Heisman Trophy rankings 2020: Top 5 candidates and 5 darkhorse picks

5. Derek Stingley Jr. – LSU Cornerback

Derek Stingley Jr. is an elite player who was one of the best players on LSU’s 2019 championship team as a true freshman. If the Tigers’ defense is one of the top units in the country again despite how many players they lost, Stingley has to get some love as one of the best players this season.

He’s got a new defensive coordinator in Bo Pellini, but as a cornerback, his impact on the defense should only enhance from here.

The one thing really hurting Stingley is teams might just avoid him at all costs. Kristian Fulton was taken in the second round of the NFL Draft, so the Tigers are putting a new player next to Stingley. Sophomore Cordale Flott and freshman Elias Ricks will likely be the ones playing alongside Stingley, but teams are 100 percent going to take their chances with the young player over one of the best in the nation.

Will it hurt Stingley if he isn’t able to have eye-popping numbers? It’s likely, but Stingley is such a good player that teams can’t avoid him forever. There’s a lot of really good receivers in the SEC, and quarterbacks are going to find themselves in a desperate situation where they go after their best player without thinking of the consequences. That’s where Stingley is going to pounce. He will need quite a few interceptions and multiple that go for a touchdown. This will also have to happen against the big names in Alabama and maybe Auburn.

Stingley has a chance to turn into a Heisman Trophy candidate, but buyer beware there’s a reason Charles Woodson is the only defensive player to win the Heisman. It’s hard to have his kind of impact. Still, Stingley has that kind of talent.