2010 Heisman Hopefuls: Dion Lewis, RB, Pittsburgh
In the last ten years there have only been two running backs that have won the most prestigious individual award in college football. For some reason, quarterbacks seem to be getting all the attention from the people that vote for the Heisman Trophy winner every season. They do appear to be not too concerned with how long the winner plays college football though; the last three winners have all been sophomores.
The Heisman was last hoisted by a member of the Pittsburgh Panthers over 30+years ago when Tony Dorsett won the honor during his senior season in 1976. In their newest running back sensation, the Panthers believe they have a guy that deserves to be in the forefront of Heisman trophy talks.
Dion Lewis
Lewis entered Pittsburgh last season as one of the top 20 backs in the nation coming out of high school. A review of his statistics during his final season at Blair Academy in New Jersey makes it easy to see why. With just 88 carries to his name during his final season, Lewis gained an incredible 14.1 yards per carry for 1243 yards and 26 touchdowns; four times he eclipsed the 250 yard mark. As a junior he averaged 12.4 yards a carry with 79 carries for 979 yards and 14 touchdowns.
It is easy to see why Pittsburgh was so high on bringing the running back in. He ended up starting as a true freshman and went on to become the most productive freshman the Big East and Pitt had ever seen. The former freshman leading rusher for the Panthers was Tony Dorsett who happens to also be the last player to ever win the Heisman Trophy from the university.
Over the course of the 12-game regular season he rushed for an impressive 1640 yards and 17 touchdowns; he would finish the 2009 season with 1799 yards on 325 carries for an average of 5.5 yards a carry. At 138.4 yards a game, Lewis was the third leading rusher in the nation and the best in the Big East. His rushing total of 1799 yards easily broke the record previously set by Tony Dorsett for rushing production as a freshman (Dorsett’s total was 1686 yards).
Several performances brought the young running back national acclaim. Against Rutgers he rushed for 180 yards and had two touchdowns on the day to lead the team to victory; in the Big East Championship he scored three times and totaled over 200 total yards, 194 on the ground and 34 via the air. It was performances like these that led to the freshman being mentioned on several occasions as a Heisman contender in 2009.
Records and Accolades
Any player would be lucky to be recognized as much for his play as Lewis was last season. His 1799 yards as already mentioned broke Dorsett’s freshman rushing record, but came in second on the career single season list to Dorsett’s 2150 yard season in 1976 (when he also won the Heisman). He tied Dorsett for most 100 yard games (for a freshman) and easily eclipsed the 90 points LeSean McCoy scored in 2007 with 108 of his own.
His overall performance got him named to many different lists as well as being named the Big East Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, a feat not matched since Michael Vick accomplished it in 1999. He was named the Freshman of the Year by the Sporting News, CBSSports.com, and CollegeFootballNews.com (who actually named him the Offensive Freshman of the Year).
Going into his sophomore season the Panthers are looking for bigger and better things from their young superstar in the making. With one of the most elite runners in the college football on their side, Pitt fans are confident that they will have one of the better seasons the team has had in a long time. Lewis has shown an uncanny ability to use speed and power to his advantage when needed with great results.
If history is any indication, then Lewis has a great shot at the top honor in college football. Last year’s winner, sophomore running back Mark Ingram, ran for fewer yards than Lewis (1542) and scored 18 touchdowns (15 rushing and 3 passing).
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