In the surest sign yet that we are mired in the deepest part of the college football off season, ESPN.com has given us a list of five under the radar names to keep an eye on for the 2016 Heisman Trophy. Saquon Barkley joins Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson, Baylor quarterback Seth Russell, UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen, and Tennessee running back Jalen Hurd.
As Mitch Sherman writes, with the Lions breaking in a new quarterback this fall, and with a new offensive system, the star sophomore figures to have an opportunity to launch himself into Heisman chatter with a big September, as the new PSU signal caller gets up to speed. Big games at Pitt and Michigan will certainly give Barkley a shot to grab national attention early on too.
Earlier this year, Barkley was at +5000 on 5Dimes to win the award, trailing the likes of Deshaun Watson, J.T. Barrett, and Christian McCaffery.