The Heisman Trophy race for this season should be one of the most interesting in recent memory, as things have started to take shape heading into December and with names like Jameis Winston, AJ McCarron and Johnny Manziel out there, could someone like NIU Huskies QB Jordan Lynch get some consideration after putting up Tim Tebow like numbers in 2013?
The past two seasons Lynch has put up some fantastic numbers, but since he plays for Northern Illinois he doesn't get the same consideration as everyone else, but this year could be different. Manziel won last season by putting up record numbers across the board and while he had a good season again, voters likely want to spread the wealth and after all his issues this season off the field, they may decide to look elsewhere. For Lynch to get true consideration he would need a number of factors to play out including for it to be a "weird" year for Heisman candidates and college football teams and amazingly enough, that appears to be shaping up.
While Jameis Winston is the front runner and will remain there, the fact that a possible rape and/or sexual assault case is hanging over him and the fact that Alabama lost against Auburn could all play into Lynch's hands. McCarron had his Heisman moment with a 99-yard pass to Amari Cooper against Auburn in the Iron Bowl, but since the team lost, he might not get as much consideration as he would if they had won and that could open things up for someone like Lynch. While he may not win, Lynch could make it to New York based on his play this season, as his team is undefeated and he leads the Huskies in passing yards, rushing yards and touchdowns as one of the nation's leaders.
Lynch has a similar style to Tim Tebow and he has put up numbers comparable to the former Heisman winner this season, including setting the record for rushing yards in an FBS game and that broke his own record with 321 yards on the ground last week. According to ESPN.com, Lynch has reached a number of milestones and made a number of accomplishments this season, including becoming just the fifth player to have 20 passing and rushing touchdowns in the same year and the site writes that three of the last four won the trophy when they did that, with one not winning because they matched up against someone that did that aka it was Cam Newton.
Lynch has been fantastic this season with 2,457 yards and 22 scores and he has rushed for 1,755 yards and 20 touchdowns and that is where his Heisman case gets interesting. Yes, the Huskies play a weaker schedule, but his stats are what they are and the fact that he has nearly 1,800 yards on the ground and that many touchdowns is significant. As ESPN.com points out, five different Heisman running backs have put up numbers in that wheelhouse and they didn't even have passing yards to add to that as well.
While Lynch needs a lot to go right to get to New York and to win the Heisman, his comparison to Tim Tebow could end up making him a big surprise this year in the voting.
