5 reasons Greg Ward Jr. can win the 2016 Heisman

The Houston Cougars signal-caller enters the 2016 college football with a great chance to become the first Heisman Trophy winner from outside a major conference since 1990.

With under 100 days remaining until the start of the college football, it’s time for fans to get excited about what’s shaping up to be another thrilling season.

One of the most exciting parts of any offseason is projecting the field for the Heisman Trophy, given annually to the top player in the nation. Alabama running back Derrick Henry took home the award in 2015, snapping a streak of five straight Heisman wins for quarterbacks.

Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson has the best chance to get quarterbacks back to their winning ways as the preseason favorite. Watson will be challenged by a pair of outstanding running backs in Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey, along with quite a few other contenders.

Among that group of contenders is Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr., who is hoping to follow in Andre Ware’s footsteps as the program’s second Heisman Trophy winner. Ward Jr. has emerged over the past two seasons as a terrific dual-threat quarterback and thrived under first-year head coach Tom Herman in 2015 with just shy of 4,000 total yards.

Herman installed an excellent offensive system in Houston that led to a 13-1 season and a win over Florida State in the Peach Bowl. Recruiting has been impressive so far, and Houston has the talent to win another New Year’s Six game this year, if not more.

Should that happen, expect Ward Jr. to end the season as a Heisman finalist. The Houston signal caller has the ability to become the first non-power conference Heisman Trophy winner since Ty Detmer in 1990 for multiple reasons.

Next: A showcase game to start the year