2019 College Football: Ranking the top Defense for Heisman candidates

While we all understand that the likelihood of a defensive player winning the Heisman Trophy in college football is essentially slim to none. But let’s use this as a fun little exercise to dream a little bit and wonder, what if?

We all know that every college football season, the Heisman Trophy talk is typically dominated by the quarterbacks. The 2019 college football season is no different. This year, guys like Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts, Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa and now even LSU’s Joe Burrow dominate the Heisman odds.

This award is almost always quarterback-driven, with notable exceptions being the years when the vote goes to a dominant running (ex. Derrick Henry in 2015). So that doesn’t leave much room outside of the quarterback position, in fact, eight of the last ten Heisman Trophy winners have gone to that most important position of quarterback

Additionally, you almost never see a wide receiver win the coveted award, the last to do so was Desmond Howard out of the University of Michigan all the way back in 1991. Personally, I would be willing to throw a vote to Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, but I digress.

And out of every position, the one player(s) you never hear in the Heisman talk are defensive guys, which to me, is a bit of shame. The only defensive player in college football history to ever win the Heisman was Charles Woodson in 1997, and his kick return abilities had a hand in that as well.

Therefore, I’ve taken it upon myself to devise a small list of three defensive guys that I believe could have a shot at the 2019 Heisman Trophy. These three guys are incredible talents who have started out the season strong. That being said, it is important to keep in mind that it is still early in the college football season.