Scarlet and Game
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10 bold predictions for the 2017 college football season

By Griffin Hill

COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 8: The Ohio State Buckeyes mascot Brutus Buckeye and cheerleaders lead the team onto the field before the game against the Akron Zips at Ohio Stadium on September 8, 2007 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State won 20-2. (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 8: The Ohio State Buckeyes mascot Brutus Buckeye and cheerleaders lead the team onto the field before the game against the Akron Zips at Ohio Stadium on September 8, 2007 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State won 20-2. (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images) /
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PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 02: Running back Saquon Barkley
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 02: Running back Saquon Barkley /

2. We will have a Running Back Heisman Winner

This year appears as though it will be yet another Year of the Quarterback, but not so fast. This season has four guys I believe who have the talent to stop the coveted award from going to yet another QB: Derrius Guice (LSU), Saquon Barkley (Penn State), Bo Scarbrough (Alabama), and a longshot, Nick Chubb (Georgia).

For any of these four men to win it isn’t going to be easy, and they will have to put up stellar numbers along with some help from their team’s record. You can say what you want, but the success of their team will be taken into consideration.

Of these four my favorite is Barkley. Last season he rushed for nearly 1500 yards, and I think if he repeats that performance this season, and he can help take down Ohio State on the road, he is at least a finalist.

For the three SEC guys I mentioned it’s a little different for each of them. For Scarbrough, an undefeated regular season for Alabama will help his case tremendously, but I am a little worried about his number of touches with all the talent they have.

Guice is probably the best overall back in the group, and if LSU can string together some road wins in such a tough conference he could definitely be making the trip to New York. Now Chubb is a longshot and I know he is coming off an injury, but I really like the way he exposes after he sees he has a block.

Chubb has Adrian Peterson-like quickness with his step, at least before the injury. If he has recovered fully, and Georgia’s Offensive Line is able to play with those SEC defensive fronts, I think he could put up Heisman worthy statistics.

At the end of the day, Sam Darnold may just have to throw the ball up in the air enough times this season and the Heisman Trophy is his. But I can see one of these guys shaking up the race, and possibly even bringing home the trophy.

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