Three-Point Stance: Heisman contenders, best defenses, recruiting
Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell’s Three-Point Stance is here with a plea for a defensive Heisman, the top-five most talented defenses in college football and some recruiting odds and ends.
TAKE TWO: Can any program challenge Texas for Brockermeyers?
1. MY TOP FIVE HEISMAN CONTENDERS ON OFFENSE AND DEFENSE
OK, to the powers that be in college football, it’s finally time to do it — let’s name an offensive Heisman winner and a defensive Heisman winner. Why? Because Chase Young from Ohio State is the best player in the country and he has zero chance to win the Heisman the way things currently stand.
We all know the Heisman has become about the best quarterback on a really good team or, rarely, the best running back, but defensive players never get a serious look. So why not create a defensive version. Sure the Chuck Bednarik Award goes to the best defensive player in the country, but who cares? Name it the defensive Heisman and people will pay attention.
Here are my top five contenders on offense and defense for the Heisman....
OFFENSE
1. QB Joe Burrow, LSU — With Tua Tagovaila's injury, Burrow is clearly No. 1 right now and he will be the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft as well if he keeps playing the way he is. Tank for Tua? Nah. Blow for Burrow.
2. QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama — Tagovailoa has a great chance to win it if he returns for the LSU game and leads Alabama to a big win. His numbers are amazing and Alabama would be the No. 1 team in the country once again by then.
3. QB Justin Fields, Ohio State — I picked Trevor Lawrence to win the Heisman this year, but Fields, who was No. 2 to Lawrence coming out of high school, has been more consistent. And Ohio State, to me, is the best team in football, but the SEC gets more attention which is why he’s third.
4. RB Travis Etienne, Clemson — Where would Clemson be without him? OK, his stats aren't as gaudy as some other running backs, but he’s the offensive MVP for a team that could win the title.
5. RB Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State — Hubbard has put up amazing numbers and deserves to be in the discussion, especially if he passes the 2,000-yard mark, which could happen.
DEFENSE
1. DE Chase Young, Ohio State - He’s a freak and on his way to breaking the NCAA record for sacks in a season. Young changes the game like no other defensive player.
2. LB Isaiah Simmons, Clemson — If you watch Clemson play you’ll see that Simmons is pretty much involved in every defensive play. He’s an animal.
3. DB Derek Stingley, LSU — A freshman? Yep. Someone has to represent the talented LSU defense and Stingley is the team's best defensive player already. He’ll win his defensive Heisman in a year or two.
4. DT Derrick Brown, Auburn — Auburn has some losses, but Brown is the best interior defensive lineman in football and it’s not close.
5. DB Trevon Diggs, Alabama — “Bama would normally have someone at the top but the defense is down a bit this year. However, even his brother Stefon says Trevon is the better Diggs. And he’s having an awesome year.
2. THE FIVE MOST TALENTED DEFENSES IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL
The defensive players above are part of some of the best defenses in the country. But which team has the most talented defense overall. Here are my five.
1. Ohio State — Take a look at the two-deep and you’ll see NFL players everywhere. Young and Jeffrey Okudah will be top-10 picks in the NFL Draft next April and there is just a load of talent at every position. When you haven’t heard much about Malik Harrison, you know your defense is loaded because he’s simply awesome as well.
2. LSU — There are no weaknesses. The defensive backfield is loaded with first-rounders like Grant Delpit, Kristian Fulton and Stingley while guys like Jacoby Stevens and Michael Divinity make play after play. And the defensive line has Rashard Lawrence and Tyler Shelvin, two guys the NFL loves at defensive tackle.
3. Penn State — Micah Parsons would start for any team in the country and Yetur Gross-Matos in one of the best players in the land at defensive end. Penn State is young in some spots, but the talent level on the defense is impressive and it’s showing.
4. Auburn — I love the Auburn defense, led by Brown and Marlon Davidson on the defensive line and linebacker K.J. Britt isn’t huge but he makes a ton of plays. Nick Coe is a physical freak and the secondary is loaded as well.
5. Florida — Marco Wilson and C.J. Henderson are great secondary prospects and defensive end Jonathan Greenard is simply unstoppable at times. The offense has been better for Florida this season but the defense is what makes them a playoff contender.
3. RANDOM RECRUITING ODDS AND ENDS
Some random recruiting thoughts...
LSU can do no wrong now on the recruiting front and this past weekend was a good example. The Tigers flipped Georgia LB prospect B.J. Ojulari from Tennessee and landed yet another Mid-Atlantic star in DB Malcom Greene. And things are looking better and better for RB Zachary Evans as well, who was on hand this weekend for the win over Auburn. Oh and all those commitments I worried might be looking elsewhere if LSU struggled this year? Of course, some will take visits, but it will be hard to pry then away now.
It's starting to become decommitment season as we inch our way toward the Early Signing period. Ojulari is one example and Texas and Nebraska lost key recruits as well recently. They should start coming in pretty steady as we hit the month of November.
How about the QB battle between D.J. Uiagalelei and Bryce Young this past weekend? Uiagalelei is our No. 1 prospect in the country and Young is on the cusp of five stars and likely to earn that coveted status when we re-rank in December. But which one is the better college prospect? That’s going to be quite the debate when we have our meetings in late November. Young is committed to Alabama and Uiagalelei is committed to Clemson and I could easily see them battling for a couple of national titles over the next few years. Young got the better of it on the field against Uiagalelei and his team Friday and could be Alabama’s starter as early as next season.
Looking for a sign at how good Clemson recruiting has become? Try this. The Tigers haven’t offered North Carolina linebacker Trenton Simpson yet. Simpson could be a five-star by the time our rankings are done and has serious interest in Clemson. But there might not be room for him. That’s Alabama-like.