Javon Ringer, Heisman Trophy contender

Trophy News from Michigan 

 

Through four games this season, Michigan State’s Javon Ringer has rushed for 699 yards on 143 carries (a 4.9 yard-per-carry average) and 11 touchdowns. He has rushed for more than 200 yards in two straight games and is on pace to rush for more than 2,000 yards and score more than 30 touchdowns.

 

 

 

 

As the focal point of the offense, as long as he stays healthy, he will continue to see a large number of carries and should come close to those numbers, yet he is not taken seriously nationally as a Heisman Trophy candidate. How does Ringer’s start compare to some of the top backs in recent history? 

In the past 20 years, six running backs have won the Heisman: Reggie Bush (2005), Ron Dayne (1999), Ricky Williams (1998), Eddie George (1995), Rashaan Salaam (1994) and Barry Sanders (1988).  

Here is a look at the stats of each player through the first four games in their Heisman campaigns. 

Bush: 57 carries, 491 yards, 8.6 average, 8 TDs.

Dayne: 101 carries, 612 yards, 6.1 average, 6 TDs.

Williams: 120 carries, 755 yards, 6.3 average, 15 TDs.

George: 109 carries, 640 yards, 5.9 average, 6 TDs.

Salaam (game-by-game stats not available, here are his averages): 171.25 yards per game, 2 TDs per game.

Sanders: 95 carries, 813 yards, 8.6 average, 15 TDs. 

Through four games, the only backs with more yards or touchdowns than Ringer in their Heisman campaigns were Williams and Sanders. 

Ringer does have the lowest per-carry average, suggesting he is not as explosive as some of the backs, but 4.9 yards per carry is very respectable, and when you add in durability, I think that at least keeps him in the conversation, especially if he keeps getting more than 30 carries per game. 

It is possible that a heavy workload will slow Ringer down as the season progresses, but he is certainly on pace to equal the final numbers put up by any running back who has won the Heisman in the last 20 years.

Originally written by  Patrick Hayes