5 reasons Brad Kaaya can win the 2016 Heisman Trophy

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Sep 13, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Brad Kaaya (15) throws a pass against the Arkansas State Red Wolves during the first half at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1: NFL future

And the top reason Kaaya can win the Heisman Trophy in 2016? He’s already drawing interest in 2017 NFL draft circles, with many mock drafts projecting him as high as No. 2 overall.

Of course, predicted NFL success doesn’t automatically translate to college football greatness. Kaaya may one day be a great NFL player, but that doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed to win the Heisman.

Recent Heisman winners like Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston, Robert Griffin III and Cam Newton have each had varying degrees of success in their brief NFL careers to date. Newton is a three-time Pro Bowler and MVP. Winston and Mariota both turned in solid rookie campaigns. Griffin is a Pro Bowler and former Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Kaaya’s skills as a pocket passer are expected to translate well to the professional game, so there’s an opportunity for him to parlay a breakout college season into a top-five draft pick. This would put him in the category of USC Heisman winners Carson Palmer (2002) and Matt Leinart (2004), two taller pocket passers that went on to play in the NFL.

Quarterback-needy teams like the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers could again be picking at the top of the 2017 draft, making Kaaya a real possibility.

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