Although they seemed finished just one month ago, Melvin Gordon’s Heisman Trophy chances have rebounded as the running back has emerged as a legitimate contender for college football’s most prestigious award.
To fully understand the context of Gordon’s Heisman campaign, we first have to acknowledge that he likely won’t walk away as the winner. Excluding Reggie Bush’s vacated 2005 Heisman, quarterbacks have won 12 of the past 13 trophies.
Team performance is a factor as well. The only running back to win and keep the Heisman since 2000 was Alabama’s Mark Ingram Jr., who played for an undefeated national champion. The last Heisman-winning running back to play for a team with at least two losses was, coincidentally, former Badger Ron Dayne in 1999.
But the fact he’s in the conversation is an extraordinary accomplishment in itself. Two games into the season, Gordon’s preseason hype had dwindled after he disappeared in the second half against LSU and was stifled by Western Illinois.
Gordon isn’t focused on the Heisman just yet. With six games left, he said it’s hard to project stats across the remainder of the regular season. But the thought of winning is still enticing.
“To be honest, it’s every kid’s dream to win it, but if it happens, it happens,” Gordon said.
Gordon’s dedication to his craft has rubbed off on teammates and the media alike. Stories of Gordon running ladder drills on his front lawn in the wee hours of the morning became legendary.
“I’ve been for his vote since spring ball,” said fellow running back Corey Clement. “Ever since, I’ve just seen his work ethic, and I’m just like, there’s no way he can’t get it.”
Despite the positional bias against running backs and the fact Heisman winners usually come from national title contenders, Gordon’s statistical resume is remarkable. Five games of at least 100 rushing yards. Two games of at least 250 yards. And three games with multiple touchdowns.
Gordon has vastly outperformed what Ingram had done in the first half of 2009. Gordon has tallied 1,046 rushing yards on an average of 7.9 yards per carry while scoring 14 total touchdowns. Through six games, Ingram recorded 659 rushing yards on 5.9 yards per carry with 10 total touchdowns.
But Ingram was running against the powerful defenses of the SEC, right? Not exactly. Not including the national title game against Texas, since the Heisman had already been awarded, Ingram faced only one rushing defense that finished the season ranked in the Top 40.
2009 was just a weak Heisman year. No player really stood out all season. Ingram received the lowest percentage of votes among winners since Nebraska’s Eric Crouch in 2001.
For Gordon, 2014 is shaping up to be a similar season. Oregon’s Marcus Mariota and Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott are deservedly the top two candidates heading into the second half. Mariota has some amazing numbers, leading the nation in efficiency rating and boasting a perfect 19:0 touchdown to interception ratio. The narrative of Mississippi State has boosted Prescott’s candidacy, as he’s the leader of the typically irrelevant program’s resurgence.
But it’s far too early to say that Oregon and Mississippi State will be in the national title picture by season’s end. The Ducks have already lost once and it would seem strange if the Bulldogs remain undefeated during this chaotic season. If those teams fall off in the second half, Gordon’s window will open wider.
He’s easily the strongest running back candidate, especially with Georgia’s Todd Gurley suspended indefinitely due to an autograph investigation. Being the best at his position certainly helps his Heisman case, but that’s not how Gordon sees it.
“Everyone considers Todd Gurley to be the best back. It just kind of sucks now because I want to compete against him,” Gordon said. “With him being out, it’s really not a fair chance. I feel like no matter what, they’ll be like ‘Todd’s the best,’ no matter what I do from here on out.”
Gordon has made no secret that he scoreboard watches, constantly comparing himself to elite collegiate runners like Gurley and Indiana’s Tevin Coleman. But Clement said Gordon is able to separate player comparisons from media hype.
“I just see him taking it one game at a time,” Clement said. “That’s probably the biggest respect I can have toward him for that because a lot of people get tied up in the media, just want to see how great they’re doing. He just kicks back and relaxes after every game.”
That’s probably the best strategy. We’ll do the talking in the media. Gordon will let his numbers speak for themselves.
