Top 10 Heisman Trophy candidates and 5 dark horse picks for 2021

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 19: Spencer Rattler #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks for an open receiver against the Iowa State Cyclones in the second quarter of the 2020 Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship football game at AT&T Stadium on December 19, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

5 of 15

TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State Buckeyes. Mandatory Credit: USA Today Sports/Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch /

Heisman Trophy dark horse No. 1: TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State

With Trey Sermon gone after one season with the Buckeyes, most fans figure that Master Teague III will finally get the opportunity to be the bell cow running back in Ryan Day’s potent offense. However, with true freshman TreVeyon Henderson joining the mix, I’m not so sure that will be the case.

Truth be told, my money is on Henderson usurping Teague as the lead ball-carrier in the Ohio State backfield sooner rather than later. Teague is a fine, experienced player in this offense but he simply lacks a lot of elite traits that make for an explosive, game-changing running back. Henderson, on the other hand, is not lacking in those areas at all.

Henderson heads to Columbus as a 5-star prospect and was the No. 1 running back recruit in the 2021 class. The 5-foot-11, 195-pounder is the total package out of the backfield with elite top-end speed, terrific quickness, the ability to play through contact, and an innate ability to be a weapon as a pass-catcher out of the backfield.

If the Buckeyes turn to Henderson early enough with an inexperienced quarterback taking over, he could take the college football world by storm right away. His dark horse candidacy depends on how long it takes for him to take over the lead role in the Ohio State backfield if he does at all. Because when that happens, he’s going to light the world on fire.