Can Todd Gurley compete for the Heisman Trophy?

Georgia Bulldogs running back Todd Gurley is garnering all kinds of buzz as he approaches his junior year in Athens. For some, Gurley’s sophomore campaign was considered a disappointment after he posted just 989 yards and 10 touchdowns, but when considering that he missed all of three games and significant portions of at least two more, it isn’t difficult to imagine a scenario where he could have replicated his breakout freshman campaign. Now, there is an even larger question surrounding Gurley and his potential for the coming season.

Can he win the Heisman Trophy?

Quite obviously, winning the Heisman Trophy is a unique feat that can’t easily be predicted. The last Heisman winner from the University of Georgia was Herschel Walker in 1982, and while several members of the Bulldogs have had incredible campaigns since that time, the stars must align in order to go home with the award. As a freshman, the 6-foot-1, 230-pound Gurley rushed for 1,385 yards on just 222 carries (6.2 yards per attempt) and scored 17 touchdowns while a part of a legitimate timeshare with Keith Marshall, and if he were to grab the full-time gig alone and hold it without injury, the sky is the limit.

Still, there are some road blocks. First, the aforementioned Marshall is just one piece of a talented UGA backfield this season, and Mark Richt has been known to save bullets on his star running backs at times. Secondly, the Dawgs return some serious firepower at the wide receiver position with guys like Chris Conley and Michael Bennett, and if Hutson Mason is as productive as some believe he can be, it could cut into Gurley’s ability to touch the ball with the regularity needed to post historic numbers.

One thing is certain, and that is that Todd Gurley is the most dynamic player on the Georgia roster, and with that, Mark Richt and Mike Bobo would be foolish not to ride him whenever possible. Putting up the 1,500+ yard season necessary to seriously compete for the Heisman Trophy is something that is difficult to outright predict, but if Gurley touches the ball 250+ times, he has a real chance. At the moment, he is projected as one of the top-5 “favorites” to take home the award, and even if he falls short, it should be a highly entertaining pursuit.

Here is the full list of the odds to take home the award, courtesy of Bovada:

• Jameis Winston (QB, FSU) — 3/1
• Marcus Mariota (QB, Oregon) — 11/2
• Braxton Miller (QB, Ohio State) — 6-1
• Bryce Petty (QB ,Baylor) — 10/1
• Todd Gurley (RB, Georgia) — 12/1
• Brett Hundley (QB, UCLA) — 14/1
• Everett Golson (QB, Notre Dame) — 14/1
• T.J. Yeldon (RB, Alabama) — 16/1
• Melvin Gordon (RB, Wisconsin) — 18/1
• Nick Marshall (QB, Auburn) — 20/1
• Trevor Knight (QB, Oklahoma) — 20/1
• Derrick Henry (RB, Alabama) — 25/1
• Mike Davis (RB, South Carolina) — 25/1
• Connor Cook (QB, Michigan State) — 28/1
• Ameer Abdullah (RB, Nebraska) — 33/1
• Duke Johnson (RB, Miami) — 33/1
• Karlos Williams (RB, FSU) — 33/1
• Myles Jack (LB, UCLA) — 33/1
• Sean Mannion (QB, Oregon State) — 33/1
• Taylor Kelly (QB, Arizona State) — 33/1
• Dak Prescott (QB Mississippi State) — 40/1
• Matt Johnson (QB, Bowling Green) — 66/1
• Rakeem Cato (QB, Marshall) — 66/1