15 off-the-radar Heisman Trophy candidates for 2016
By Brad Rowland
No. 3 – Patrick Mahomes II, QB Texas Tech
As a sophomore, Mahomes led the Big 12 in completions, pass attempts, passing yards and passing touchdowns. Doesn’t that seem like someone who should be a legitimate Heisman contender?
It is certainly fair to point out that there are Mahomes lovers around the country, but the oddsmakers haven’t caught up to his considerable talent at this point, leaving him out of the top-tier when it comes to Heisman contenders in the preseason. Still, NFL Draft pundits have projected Mahomes as a legitimate candidate to land within the first round of the 2017 class, and the 6-foot-3 gunslinger definitely has upside that only a few quarterbacks in the country can match.
In his sophomore campaign, Mahomes threw for 4,653 yards and 36 touchdowns while averaging more than eight yards per attempt. In a “normal” situation, that would have garnered serious love nationally, but Mahomes’ ability to put up huge numbers is somewhat mitigated by the fact that Texas Tech always seems to have a quarterback putting up this type of production. In my mind, Mahomes is a different breed in that he often creates outside of Texas Tech’s fabled offensive system, but the stigma remains and that will be an obstacle.
In the end, the Red Raiders probably have to be a legitimate contender in the Big 12 to make Patrick Mahomes a Heisman contender, and that isn’t exceedingly likely. However, his upside is very real and if “the leap” happens, Mahomes may be enough to carry Texas Tech to ten wins and jump into the discussion.
Next: JuJu Smith-Schuster