Re: Heisman Trophy finalists announced: Who ya got?
Richardson has simply not put up Heisman-worthy numbers as a running back. Sorry, but Mark Ingram also didn't deserve it.
Trent Richardson, 2011 = 132 yards per-game, 20 touchdowns.
Mark Ingram, 2009 = 127 yards per-game, 17 touchdowns (in 13 games).
Compare those to other recent winners who were also running backs:
*Reggie Bush, 2005 = 150 yards per-game, 2,890 all-purpose yards, 8.8 yards per-carry.
*Ron Dayne, 1999 = 166 yards per-game, 19 touchdowns.
*Ricky Williams, 1998 = 193 yards per-game, 27 touchdowns. Dude led the country in rushing. Just like Dayne did the next year, he broke the record for career rushing yards.
*Eddie George, 1995 = 152 yards per-game, 23 touchdowns, while rarely playing more than three quarters.
*Rashaan Salaam, 1994 = 186 yards per-game, 24 touchdowns.
In the case of Richardson, the program makes the player. He's a very good player on a great team.
In the case of Luck and Griffin, it's the other way around. They have each elevated their respected teams to previously unheard of levels. That makes each of them way more deserving than a very good player at a more established program.