On December 10, 2016, some college athlete will be crowned the next Heisman Trophy Winner, the award given to the most outstanding football player. While it will likely go to one of these five players, it should go to someone who wasn't invited, Florida State University Wide Receiver Travis Rudolph.
It's not that the finalists aren't deserving of the major award. The University of Louisville Quarterback Lamar Jackson threw for 30 touchdowns and ran for another 21, all while passing for 3,990 yards and running for 1,538 yards. Critics contend that he only completed 57.6 percent of his passes, and had horrible games against the University of Houston and the University of Kentucky.
Deshaun Watson, Clemson University's own quarterback, outdueled Jackson in a head-to-head matchup. He's taken his team to the College Football Playoff. He threw for 3,914 yards and 37 touchdowns, while rushing for another 5 scores (and 529 yards). But struggles against some weak competition make this repeat finalist less-than-a-sure-bet.
Jabrill Peppers, the linebacker from the University of Michigan, is an intriguing choice, with more than 71 tacks, 15 stops for a loss, while racking up a few touchdowns on offense, getting more than 750 yards. Punching an Ohio State University fan won't help his case, as well as that anemic loss Michigan had to Iowa.
Or could it be Baker Mayfield, the Oklahoma QB who completed an impressive 70% of his passes, tossed 38 touchdowns, and racked up 3,669 yards. He'll have to hope that Heisman voters weren't watching that game the Sooners played against Houston and Ohio State University.
Receiver Rudolph had a pretty decent junior season. He snagged 53 receptions for 807 yards, with seven touchdowns. That's not too bad for a receiver, right?
I know what you're thinking. Rudolph's good, but perhaps not the best collegiate wide receiver in the NCAA Division I. In fact, he may not be the best athlete on the Florida State University football team, as fellow Seminole Dalvin Cook, a running back, had a stellar season with 1,620 rushing yards, 426 receiving yards, and 19 total touchdowns against better competition than many other running backs. Though Cook was snubbed in the end, Kirk Herbstreit and Mel Kiper Jr. see him as a top running back.
But I don't think the award should be about the best statistics. In fact, Rudolph made one of the best plays of the college football seasons.
You see, while Rudolph and his teammates visited a Tallahassee school, the Seminole WR noticed 11-year-old Bo Paske, who has autism, sitting by himself. According to Huffington Post, Rudolph joined the boy as his stunned mother snapped the photo of the two animatedly chatting, moving her to tears. And yes, Rudolph is black while Paske is white.
The story went viral. In a sport where bad news leads and few good deeds gets coverage, Rudolph's gesture was huge for the NCAA. It didn't stop there, as Paske and his family got a chance to see a key early season game where FSU dueled Mississippi in Orlando, Florida, and a jersey with his name on it, and was featured on national television. Now all the kids at school think Paske's cool for being a celebrity.
Rudolph probably won't win. But the Heisman Trophy, created by the Downtown Athletic club, is supposed to go to "the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity." Given that, maybe Rudolph should be at Times Square in Manhattan this weekend.
John A. Tures is a professor of political science at LaGrange College in LaGrange, Ga. He can be reached at jtures@lagrange.edu.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.