15 off-the-radar Heisman Trophy candidates for 2016
By Brad Rowland
No. 10 – James Conner, RB Pittsburgh
Everybody is rooting for James Conner, and not just because he is an excellent football player. The Pittsburgh running back was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in December, but in late May, Conner received the positive news of being cancer-free, and he appears ready to resume a full football schedule.
Did I mention that James Conner is very good at football?
He was the named ACC Player of the Year in 2014, and Conner’s production level was definitely worthy of that honor. Conner accumulated 1,765 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns across 13 games, and he racked up those numbers while averaging 5.9 yards per carry for the season.
While the Panthers are not exactly on the national radar when it comes to college football, simply duplicating those numbers in his senior season would go a long way toward sending Conner into the Heisman discussion, and he is fully capable of doing just that.
After participating in only one game as a junior, James Conner will be back with a vengeance to close his college career, and the sky is the limit. We’re just glad he’s able to play and, more importantly, healthy enough to live free of cancer.
Next: Luke Falk