The list of finalists for this year’s Heisman Trophy could have included 10 players, and there still would have been a guy or two who people would argue got snubbed. That’s a testament to how many excellent college football players there were in 2015 – there wasn’t one guy who seemed like a no-brainer choice for the sport’s highest individual award, but rather, there were a bunch of really good guys who all had a solid case.
Ultimately, it was decided that three guys would go to New York City for the Heisman ceremony: Alabama running back Derrick Henry, Stanford running back/return man Christian McCaffery, and Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Your Heisman finalists are: Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffrey, Deshaun Watson. That's it.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 7, 2015
No one will argue that those three don’t represent some of the best players in the country this year. Watson is quite possibly the best quarterback in the nation, McCaffery’s ability to impact the game in a bunch of different ways is unparalleled, and Henry is a workhorse who leads the nation in carries, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns this season.
All three are outstanding athletes…but there’s a problem. With only three guys going to New York, there are a ton of players who deserve to be in the conversation but aren’t making the trip, which led to a ton of outrage on Twitter. Here’s a sample of the anger over a few of the game’s best players getting “snubbed.”
LSU Running Back Leonard Fournette
😒
— 7⃣ Leonard Fournette (@_fournette) December 7, 2015
https://twitter.com/iAm_StatXII/status/674014240269824000
Would imagine Fournette would have made a top 5, but who knows… https://t.co/7DiX2YQJwE
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 7, 2015
Boykin, Fournette & Cook should've at least been invited to attend the Heisman ceremony in NY.
— Kenny BooYah! 🖖🏾 (@KwikWarren) December 7, 2015
Florida State Running Back Dalvin Cook
Way to leave out Dalvin Cook. Best back in the league gets overlooked. https://t.co/EtC6Zmr8u7
— Eric Armstrong (@Eric__Armstrong) December 7, 2015
Shocked that Dalvin Cook wasn't named a Heisman finalist.
— Jordan Kroeger (@ByJordanKroeger) December 7, 2015
Dalvin Cook def should've been a heisman finalist…
— JG (@jgolden325) December 7, 2015
Dalvin Cook is the best college football player in the country, and you can't convince me otherwise..
— Jonny B GOOD (@idem7) December 7, 2015
Oklahoma Quarterback Baker Mayfield
So you're telling me #BakerMayfield isn't a Heisman Finalist? Isn't the Heisman, the most important player to his team?
— Dana Arthur (@CoachArthur71) December 7, 2015
How the #Sooners players are responding to QB Baker Mayfield not being a #Heisman finalist. #FiredUp pic.twitter.com/NZN3PCHKoe
— John Laws (@TheJohnLaws) December 7, 2015
Stunned, STUNNED that Baker Mayfield is not a #Heisman finalist. He should be in New York.
— Dari Nowkhah (@ESPNDari) December 7, 2015
If baker mayfield was in the SEC he'd be leading the heisman race @HeismanTrophy @ESPNCFB @espn #bias
— Javion sanders (@__JJsanders) December 7, 2015
The fact that Baker Mayfield isn't even a finalist for the Heisman is ridiculous
— jb2000 (@jb20002022) December 7, 2015
Navy Quarterback Keenan Reynolds
Sorry to see Goodpasture's Keenan Reynolds wasn't among the Heisman finalists this year. Navy QB accounted for 25 TDs and 2100+ yds offense
— Chris Harris (@ChrisHarrisWSMV) December 7, 2015
Tremendously bummed that Keenan Reynolds isn't a #Heisman finalist. Kid deserved it.
— Justin Karp (@jskarp) December 7, 2015
All I have to say is that if Keenan Reynolds is not a @HeismanTrophy trophy finalist they need to change the mission statement.
— Scott Strasemeier (@ScottStras) December 7, 2015
Keenan Reynolds isn't a Heisman finalist? Big swing and a miss @HeismanTrophy
— Jack Hambrose (@hack_jambrose) December 7, 2015
Ohio State Running Back Ezekiel Elliot
Let's be honest, Ezekiel Elliot had a better season than Derrick Henry
— Noah Helbling (@nhelbling12) December 8, 2015
It is unspeakable that Baker Mayfield and/or Ezekiel Elliot aren't Heisman Finalists. It's a damn shame. Smh
— Colin Emert (@CDE_CLE) December 7, 2015
Keenan Reynolds, Dalvin Cook, Ezekiel Elliot, Baker Mayfield all deserve to have been considered.
— Patrick (@patrickrshort) December 7, 2015
https://twitter.com/Rasey7Rasey/status/674011627059040260
TCU Quarterback Trevone Boykin
https://twitter.com/CoachUW/status/674010336907812864
Trevone Boykin played LESS games than Deshaun Watson, but has equal or better numbers, and yet is not a Heisman finalist. OKAY.
— Patrick Harris (@patrickj_harris) December 7, 2015
I guess that's fair, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I'm highly disappointed Trevone Boykin didn't even get invited https://t.co/DL08zcqmEW
— Kenny BooYah! 🖖🏾 (@KwikWarren) December 7, 2015
Again, you can argue that the list of people who deserved to go to New York should have included way more than three people, and in all honesty, you’d probably be right. But the three guys who are going are all outstanding, and any one of them would be an excellent recipient of the Heisman. We’ll find out if Henry, McCaffrey, or Watson is named the nation’s best player on Saturday night.
