The Buzz: Heisman news and views

The 2015 Heisman race is officially in its second week. Continuing our traditional weekly feature on Heisman.com, we’ve rounded up the latest news and updates from around the media world to help keep you posted on what’s happening with current contenders and past winners.

(Disclaimer — The Heisman Trophy Trust and Heisman.com does not endorse any college football player for the Heisman Memorial Trophy. The information contained here serves as a platform of information for fans and media, and is not intended to contain a definitive and comprehensive list of possible contenders.)

The Buzz…

Heisman Watch Watch

It might be more accurate to label some of the early-season Heisman Watches “A list of players who had a good week last week”. Here’s the rundown: Sports Ilustrated’s Zac Ellis has Alabama running back Derrick Henry atop his watch … Stewart Mandel ofFoxSports.com favors freshman quarterback Tanner Mangum of Brigham Young …SBNation says that Florida State running back Dalvin Cook is now a potential aspirant for the Heisman … Cory McCartney of FoxSports.com thinks that Mississippi defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche could be turning into a Charles Woodson-like Heisman competitor thanks to his second offensive touchdown in two weeks … TCU’sTrevone Boykin has got his groove back, writes the Fort Worth Star-Telegram … TheBaton Rouge Advocate says LSU running back Leonard Fournette puts the ‘man’ in Heisman Trophy contender … Notice all the running backs? Well, Chuck Culpepper of the Washington Post says the position in general is enjoying a resurgence this season.

Heisman-wise, there’s a running back stampede astir. It’s almost as if running backs from Tuscaloosa to Columbus to Philadelphia and down to, yes, Norfolk, are trying to prove they still matter in a quarterback century.

Injury Watch

Our thoughts go out to Pittsburgh running back James Conner, who has been lost for the season due to a tear of his MCL. Conner rushed for 1,765 yards and 26 touchdowns last year while being name the ACC’s Offensive Player of the Year .. And also to Notre Dame quarterback Malik Zaire, whose season was derailed by a broken ankle in his team’s dramatic win over Virginia. Heal well, gentlemen.

Statue of Rogers unveiled in Columbia

South Carolina has bestowed a new honor upon its only Heisman winner. A 9-foot-tall statue of George Rogers, who won the trophy in 1980, made its debut on the Gamecocks’ campus on Saturday, standing near the boulevard that bears his name. Of course, Rogers was his usual humble self during the unveiling ceremony:

“When you think of me, think of all the other guys who played with me,” Rogers, a native of Duluth, Ga., said at the unveiling prior to USC’s home opener Saturday night against Kentucky. “Those are the guys who made me look good.”

Here is a link to the photo gallery from that event.

Heisman vs. Heisman

The last two Heisman winners faced each other on Sunday in their NFL debuts in what was also a rematch of last year’s first round of the College Football Playoff. Marcus Mariota once again got the better of Jameis Winston, as Tennessee defeated Tampa Bay, 42-14. Mariota was impressive, completing 13 of 16 passes for 209 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. Winston was 16 of 33 for 210 yards and two touchdowns with two picks and he also ran for 18 yards.

USAToday.com has the rundown of what Mariota accomplished, including:

• Mariota is the youngest player to throw for four touchdowns in a game by over one year.
• Mariota had a perfect passer rating of 158.3. The only other rookie to complete more than 10 passes in a game and finish with such a mark was Robert Griffin III, who did it three years ago.

We expect the Winston-Mariota rivalry to be a compelling one in the years to come.

How’d the other Heismans do?

Here’s how the rest of the former NFL Heisman winners did on opening weekend:

• Carson Palmer was 19 of 32 for 307 yards and 3 TDs in Arizona’s 31-19 victory over New Orleans.
• Mark Ingram ran for 24 yards on 9 carries in the loss to the Cardinals.
• Cam Newton completed 18 of 31 passes for 175 yards with 1 TD and 1 interception while adding 35 rushing yards as the Panthers beat the Jaguars, 20-9.
• Johnny Manziel was 13 of 24 for 182 yards with 1 TD and 1 pick (and 35 rushing yards) as the Brown lost to the Jets, 31-10.
• Charles Woodson had seven tackles but suffered a shoulder injury toward the end of Oakland’s 33-13 loss to the Bengals.
• Sam Bradford will make his debut for the Philadelphia Eagles against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football.

Odds and Ends

An Apple Valley, Calif., man was charged in connection with the disappearance of O.J. Simpson‘s Heisman Trophy over 20 years ago.

Lewis Eugene Starks Jr., 56, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to one count of receiving stolen property. Prosecutors say Starks tried to sell the trophy, a plaque and a jersey worn by Simpson. The trophy was a duplicate of the 1968 Heisman Trophy awarded to Simpson for being the best player in college football. The trophy used to be part of an exhibit in the lobby of Heritage Hall at USC, but it mysteriously disappeared on July 28, 1994, along with a jersey worn by Simpson

I gave my love a cherry…

Mariota was again in the spotlight as Nike recently released a send-up of the toga partyfrom the classic movie, Animal House.