Heisman Trophy 2015: Dalvin Cook and the five biggest snubs

Sep 12, 2015; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Carl Nassib (95) reacts after intercepting the ball during the second quarter against the Buffalo Bulls at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports

In 2012, Jadeveon Clowney disrupted all of college football with his dominating presence, and finished just outside the top five in the Heisman voting. In 2009, there was a beast known as Ndamukong Suh who tore through offensive lines at astounding rates, and was awarded as a finalist nod that December.

So what do these two giants of the game have in common? They didn’t have as many sacks in those years as Penn State’s Carl Nassib has in this one.

In fact, the defensive end hasn’t gone a single game played without at least one sack. He was recognized Wednesday by winning the Lombardi Award for best defensive lineman and the Hendricks Award as the top defensive end.

Nassib has been the rock of one of the top-ranked defenses in the country, and has created havoc by forcing six fumbles, tops in the country. At 6′ 7″ and 275 pounds, it’s easy to see why he’s been able to power post the tackle on any given down. Having arrived in Happy Valley as a walk-n, Nassib didn’t truly make an impact until this season, but has more than made up for it with 19.5 tackles for loss.

We only wish he would’ve been able to play the last two games of the regular season, matchups against Michigan and Michigan State that would’ve given him the chance to cement himself as Heisman finalist material. Still, he stepped up in big games such as the ones against Ohio State, Indiana, and Northwestern, and 15 sacks in only 10 games is far past impressive.

Next: Keenan Reynolds