Heisman Trophy 2016: Dalvin Cook and the top 10 candidates
By Mark Rogers
Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
He plays quarterback at Baylor doesn’t he? That means big plays and big numbers. It also means winning games.
Seth Russell appeared poised to make a Heisman run in 2015. He tossed a quick 29 touchdowns against just six picks as Baylor shot out to an expected quick 8-0 start with Russell at the helm for the first seven games.
Russell, however, went down with a neck injury vs Iowa State and Baylor’s season soon came crashing down with three losses in four games culminating with a holiday trip to the Russell Athletic Bowl.
Russell will be back firing missiles all over the yard in 2016. He will lose the dynamic Corey Coleman (74 receptions, 20 touchdowns) and downfield threat Jay Lee (20.2 yards per catch), but retains KD Cannon (46 receptions, six touchdowns) and a host of unproven wideouts.
Baylor again sees no elite teams outside the Big 12 so there will be no big stages to conquer until November. Russell also faces the system quarterback perception and a possible challenge from Jarrett Stidham. Every quarterback produces big numbers in Waco. Russell and his team will need to be practically flawless to take home the Heisman.
Next: No. 9 Josh Rosen