Tevin Coleman Continues Showing Heisman Potential

Oct 11, 2014; Iowa City, IA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers running back Tevin Coleman (6) breaks away from Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Jordan Lomax (27) for a touchdown at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

The Indiana Hoosiers have been an extremely frustrating football team with their inconsistency this season, but star running back Tevin Coleman has been anything but inconsistent. He has put together an amazing season so far, and has seen his name creep into the discussion for the Heisman Trophy. It isn’t likely that he will win the award even if he keeps playing at the pace that he has been, due to the fact that his team around him can’t win football games at a consistent rate.

Coleman has carried the football 120 times for 1,060 yards and 11 touchdowns already this season, and that rounds out to a very nice 8.8 yards per carry. He has taken the Hoosiers’ offense on his back and carried them, and hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. There were quite a few analysts and fans on board for Todd Gurley winning the Heisman before he was suspended, and Coleman has better statistics than Gurley.

Indiana will continue putting the football in Coleman’s hands, and he might actually see his production increase. Starting quarterback Nate Sudfeld has been ruled out for the remainder of the season, and that will give Coleman’s role a boost as the leader of the offense. True freshman Chris Covington will likely be the starting quarterback for the Hoosiers for the remainder of the season.

As a junior, Coleman has been opening the eyes of NFL scouts and could very well leave Indiana following this season. That would obviously be a huge blow, but it’s a very real possibility. All of that being said, the Hoosiers still have him for now, and he is putting up numbers that should definitely put him in the conversation of Heisman contenders.

All of that being said, the fact that the Hoosiers are unable to play consistent football is going to keep him from being in the award race. There is no question that he deserves to be in the Heisman conversation, but unless the Hoosiers turn things around that likely won’t happen. Despite the fact that he likely won’t win the award, he still has played some of the best football in the country.