5. Dalvin Cook
Could Dalvin Cook become the second Seminole to win the Heisman in the past four years? Jameis Winston famously became just the second freshman to ever win the award back in 2013 (Johnny Manziel was the first, a year earlier in 2012), and Cook seems poised to follow in Winston’s footsteps while leading Florida State back to glory.
Winner of the 2015 Jim Brown award given to the nation’s top running back, Cook flew a bit under the radar while starring for a fairly subpar FSU team. A 10-2 regular season is certainly nothing to sniff at, especially considering the team had to tangle with several tough teams including Clemson and Florida, but when Jimbo Fisher is your head coach and you’re only two years removed from a national championship, the bar is going to remain very, very high.
Cook came close to 2,000 total yards last season and averaged a staggering 7.4 yards per rush, all while helping spearhead a lackluster Seminoles offense still trying to find its identity in the post-“Famous Jameis” era. The team figures to be stronger across the board in 2016, which could mean big things for both Florida State fans and for Cook’s Heisman chances.
Next: 4. Baker Mayfield