Heisman Trophy Watch Week 12: Trevone Boykin, Marcus Mariota Move Up

Nov 8, 2014; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Amari Cooper (9) celebrates after a touchdown against the LSU Tigers during the second quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

3. Amari Cooper, Wide Receiver, Alabama Crimson Tide (8-1, 5-1 in SEC)

Last Game: 8 Receptions for 83 Yards and 1 Touchdown (Defeated LSU Tigers 20-13 in Overtime)

For 2014 Season: 79 Receptions for 1,215 Yards and 10 Touchdowns

Honestly, Amari Cooper didn’t have as great of a game as you might think on Saturday. He actually had a bad drop on the last drive in regulation that could have cost the Tide the game. But fortunately, it didn’t matter, and he rebounded anyway in the clutch. That’s a huge deal to us and why he’s so high on our Heisman Trophy Watch.

Blake Sims isn’t a great quarterback, and he’s not always accurate, but he’s clutch and can be relied on. At Alabama, with those two things, after that you simply need a dominant receiver to help out the quarterback. Cooper has been that and then some this year with dominating performances, and this is in the SEC.

Going up against a great LSU defense on the road would be tough for anybody. Cooper, though, still managed to put up pretty big numbers and come through for his team when he was needed most. Being able to do that combined with his great numbers puts him here on this list.