15 off-the-radar Heisman Trophy candidates for 2016

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 12: A general view of the Heisman Trophy during a press conference prior to the 2015 Heisman Trophy Presentation at the Marriott Marquis on December 12, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 12: A general view of the Heisman Trophy during a press conference prior to the 2015 Heisman Trophy Presentation at the Marriott Marquis on December 12, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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Oct 4, 2014; Starkville, MS, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Kenny Hill (7) throws the ball against the Mississippi State Bulldogsat Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2014; Starkville, MS, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Kenny Hill (7) throws the ball against the Mississippi State Bulldogsat Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 15 – Kenny Hill, QB TCU

For a brief moment, Kenny Hill looked like the “next big thing” at Texas A&M. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound quarterback from Southlake, Texas grabbed the starting job for the Aggies to begin the 2014 campaign, and Hill came out of the gate with a performance for the ages.

In his first start, Hill completed 44 of his 60 pass attempts for 511 yards and three touchdowns in a win over South Carolina, and the game happened to be televised by ESPN in a primetime slot. As a result, the hype machine was very real for Hill, and when he followed that up by leading Texas A&M to a 5-0 record with 17 touchdowns and only two interceptions, Heisman talk began.

Then, the wheels came off.

Texas A&M lost the next three games as Hill’s effectiveness waned and, in the blink of an eye, he lost the starting quarterback job to Kyler Murray. Shortly after, Kenny Hill transferred to TCU.

That escalated quickly.

In 2016, though, Hill has the inside track at the starting quarterback job for the Horned Frogs, and this is an offense built to put up real numbers. Trevone Boykin enjoyed crazy success under center at TCU a year ago, and while Hill may not be the player that Boykin was, he is certainly equipped to do damage on the scoreboard.

At this point, Kenny Hill isn’t the definite starter and it takes some effort to imagine a Heisman-level performance here. That said, the talent and situation are there to foster that explosion, and it’s at least somewhat believable.

Next: John O'Korn