A pair of seconds for Melvin Gordon portends a gloomy outlook for running backs and the Heisman Trophy.
Gordon, who starred at Wisconsin before becoming a first-round NFL draft pick in April, rushed for 2,587 yards last season - the second-most rushing yards in a single season in major-college football history. Gordon fell 41 yards shy of Barry Sanders, who rushed for 2,628 yards at Oklahoma State in 1988.
Sanders won the Heisman that season. Gordon did not in 2014. He finished second behind Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, which isn't a new trend. Mariota became the fifth consecutive quarterback to win the award, and 13 of the last 14 players to claim the sport's top individual honor have been signal callers. That excludes USC running back Reggie Bush, the 2005 winner who forfeited his trophy.
In fact, since the turn of the century only one other running back - Alabama's Mark Ingram in 2009 - has joined the Heisman fraternity. That's down from four running backs who won the award in the 1990s, six in the '80s and seven in the '70s.
If Gordon couldn't win with those lofty numbers - he also scored 29 touchdowns and briefly reset the single-game rushing record with 408 yards against nationally ranked Nebraska - then how can any other ball carrier?
Well, don't plant me firmly in the camp who think it's going to happen this season, but it certainly could. Preseason momentum for the Heisman is important, and there are more backs than usual generating attention as college football's first Saturday arrives. Here are 15 names to watch in '15 (listed alphabetically):
n J.T. Barrett, QB, Ohio State - He would've eclipsed 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing if he hadn't broken his right ankle on Nov. 29. There's a chance he doesn't get the starting nod or he'll have to share the spotlight with fellow QB Cardale Jones, but if Barrett is the man, he'll post huge numbers for a national title contender.
n Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU - He finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting last season, and the top three finishers are in the NFL. He finished fourth nationally in total offense last season, and started his senior season with 338 total yards and two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing) in Thursday's season-opening win against Minnesota. If the Horned Frogs stay in the top 10, Boykin will be in the mix for a Heisman ceremony invite.
n Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia - He made quite the impression as a freshman, leading the Bulldogs in carries (219), rushing yards (1,547) and rushing touchdowns (14). Todd Gurley left Georgia and became a top-10 NFL draft pick, so the spotlight is on Chubb.
n Corey Clement, RB, Wisconsin - The Badgers junior is ready to fill in for the departed Gordon, and Clement has announced a goal to rush for 2,000 yards. Clement can make a strong first impression against Alabama in the season opener.
n Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State - The three-year starter is in charge for the No. 5 Spartans, who ranked seventh nationally in points per game last season. Cook was a large reason why, passing for 3,214 yards and 24 touchdowns. Cook gets a shot at No. 7 Oregon in Week 2 and Michigan State will travel to Ohio State in the penultimate game of the schedule, so there are opportunities early and late to get the attention of voters.
n Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State - The 20-year-old junior is the preseason favorite to win the Heisman at 5-to-1. He ranked third nationally in rushing last season with 1,878 yards, and ended the season with 220 yards against No. 13 Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game, 230 yards against No. 4 Alabama in the first-ever College Football Playoff and 246 yards against No. 2 Oregon in the national championship. There's a reason Elliott filed for five trademarks last month.
n Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU - The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Fournette, who is often compared to Adrian Peterson, eclipsed 1,000 yards as a true freshman last season. He only got better, too, rushing for 18 yards in his collegiate debut and finishing with back-to-back 100-yard games: 146 at Texas A&M and 143 and two scores against Notre Dame in the Music City Bowl.
n Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama - Henry, a 6-3, 242-pound back, is a monster. There's a YouTube video from the summer in which Henry pushes a Ford F-150 around a track. He rushed for 990 yards last season and is the star offensive player for No. 3 Alabama. A lot to like here.
n Adoree Jackson, CB/WR, USC - Perhaps college football's best athlete, Jackson will be used in the backfield, at receiver, on defense and on kickoff and punt returns. He was a freshman All-American and the Pac 12's Defensive Freshman of the Year last season. He's a full-time defensive player, but if he gets 25-30 snaps on offense, watch out.
n Cody Kessler, QB, USC - Jackson will catch his passes from Kessler, a senior who passes for 3,826 yards and 39 touchdowns last season. He also only threw five interceptions in 452 attempts. The only quarterback to throw for more yards than Kessler but have fewer interceptions? Heisman winner Marcus Mariota.
n Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma - A favorite of this columnist, Perine burst onto the college football season as a freshman last season, led the Big 12 in rushing (1,713 yards and 21 touchdowns), and broke the single-game rushing record with 427 yards. At 230 pounds, he'll be a load again this season.
n Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State - He's back after finishing eighth in the Heisman voting last season. The 6-2, 230-pound senior fell 14 rushing yards shy of a 3,000-1,000 season, passing for 3,449 yards and rushing for 986. He had 41 combined touchdowns, and will get plenty of chances to shine in the SEC.
n Seth Russell, QB, Baylor - He becomes the man in Waco after Bryce Petty's graduation to the NFL. The Bears only have two other QB options on the roster, and both are freshmen who haven't taken a collegiate snap. With Art Briles' QB-friendly offense, Russell should post monster numbers for one of the nation's best teams.
n Anu Solomon, QB, Arizona - Started his sophomore season with four passing touchdowns Thursday night and looks primed to build on his breakthrough season in 2014, when he led all freshmen in passing yards (3,793) with 28 touchdowns against nine interceptions. It's fun to be a QB in a Rich Rodriguez offense.
n Scooby Wright, LB, Arizona - There were 928 Heisman ballots cast last year and Wright, as a sophomore linebacker, appeared on 17 of them. One was mine. Last season, Wright finished first nationally in tackles (163), third in sacks (14), first in tackles for loss (29) and first in forced fumbles (six). A defensive player hasn't won the award since 1997 (Charles Woodson), but Wright could be in position to best his ninth-place finish.