Each year, the winner of the Heisman Trophy is usually a quarterback or a running back. The last wide receiver to claim the award was Desmond Howard in 1991 and, in general, there have been only a small handful of players at that position that have taken home the hardware.
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However, defensive players are even more rare, as only Michigan's Charles Woodson in 1997 represents that side of the ball in the winner's circle. That makes the work of fellow Wolverine Jabrill Peppers that much more impressive through three games in 2016, as he makes a dent in the most recent Heisman odds from Bovada.
Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson is a massive favorite (-175) at this juncture, with Stanford's Christian McCaffrey, Ohio State's J.T. Barrett and Clemson's Deshaun Watson trailing in that order. With that said, Peppers appears in the top five in terms of odds to win the award (+1600) and that places him in rarefied air.
Much like Woodson, Peppers contributes in all three phases of the game, and that is the recipe for consideration. He is Michigan's most electrifying return man (on full display here) and a consistent offensive option in various packages as a ball-carrier. Beyond that, though, Peppers is a dynamic defensive player, leading the country in tackles for loss (9.5) despite playing a hybrid position between linebacker and safety.
In short, Jabrill Peppers is the total package, and if Michigan continues to maintain an impressive team profile, that will only aid in developing his Heisman candidacy. It is probably too early to talk about Peppers joining the ranks of the "favorites" for the award unless Lamar Jackson tumbles, but he's on the radar as a defensive player and that is noteworthy.
