10 Potential Heisman Contenders From 2016 Recruiting Class

A look at 10 potential Heisman contenders from the 2016 recruiting class. Which highly-touted prospects will live up to the hype?

The 2016 recruiting cycle was a wild and crazy ride — as it is every year. We saw some teams slide down the class rankings a bit (see Florida), and then there were some who flew up the board (see Texas).

But at the end of the day, while the stars, rankings and ratings are nice to set the foundation, it’s about how a college develops players that separates the average from the great.

With the ink having dried on the 2016 class, it’s time to take a look at which teams landed recruits who could evolve into college football’s next big star. Below are 10 skill players that may very well find themselves in the thick of the Heisman race at some point in their college career.

Jacob Eason

Quarterback, Georgia Bulldogs

Kirby Smart did a great job by holding onto Jacob Eason in spite of a strong push from the Florida Gators. He also tacked on Isaac Nauta and Mecole Hardman Jr. Eason has a strong arm and a surgical process from the pocket. He’s been compared to Matt Stafford and should be in the Heisman picture at least once while in Athens.

Shea Patterson

Quarterback, Ole Miss

Hugh Freeze loaded up his offense by picking up 5-star quarterback Shea Patterson, who will have 5-star offensive tackle Gregory Little to help protect him. Patterson has a strong arm, pinpoint accuracy and is very athletic. He’ll be a force from inside the pocket and outside of it.

Malik Henry

Quarterback, Florida State

Jimbo Fisher has a few young quarterbacks on his roster with a lot of talent now. Malik Henry certainly stands out, though. He has a live arm and can drop the deep ball where it needs to be. He’s a pro-style quarterback with the ability on the run, and he’ll make quite a few plays in Tallahassee, Fla.

B.J. Emmons

Running Back, Alabama

Crimson Tide running backs just seem bound for the NFL, and now there are two Alabama halfbacks with Heisman Trophies: Mark Ingram and Derrick Henry. In a few years, when it’s his turn to be the bell-cow back, B.J. Emmons could make his own case for the illustrious trophy.

Tyler Vaughns

Wide Receiver, USC

He needs to add some weight, but that’ll come with time. Tyler Vaughns was the top wide receiver in the 2016 class for a reason. He makes plays down the field and can pick up yards after the catch. Provided he has someone to get him the ball, Vaughns can make a case for a Heisman one day.

Dwayne Haskins Jr.

Quarterback, Ohio State

Urban Meyer surrounded his 4-star quarterback with a few weapons. Dwayne Haskins Jr. will have time to build chemistry with wide receivers Austin Mack and Binjimen Victor. Haskins is a mobile quarterback with a knack for dominating from the pocket. He has solid footwork in the pocket and a nice touch on the ball. He’ll make big-time plays on Saturdays.

Mecole Hardman Jr.

Defensive Back/Wide Receiver, Georgia

He’s one of the quickest players from the 2016 class with a sub-4.4 40-yard-dash time. Mecole Hardman Jr. may find himself mirroring Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers and making plays on both sides of the ball. Hardman’s versatility could make him a prime Heisman candidate one day.

Devin White

Running Back, LSU

Sure, Leonard Fournette is all the craze now, but what does the future hold when he inevitably heads to the NFL? The answer is Devin White. At 6-foot-1 and 258 lbs, White is a physical freak, who runs downhill and will take defenders head on. Don’t be surprised to see him throwing his name into the Heisman hat.

Brandon Peters

Quarterback, Michigan

Jim Harbaugh recently said Brandon Peters has some qualities in his game that remind the Michigan head coach of another quarterback he coached while at Stanford: Andrew Luck. That’s pretty high praise for Peters, who will surely have weapons to deliver the ball to while in Ann Arbor, Mich. He may be a bit of a dark horse right now, but don’t be shocked if his name is mentioned in a couple years.

Demetris Robertson

Defensive Back/Wide Receiver, Undecided

Much like Mecole Hardman Jr., there’s a chance Demetris Robertson ends up making his case for the Heisman based on his two-way ability. The 5-star recruit is still undecided as to where he’ll be playing his college ball. Both Notre Dame and Georgia are making their pitches to Robertson. Wherever he goes, he’ll make plays.