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5 dark horse Heisman candidates for 2015

By Andrew Garda

Dec 30, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of the 1968 Heisman Trophy of Southern California Trojans tailback O.J. Simpson (not pictured) at Heritage Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of the 1968 Heisman Trophy of Southern California Trojans tailback O.J. Simpson (not pictured) at Heritage Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 22, 2014; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Utes running back Devontae Booker (23) runs with the ball during the first half against the Arizona Wildcats at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2014; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Utes running back Devontae Booker (23) runs with the ball during the first half against the Arizona Wildcats at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

Devontae Booker, RB, Utah

In my article about dark horse College Football Playoff contenders from earlier this week (lots of dark horses this week), I mentioned the Utah Utes and said that if they are going to make a run, Devontae Booker will have a huge part in it.

As I said in the piece, in order to have a shot at a playoff slot, Utah will have to win the close games they didn’t last season and defend home field. A lot of that will require great execution on the ground, which means Booker will have to shine.

Utah’s run game ranked fourth in the conference in total yards, but while Oregon and UCLA leaned on the quarterback position for their rushing yards and Washington used multiple backs, Booker was responsible for nearly all of the 1,539 yards the Utes had on the ground. He also scored 10 touchdowns by himself, half of the team’s total on the ground.

Booker himself ranked as the second-most prolific back in the Pac-12, with 42 catches for 311 yards (and a pair of touchdowns), enhancing his already great stats.

He’s a true bell-cow back and that’s a great place to be to make a run at a Heisman Trophy. He has the opportunity, the ability and the overall situation that could make him very attractive to the committee.

On top of that, he’ll play some high-profile teams in the conference, giving him the possibility of national exposure usually necessary to win the trophy.

Next: Scooby Wright, LB, Arizona

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