The running back position is loaded in college football for 2019, and there are quite few players with Heisman Trophy hopes.
In the last decade, the Heisman Trophy has been awarded, predominantly, to quarterbacks. The last back to win the award was Derrick Henry in 2015. Since 2010, quarterbacks have won eight of nine times.
If there is a class to break the trend, it is this one. Several elite teams have an explosive feature back that will get most of the workload, which could mean big numbers. Jonathan Taylor continues to be great, and continues to not quite get the proper recognition. There have also been backs around the country that popped up last season, and look to continue their momentum.
This is an exciting group of players, and any of them could find themselves in New York this December.
Honorable Mention: Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt
Ke’Shawn Vaughn quietly had a fantastic 2018 season. He rushed for 1,244 yards, 12 touchdowns, and averaged 7.9 yards per carry.
His real emergence, however, came late in the season. He was injured in the last week of the year, but he was electric leading up to that. In his last four full games, he averaged 9.2 yards per carry and found the endzone seven times.