Does Cody Kessler Have A Shot At Winning The Heisman Trophy?
By Robert Ortiz
With nearly 4,000 yards passing and a sterling 39-5 TD-INT ratio, USC QB Cody Kessler was one of the nation’s most prolific passers on a team rocked by NCAA sanctions.
Nov 29, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Cody Kessler (6) conducts the Spirit of Troy marching band after the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC defeated Notre Dame 49-14. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
A soon to be three year starter, Kessler helped guide the ship through some of the toughest times in USC history, including going through an amazing FOUR coaches over the course of 6 calendar months. Despite all this, despite games where USC suited up less than 45 scholarship players, games in hostile environments against heated rivals, Kessler has remained a poised and talented leader.
Were he playing on the USC teams of the Pete Carroll age, the media could easily be pushing him for his SECOND Heisman upon entering his senior year, a la Matt Leinart. Cody is that talented. Not to mention the fact that he put up those numbers in a new system, with 6 true freshmen starting on Offense at times. I’m here to go over why Cody Kessler is a legitimate, dangerous Heisman Contender.
6 True freshman started multiple games on that high powered USC offense, 3 on the Offensive Line, including at the all important Left Tackle position. Think about that for a second. Buck Allen had 11 TD’s on nearly 1500 yards rushing. Kessler put up Heisman worthy stats. They did this behind a line filled with 18 year old kids.
Rimington Award Candidate Center Max Tuerk. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
And now, that entire O-Line returns, led by Rimington Award Candidate Center Max Tuerk, and 4 former Freshmen All-American’s, including the star trio from last year, Guard/Tackle Toa Lobendahn, Guard Damien Mama, and Guard Viane Talamaivao, as well as Left Tackle Chad Wheeler, who went down with an ACL injury vs. Utah, forcing Toa Lobendahn to move outside from Left Guard. Not only does the entire O-Line and then some return, but so does freshmen sensation WR Juju Smith, who put up over 700 yards receiving as Nelson Agholor’s sidekick, doing this all as a player who didn’t turn 18 until this past summer.
All 4 of those soon to be Sophomores are going to the the nucleus for a potential title run both this year and in 2016, and with Cody Kessler at the helm, this offense could dwarf the numbers it posted last season. And let’s not forget electric triple threat Adoree Jackson, who is locked in to start at Corner for the second year in a row, but had 10 catches last season, including 3 touchdowns.
Add in the additions of JC transfers 6’4” big play threat Isaac Whitney and 6’4” Red zone nightmare De’Quan Hampton, and it’s just another case of USC upgrading the offense at a time when most expect them to step back.
For an example of the things that Kessler does that may propel him to New York, look no further than his November matchup against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, a nationally televised game in which he threw for 6 TD’s and 372 yards.
Trojans freshman sensation, Wide Receiver Juju Smith. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Despite games like that, Kessler isn’t without his struggles, such as throwing for 214 yards and a 1-1 TD-INT ratio against the stacked UCLA defense, or 273-0-0 in a loss to Arizona State. Many critics point out that, as the level of competition rose, Kessler regressed, and at times, the stats agree. Despite this, Kessler finished the season strong, such as the Notre Dame game, as well as his performance against an underrated Nebraska Defense in the Holiday Bowl.
Now let’s be honest here, USC opens slow, with games against Arkansas State and Idaho, but despite those two less than stellar teams, USC has the 21st strongest Strength of Schedule in the nation. Using that to his advantage, Kessler could go into pivotal matchups against Notre Dame and UCLA in the latter half of the season with the Heisman Trophy and potential Playoff berth within reach.
Notre Dame comes back stronger than last year with the return of top NFL Draft Prospect CB Keivarae Russell and OLB Jaylon Smith as well as an upgraded offense, and we could easily see a mammoth game between two undefeated or one loss teams fighting for playoff berths.
Following up that with a team that has had USC’s number the past few seasons in UCLA, a team that just about shut down Kessler last season, and you have a recipe for a stretch of games that could either make or break Cody Kessler’s Heisman shot, as well as his draft stock.
All in all, Kessler’s Heisman Odds per Bovada are 12-1, behind 5 other players, although one is going in his first year as a starter, which surprises me. Despite this, Kessler clearly has a legitimate chance for a trip to New York, as well as a serious shot to win the whole thing if USC can make a push for the playoffs.
While there are some concerns about his play vs. teams with talented defenses, much of that can be attributed to an offensive line that was VERY young and inexperienced, same with his skill positions outside of RB. With another year in the Sarkisian system, as well as the maturation of the talented freshman class from last season, as well as this offseason’s explosive additions, Kessler should have no problem clearing up any questions about his play regressing against top teams.
This season should end up being quite the ride!