The Case for Chase: Ohio State’s Chase Young could make Heisman history

The Heisman Trophy for 2019 is likely to be won by Joe Burrow, but Chase Young should be the winner.

Chase Young is the first defender since 2016 to be a Heisman finalist after leading the nation with 16.5 sacks for the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes.

Young looks to make Heisman history and join Charles Woodson as the second defensive player to win the Heisman. It’s an underdog, but could be the first defensive player to finish as the runner-up since Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o in 2012.

We often talk about how the Heisman Trophy is a quarterback-driven award. Since 2000, 16 of the 19 winners have been quarterbacks. Usually, that quarterback is on the best team from that year, bringing up how the award is consistently labeled “the best player for the best team”, rather than the best overall player. This year, it’s time for a change. It’s time to give it to the best overall player, and that’s been the unblockable Young.

Young led the nation in sacks despite missing two games for an NCAA rules violation otherwise he could have threatened to top 20 sacks. He also had 21 tackles for loss, three passes defensed, and six forced fumbles. Along the way he set Ohio State single-season record and the single-season for the Big Ten.

While Ohio State put together a College Football Playoff season, Young was a big part in remaining undefeated. He was a game-changer in wins against Wisconsin and Penn State when he had seven combined sacks, nine tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. His ability to change the game and create turnovers were crucial to changing momentum and leading the Buckeyes to big wins.

After being a one-man wrecking crew for the Buckeyes defense, Michigan and Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game dedicated an army to try and slow Young from getting to the quarterback. It worked in that it kept Young from adding to his sack total. But it didn’t work in slowing down the Ohio State defense because Young’s teammates were able to take advantage and win their battles with so much attention paid to No. 2.

Young was double and even triple-teamed. Not many recent players get that type of attention in college. Plus, even in those games, Young found a way to create pressure and make plays.

He led the Buckeyes to the second-best defensive efficiency rating in the country.

Burrow, Hurts and Fields are all Heisman-worthy but if the Heisman voters want to vote for the one player who dominated unlike anyone else at his position, it’s an easy call to vote Young.

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