SEC Football: Each team's top Heisman Trophy candidate for 2019

SEC Football: Each team’s top Heisman Trophy candidate for 2019

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide warms up prior to the CFP National Championship against the Clemson Tigers presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

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HOUSTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 27: Ke’Shawn Vaughn #5 of the Vanderbilt Commodores runs for a 69 yard touchdown during the second quarter against the Baylor Bears during the Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium on December 27, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Vanderbilt: Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB

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 lack of recognition is largely due to Vanderbilt’s lack of team success, but Vaughn deserves a spotlight.

His real emergence 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.

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Vaughn played the first two seasons of his college career at Illinois, so 2018 was a year in which he had to get acclimated to Nashville. Entering 2019, he’s completely comfortable with his surroundings, along with the Commodore playbook.

Kyle Shurmur, the longtime quarterback, completed his career in 2018. Riley Neal will take over, but make no mistake, Vaughn will be the centerpiece of the Vanderbilt offense.

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