Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney don’t always see eye to eye. In this edition of Rival Views, the two debate which defensive player should be garnering the most Heisman interest.

I’m sticking with the guy I mentioned about six or seven weeks ago and that’s Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers. No one on defense is more important to their team than Peppers and that’s what the Heisman should be about.

Of course Peppers needs offensive and special teams stats to be considered and he’s certainly not shabby in those departments. He has 107 yards rushing and two scores, and 825 yards in returns with another score. He boasts an impressive 14 yards per punt return and 29 yards per kickof return. Keep in mind all of this is with teams trying to kick away from him for the most part.

But it’s on defense where he’s key. His stats won’t blow you away – 37 tackles, eight tackles for a loss and two sacks – although they are very good. It’s what he brings to the table from versatility to leadership to the need for teams to account for where he is at all times. He can play either safety position, any linebacker position and he can line up off the ball as an edge rusher. And, he’s by far the best player on his team’s defense. That can’t be said for anyone on Alabama and you could make a case for Daeshon Hall being equally important to Myles Garrett in the Texas A&M defense.

Let’s be honest, a pure defender won’t win the Heisman until they change the game and start considering players purely from that side of the ball, but since we’re playing this game, I’m going with Peppers, even without the offensive touches or special teams returns.

Let’s ask Texas A&M who would be the best defensive candidate for the Heisman Trophy. After what Alabama's Jonathan Allen did to the Aggies last weekend, it would surely be him.

Allen not only scored a defensive touchdown – the mind-boggling 12th non-offensive TD for the Crimson Tide this season – he also had one of the most memorable, highlight-reel sacks of this college football season.

First, the 6-foot-3, 291-pound defensive lineman shed the lunging block of offensive lineman Colton Prater. Then as running back Trayveon Williams dived at Allen’s legs to take him out, Allen did his best Superman impression by diving over Williams and right into the chest of QB Trevor Knight to bring him down.

It was an amazing play and proves he’s not only the best defensive player on a historically-loaded Alabama defense, but in the entire country.

No. One. Can. Block. Him.

Allen has 35 tackles in eight games. Six of those are sacks. He has 10 quarterback hurries. Two fumble recoveries. And he’s a menace on almost every play, against every stout SEC offensive line he’s faced.

The former five-star from Ashburn (Va.) Stone Bridge has worked his way into arguably the best defensive lineman available in this draft.

I can completely buy drafting Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett first. But anyone else? Michigan State’s Malik McDowell? Tennessee’s Derek Barnett? I don’t think so.

This season, the way Alabama is playing, the way Allen is completely dominating, is the reason why he should be atop the defensive players in contention for the Heisman.

Before Jabrill Peppers enters this argument, let’s see Michigan play somebody first.