15 off-the-radar Heisman Trophy candidates for 2016
By Brad Rowland
No. 13 – L.J. Scott, RB Michigan State
In 2015, three different Michigan State running backs carried the ball in excess of 100 times during the season. If that happens again, L.J. Scott won’t have a prayer of competing with the other candidates on this list. However, one important caveat exists.
L.J. Scott is easily the best running back on the Michigan State roster.
Mark Dantonio went back and forth on whether to trust Scott throughout his freshman season, and that kept the 6-foot, 238-pound monster from breaking out in full. However, national viewers got a little taste of Scott’s bull-like tendencies when he led the final drive against Iowa to claim the Big Ten crown, and Scott also exploded for 146 yards on just 18 carries in an earlier game against Purdue.
As a top-100 recruit, Scott brings the pedigree to the table, and you won’t find a more physical runner in the country. He did rush for less than 700 yards as a freshman, though, and unlike other unproven players on this list, there is less certainty that Dantonio and his staff will fully embrace Scott as the back for the Spartans.
Connor Cook is gone and Michigan State needs an offensive star to emerge. The smart money is on L.J. Scott.
Next: Lamar Jackson