Since 2000, the Big Ten has only produced one Heisman Trophy winner, which was Troy Smith out of Ohio State in 2006, largely because the conference does not have the same flashy athletes to compete with the SEC and other big conferences. But times are changing and the Big Ten is starting to recruit further south, stealing recruits from SEC territory. That’s why this year there are three players in the Big Ten conference who have a legitimate chance of holding up the Heisman trophy in New York this December.
3. Tevin Coleman – Junior RB from Indiana
Although Tevin Coleman is considered a dark horse to win the Heisman Trophy, you can’t quite eliminate him from the watch list. Coleman is having a fantastic season for a struggling Indiana team. Coleman leads the conference is rushing yards (1060) and yards per carry (8.8). All season, Coleman has been working his way up Heisman Watch lists as he slashes through every defense he faces. If Coleman runs for a big game against Michigan State, one of the top defenses in the nation, this weekend, look for him to jump even higher in the Heisman rankings.
2. Ameer Abdullah – Senior RB from Nebraska
Coming into this season, Abdullah was expected to be one of the top running backs in the nation, but nobody expected him to put up the numbers he has this season. Behind a strong offensive line, Abdullah has rushed for 878 yards and 10 touchdowns. Rushing for over 200 yards three times this season already, Abdullah has made a strong case to be named the Heisman Trophy winner. His only slip-up this season came against Michigan State last week where he only ran for 45 yards, but still managed to score two touchdowns. Look for Abdullah to rebound this week and put up big numbers against Northwestern.
1. Melvin Gordon – Junior RB from Wisconsin
Wisconsin has had some great running backs the past few years with Montee Ball and James White, but Melvin Gordon seems to be in a league of his own. Gordon has been virtually unstoppable this year for the Badgers, rushing for 1046 yards and a Big Ten conference best 13 touchdowns. Gordon is considered to be the most productive back in the nation, largely due to his 175 yard and 4 touchdown performance this past weekend against Illinois. He also posted a 200+ yard performance to go along with a monstrous 5 touchdowns earlier in the season against Bowling Green. If Gordon continues posting astounding statistics like this throughout the rest of the season, he will find himself with an invitation to New York for the 2014 Heisman Trophy Presentation this winter, possibly even bringing it back to Madison, Wisconsin with him.
