Heisman Trophy Watch 2015: Why these Top 15 contenders won’t win

Dec 31, 2014; Atlanta , GA, USA; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Trevone Boykin (2) runs the ball during the third quarter in the 2014 Peach Bowl against the Mississippi Rebels at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Trevone Boykin dazzled last season and found himself in the thick of the Heisman race until the very end. Can he continue his magic and lead the Horned Frogs to the playoffs and secure himself a seat at the Downtown Athletic Club?

Why Boykin won’t win it:

Nobody expected much from Boykin last season, or the Horned Frogs for that matter. TCU will be playing with a chip on their shoulder this season and will have a much-improved Big 12 gunning for them.

The Horned Frogs have 10 starters returning on offense, so there shouldn’t be a problem scoring points (as Ole Miss painfully found out) or finding targets for Boykin. Defense may be the issue, as TCU only has five starters returning and some serious question marks coming into fall camp.

In 2013, when the Frogs went 4-8, it was all laid on the offense. The defense did their job and kept them in every game, but TCU couldn’t score. Things may be reversed this year, and they may have to score too much. If Boykin is put in a position where it’s not just flinging the ball and running up the score, but rather trying to catch up, it could lead to mistakes and turnovers.

It’s amazing the effect a bad defense can have on a quarterback.

Next: Elliott