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) /

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Breece Hall, Iowa State Cyclones. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

10. Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State

Remember when it was mentioned that only one player who was in the top 10 of Heisman Trophy voting for last season was returning last year? That would be Iowa State running back Breece Hall, who comes back for his junior season with the Cyclones after finishing sixth in the voting for the award a year ago.

Hall was part of an offense that was expected to run through quarterback Brock Purdy last year but the running back emerged as the unquestioned star. He led college football in rushing yards with 1,572 and was second in the country in rushing touchdowns with 21. Not to stop there, he also tacked on 180 receiving yards and two trips to the end zone in the passing game.

There’s no doubt that the Cyclones will continue to feed Hall throughout the 2021 season and the talented ball-carrier will definitely produce. But that begs the question of why he’s bringing up the rear of the top 10 preseason Heisman candidates rather than coming in near the top.

The fact of the matter is that, though Hall was productive, he wasn’t as efficient as some of the elite players we’ve seen win the award in the past, averaging just 5.6 yards per carry. Moreover, he’s just not a heavy factor in the passing game. With all of that, he’ll be in the conversation but likely not enough to earn him a nod as a finalist.