What’s next for the 2014 Heisman top 10?
Ohio State’s 42-20 defeat of Oregon in the finale of the College Football Playoff on Monday night put a capper on another exciting season.
Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota fell short in his bid to become the 15th player to win the Heisman and a national championship in the same season. The junior from Honolulu completed 24 of 37 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns (with one interception), plus 39 rushing yards against the Buckeyes. That brought his season totals to 5,224 yards of total offense and 58 combined touchdowns running, passing and receiving.
That’s the last we’ll see of Mariota. He announced on Wednesday that he’ll forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft.
“After meeting with my family I have decided to forgo my final year of eligibility and apply for the 2015 NFL draft,” Mariota said. “My four years at the University of Oregon have been an awesome experience. I cannot thank Coach Kelly, Coach Helfrich, Coach Frost, the rest of the Oregon coaches and the support staff enough for molding me as a person, player and student-athlete.
“The support I received from the university, the city of Eugene and Duck fans has been tremendous. I will always remember the great times and support I received. Once a Duck always a Duck. I will miss being with my teammates. Being a part of this team was something special that I will always treasure.”
So, Archie Griffin’s double-Heisman accomplishment is safe for yet another season. But what of the rest of the players who finished in the top 10 of the 2014 Heisman vote? Here’s a rundown of how they did in their bowl games and what the future holds for their playing careers:
2. Melvin Gordon, Junior, RB, Wisconsin. STATUS: Going Pro. The junior from Wisconsin rushed for 251 yards and three touchdowns on 34 carries to lead the Badgers to a 34-31 overtime victory over Auburn. His total of 2,587 rushing yards puts him second to Barry Sanders on the all-time NCAA single-season rushing list. Gordon had already declared for the NFL draft by the time of the Heisman ceremony, so the next time he carries the ball, it will be in the NFL.
3. Amari Cooper, Junior, WR, Alabama. STATUS: Going Pro. – The Biletnikoff winner had nine catches for 71 yards and two touchdowns in Alabama’s 42-35 loss to eventual national champ Ohio State in the first round of the college football playoffs. He finished with 124 catches for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns. He announced a few days ago that he would skip his senior season and head to the NFL.
4. Trevone Boykin, Junior, QB, TCU. STATUS: Returning. – Boykin capped a dream season by leading TCU to a 42-3 romp over Mississippi in the Chik-Fil-A Peach Bowl. Boykin passed for 187 yards and three touchdowns and added 65 rushing yards for the 12-1 Horned Frogs, who ended up just three points shy of going undefeated. The junior from Dallas finished the season with 3,901 passing yards and 33 touchdowns to go with 701 rushing yards and eight scores. He returns for his senior season to lead a TCU squad that will no doubt have sky-high expectations for 2015.
5. J.T. Barrett, Freshman, QB, Ohio State. STATUS: Returning – Barrett had already produced the best season by a quarterback in Ohio State history by the time he broke his ankle in game 12 against Michigan. The freshman threw for 2,834 yards and 34 touchdowns and added another 938 yards and 11 scores on the ground before giving way to sophomore Cardale Jones, who led the Buckeyes to the national title. Barrett will be back for another go-around next year, but he might have to vie with Jones and 2012 top-five Heisman finisher Braxton Miller for the starting quarterback spot.
6. Jameis Winston, Sophomore, QB, Florida State. STATUS: Going Pro. – The 2013 Heisman Trophy winner’s amazing 27-game winning streak as a starter came to an end when Oregon and Mariota vanquished the Seminoles, 59-20, in round one of the College Football Playoff. Winston threw for 348 yards and a touchdown (with one pick) in the defeat as his career-record as a starter fell to a still-sterling 27-1. On the year, he threw for 3,907 yards and 25 touchdowns. He announced after the Oregon game that he was skipping his final two seasons of eligibility to enter the NFL draft.
7. Tevin Coleman, Junior, RB, Indiana. STATUS: Going Pro – The Hoosiers didn’t make it to a bowl game, but Coleman still finished second in the nation in rushing 2,036 yards. He also added 15 touchdowns. Coleman will join fellow Big Ten 2,000-yard rusher Gordon in the NFL next season.
8. Dak Prescott, Junior, QB, Mississippi State. STATUS: Returning – The Bulldogs were 9-0 at one point and Prescott looked like a shoo-in to make it to New York for the Heisman ceremony. But MSU lost three of its last four games, including a 49-34 loss at the hands of Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl. Prescott threw for 453 yards and three touchdowns with one interception and also added 47 rushing yards and a score. On the year, he finished with 3,449 passing yards and 27 touchdowns to go with 986 rushing yards and 14 scores. He’ll return for his senior season to lead the Bulldogs back into contention in the SEC West.
9. Scooby Wright III, Sophomore, LB, Arizona. STATUS: Returning – The Lombardi and Nagurski Award winner had a monster season as a sophomore, finishing with 153 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 14 sacks and six forced fumbles. He had 10 tackles and two tackles for loss in the Wildcats’ 38-30 loss to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. He’s back again next year as Arizona vies for its second-straight Pac-12 South title.
10. Bryce Petty, Senior, QB, Baylor. STATUS: Eligibility exhausted – Petty threw for 550 yards and three touchdowns (with one pick) in Baylor’s heartbreaking 42-41 loss to Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl. Petty finished 3,855 yards and 28 touchdown passes. Bears head coach Art Briles thinks Petty will be the Blake Bortles of this year’s NFL draft.
So four of the top 10 from this past season’s vote return next fall for what should be yet another exciting Heisman race.
