Rashaad Penny Was Not A Heisman Finalist
The Aztec running back got snubbed, again
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Will Penny win the stiff arm award?
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San Diego State running back and returner Rashaad Penny had a career year as he led the nation in rushing yards with 2,027 and also yards per game with 168.92. He also had 19 touchdowns as a running back and he also was one of the nation’s best special teams players with four total return touchdowns — two kick and two punt returns.
He also had a pair of receiving touchdowns for 24 total on the year. Penny led the Aztecs to another 10 win season but the two loses against a pair of really good teams in Boise State and Fresno State. Both of which spent time ranked this year.
However, that was not enough to allow him to be a Heisman finalist.
The finalists for the award were:
QB Lamar Jackson, Louisville
RB Bryce Love, Stanford
QB Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
Can not argue with both quarterbacks on the list and while Love is good, in fact very good, his numbers do not stack up against what Penny achieved this year.
First of all, San Diego State topped Stanford this season which should count or something, or at least a little. There is a difference in strength of schedule but Penny is a more versatile by being better than Love in the receiving game and also the return game, too
Love is behind Penny in yards per game and total yards, but it is close as Penny has 54 more rushing yards on the year. However, Penny had more rushing touchdowns 19 to 17, four return touchdowns to Love’s zero and two receiving touchdowns which Love again had zero.
Another step is all-purpose yards where Penny had 2,698 total yards to Love’s 2,006. Yards per play also favored Penny at 8.7 to 8.3 and total yards per game favored the SDSU back by 54 yards.
By every rushing category Penny has better numbers and Penny is more versatile than Love but because the latter is in the Pac-12 he gets the nod.
One note that should be addressed is that Heisman voters are only allowed to vote for three players. Expanding the vote to five players is probably a good idea since picking just three players as the nation’s best player is extremely narrow.
There likely will be voters who picked Penny and that will be known on Dec. 9 when the complete results are announced.
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