Prior to the start of the 2012 season, USC quarterback Matt Barkley was the presumptive Heisman front-runner among most seasoned observers.
As we’re now 10 weeks into the year, it’s one of Barkley’s teammates who’s getting the stiff-armed push from the school. And deservedly so.
In its first official push of the year, USC Wednesday released a video championing wide receiver Marqise Lee for the Heisman and several other high-profile awards. The video is really well done -- mainly due to the electrifying subject -- and contains several opposing coaches heaping praise on a player who, as just a true sophomore, is being called the most NFL-ready receiver the game has seen in years.
Yeah, the kid’s kinda good, and the video evidence tells just a part of the story as Lee is statistically one of the top receivers in the country: second in receptions per game (9.8); second in receiving yards per game (142.9); and second in touchdown receptions (12). Lee did a significant amount of damage in the loss to Arizona, setting a school and Pac-12 record with 345 yards receiving.
And, just like the last wide receiver to take home the Heisman (Desmond Howard, 1991), Lee is doing some of his damage in the return game as well, with his 29.4 yards per kickoff return good for 11th in the nation. The week after setting the above-mentioned receiving mark, he broke the school and conference mark with 251 kick return yards against Oregon.
I don’t know if Lee deserves to win the Heisman like Howard, but he’s at least earned the right to be a part of the discussion.