The Heisman Trophy is becoming a quarterback-driven award. From Florida State's Chris Weinke in 2000 until Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield last season, quarterbacks have won the award 15 of the last 18 times in the modernized, high-flying game of football.
There hasn't been a Heisman Trophy-winning running back since Derrick Henry's record-breaking season in 2015 for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Don't blink because the Kentucky Wildcats think they have the next Heisman-caliber running back playing in Lexington right now.
Benny Snell, Jr. is listed at 5-foot-11 and 233 pounds. The junior is the 19th player in SEC history to reach 2,000 career rushing yards prior to his junior season. He's the third player in SEC history to reach 2,424 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns before his junior year.
The other two players to achieve those numbers in two seasons? Leonard Fournette and Herschel Walker.
So far in 2018, Kentucky is 2-0 and coming off the program's first win over the Florida Gators since 1986.
Snell is the cog driving the Wildcats' offense, and Kentucky fans have taken to social media in an attempt to drum up Heisman support for the Wildcats running back, and it's rightfully deserved for what he's done through two seasons and two games with the program.
Alright, so the Facebook page hasn't even reached triple-digit followers yet, but they aren't wrong that Benny Snell could be a Heisman Trophy finalist if he carries Kentucky to a big season.
Snell has rushed for 300 yards and two touchdowns so far this season, including a 6.4 yards per carry average. He's a complete back who will most likely be playing on Sundays in the NFL when he decides to enter the draft.
Kentucky is at home for their next three games, which include Murray State, Mississippi State and South Carolina. The biggest game on their schedule, November 3 against their SEC East rival Georgia Bulldogs, will also be played in Lexington.
Snell is a long shot to bring home Kentucky football's first ever Heisman Trophy, but it's going to be interesting to see this kid make a serious run at the award.
