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Big 12 Football: Top 4 Heisman Trophy favorites for 2021 season

By Phil Poling

AMES, IA - NOVEMBER 07: Running back Breece Hall #28 of the Iowa State Cyclones rushes for yards as safety Christian Morgan #4 of the Baylor Bears defends in the first half of the play at Jack Trice Stadium on November 07, 2020 in Ames, Iowa. The Iowa State Cyclones won 38-31 over the Baylor Bears. (Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA - NOVEMBER 07: Running back Breece Hall #28 of the Iowa State Cyclones rushes for yards as safety Christian Morgan #4 of the Baylor Bears defends in the first half of the play at Jack Trice Stadium on November 07, 2020 in Ames, Iowa. The Iowa State Cyclones won 38-31 over the Baylor Bears. (Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images) /
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MANHATTAN, KS – DECEMBER 05: Running back Bijan Robinson #5 of the Texas Longhorns runs up field against defensive back Tee Denson #8 of the Kansas State Wildcats, during the first half at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium on December 5, 2020 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
MANHATTAN, KS – DECEMBER 05: Running back Bijan Robinson #5 of the Texas Longhorns runs up field against defensive back Tee Denson #8 of the Kansas State Wildcats, during the first half at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium on December 5, 2020 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /

Sophomore. player. 851. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. RB. Bijan Robinson. 2

Heisman Odds: +1500

It’s been years since a Longhorn has contended for, let alone won, the Heisman Trophy. D’Onta Foreman rushed his way into the conversation in 2016, and Colt McCoy had back-to-back top-three finishes in 2008 and 2009, respectively. But a Heisman winner from Texas? You’ve got to go back to 1998 and Ricky Williams to find one. Sophomore running back Bijan Robinson could change all that this upcoming season.

MORE: Big 12 Football: Darkhorse Heisman Trophy candidates

He started his freshman campaign as a backup, but after three games Robinson became the starter and demanded double-digit touches in every contest from there on out. He eclipsed the century mark three times – 113 yards vs. West Virginia, 172 yards at Kansas State, and 183 yards in the bowl game vs. Colorado.

If it hasn’t set in yet, Robinson is an explosive player. Against the Wildcats, his 172 yards came on nine carries. Nine! That’s 19.1 yards per carry. He didn’t top that average against Colorado in the Alamo Bowl, but he came close with 18.3 per attempt.

Like most players, Robinson’s teammates will impact his campaign for the Heisman. If he gets solid production from his signal-caller to balance out the Longhorn attack, the sophomore running back could have a record-breaking season. His freshman campaign was cut short due to COVID, and with an 8.2 yards-per-carry average through nine games (six starts), it’s reasonable to expect big things from Robinson in 2021.

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