only four actually attended).
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Another such occasion might be awaiting him later this week, but only suspense will bridge the gap between now and then. Meanwhile, Henry ran wild for 210 yards and three touchdowns, overthrowing Fournette as the Heisman Trophy frontrunner in the process.
