The 2015 Heisman Trophy tracker, week 5: Big 12 stars make a big impact on an upset weekend

In a college football weekend that was full of huge upsets there was a huge shift in the Heisman Trophy rankings. While the first two spots stayed the same, there was a shakeup in the top 10 thanks to some exceptional performances in the Big 12. Four players dropped off the list after losses while a pair of talented quarterbacks make their first appearance as the signal callers for two undefeated teams.

Here is my ranking of the top contenders for the Heisman Trophy after the fifth weekend.

Off the list

William Fuller, wide receiver, junior, Notre Dame

Fuller didn’t have his best day as Notre Dame fell 24-22 to Clemson. He caught just two passes for 37 yards. On the season, he has 24 receptions for 491 yards and six touchdowns.

Up next is a battle with Navy on Saturday.

Chad Kelly, quarterback, junior, Mississippi

Kelly had a tough night as the Rebels got crushed by the Florida Gators 38-10. He completed 26 of 40 passes for 259 yards and a touchdown to go along with 15 carries for 40 yards. On the season, he has completed 62.6 percent of his throws for 1,478 yards and 11 touchdowns in five games. He also has 97 yards and three touchdowns rushing.

Up next is a game with New Mexico State on Saturday.

Dak Prescott, quarterback, senior, Mississippi State

Prescott had a solid game even though the Bulldogs lost to Texas A&M 30-17. He completed 20 of 34 passes for 210 yards while running for 96 yards and a touchdown. On the season, he has completed 65.3 percent of his throws for 1,279 yards and seven touchdowns in five games. He also has 217 yards and three scores in the running game.

Up next is a matchup with Troy on Saturday.

Paul Perkins, running back, senior, UCLA

Perkins struggled as the Bruins lost to the Arizona State Sun Devils 38-23. He finished with 18 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown. On the season, he has carried the ball 100 times for 577 yards and seven touchdowns to go along with nine catches for 96 yards in five games.

Up next is a bye week before a tough road contest against Stanford.

Just missed the cut

Rashard Higgins, wide receiver, junior, Colorado State

Higgins had his third straight game with more than 100 yards and a touchdown, but it wasn’t enough as the Rams fell 33-18 to the Utah State Aggies. He finished with a season-high 10 receptions for 114 yards,including a 16-yard touchdown. On the season, he has 30 catches for 426 yards and four touchdowns in four games.

Up next is a tough test against Boise State on Saturday.

Jahad Thomas, running back, junior, Temple

Thomas had a nice showing as the Owls improved to 4-0 on the season with a 37-3 win over Charlotte. He finished the game with 20 carries for 109 yards and two touchdowns to go along with three catches for 48 yards. On the season, he has 100 carries for 503 yards and six touchdowns. He also has 10 catches for 132 yards in four games.

Up next is a battle with Tulane on Saturday.

Daniel Braverman, wide receiver, junior, Western Michigan

Braverman and the Broncos had a bye week to prepare for their first conference game of the year. On the season, he has caught 50 passes for 521 yards and four touchdowns in four games.

Up next is a matchup with Central Michigan on Saturday.

Matt Johnson, quarterback, senior, Bowling Green

Johnson has extremely efficient in the passing game as the Falcons knocked off Buffalo 28-22. He completed 23 of 29 passes for 324 yards and a touchdown as well as another score on the ground. On the season, he has completed 66.5 percent of his throws for 2,084 yards and 14 touchdowns with just two interceptions in five games.

Up next is a battle with Massachusetts on Saturday.

The list

25. Will Grier, quarterback, freshman, Florida

Grier had his best performance of his young Florida career as the Gators crushed Mississippi 38-10. He completed 24 of 29 passes for 271 yards and four touchdowns. On the season, he has completed 67.2 percent of his throws for 996 games and 10 touchdowns in five games.

Up next is a road trip to face the Missouri Tigers on Saturday.

24. Connor Cook, quarterback, senior,  Michigan State

Cook got the job done as the Spartans held on to beat Purdue 24-21. He completed 13 of 19 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown with five carries for 48 yards. On the season, he has completed 59.7 percent of his throws for 977 yards and 10 touchdowns in five games.

Up next is a road test with Rutgers on Saturday.

23. Devontae Booker, running back, senior, Utah

Booker and the Utes had the week off to prepare for a very tough test. On the season, he has 106 carries for 443 yards and four touchdowns to go along with 15 receptions for 149 yards. He also has a 25-yard touchdown pass.

Up next is a battle with the Cal Bears on Saturday.

22. Keenan Reynolds, quarterback, senior, Navy

Reynolds had another big game on the ground as the Midshipmen beat Air Force  33-11. He carried the ball 24 times for 183 yards while throwing for 117 yards and a touchdown. On the season, he has 87 carries for 488 yards and nine touchdowns with 265 yards and two scores in the passing game in four games.

Up next is a tough test against Notre Dame on Saturday.

21. Derrick Henry, running back, junior, Alabama

Henry carried the load as the Crimson Tide beat up the Georgia Bulldogs 38-10. He carried the ball 26 times for 148 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown. On the season he has 93 carries for 570 yards and nine touchdowns with seven catches for 51 yards in five games.

20. Royce Freeman, running back, sophomore, Oregon

Freeman had a big night as the Ducks beat the Colorado Buffaloes 41-24. He carried the ball 27 times for 163 yards, including touchdown runs of 29 and 3 yards. On the season, he has 96 carries for 613 yards and seven touchdowns to go along with 12 catches for 133 yards and a score in five games.

Up next is a Pac-12 battle with Washington State on Saturday.

19. Jordan Howard, running back, junior, Indiana

Howard suffered a left ankle injury, according to ESPN.com as the Hoosiers fell 34-27 to Ohio State. He finished with 14 carries for 34 yards and two catches for 16 yards before he left the game in the first half. On the season, he has carried the ball 125 times for 709 yards and four touchdowns. He also has eight catches for 84 yards.

Up next is a trip to Penn State on Saturday.

18. Tyler Ervin, running back, senior, San Jose State

Even though the Spartans have struggled as a team, Ervin is having a monster season. He had another big game in the 35-21 loss to Auburn. He carried the ball 27 times for 160 yards and a touchdown. On the season, he has 122 carries for 801 yards and 10 touchdowns to go along with 17 catches for 148 yards and another score.

Up next is a MWC battle against UNLV on Saturday.

17. Dalvin Cook, running back, sophomore, Florida State

Cook made a big impact early in the game before he left with an injury. He had just two carries for 94 yards and a touchdown as well a a catch for eight yards. On the season, he has carried the ball 66 times for 570 yards and six touchdowns in four games.

Up next is a battle with the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday.

16. JuJu Smith-Schuster, wide receiver, sophomore, USC

Smith-Schuster and USC had the week off after a big win over Arizona State.  On the season, he has 27 receptions for 537 yards and six touchdowns in four games.

Up next is another Pac-12 test against the Washington Huskies.

15. Deshaun Watson, quarterback, sophomore, Clemson

Watson got it done with his arm and his legs as the Tigers held on to beat Notre Dame 24-22. He threw for 97 yards and two touchdowns while adding 93 yards and another score in the running game. On the season, he has completed 69 percent of his passes for 738 yards and nine touchdowns. Ha also has 186 yards rushing and a score in four games.

Up next is an ACC test against Georgia Tech on Saturday.

14. Roger Lewis, wide receiver, sophomore, Bowling Green

Lewis had his third 200-yard receiving game of the year as the Falcons knocked off Buffalo 28-22. He caught 10 passes for 201 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown. On the season, he has 40 receptions for 760 yards and six touchdowns.

Up next is a matchup with Massachusetts on Saturday.

13. Brandon Doughty, quarterback, senior, Western Kentucky

Doughty had his fourth straight 400-yard passing game as the Hilltoppers crushed Rice 49-10. He completed 28 of 38 passes for 409 yards and four touchdowns. On the season, he has completed 74.1 percent of his throws for 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns with just two interceptions.

Up next is a conference matchup with Middle Tennessee on Saturday.

12. Paxton Lynch, quarterback, junior, Memphis

Lynch got the job done again as the Tigers held on to beat South Florida 24-17 on Friday. He completed 20 of 33 passes for 305 yards, including touchdowns of 20 and 55 yards. He added a third score on a 3-yard run. On the season, he has completed 70.5 percent of his throws for 1,535 yards and 10 touchdowns without an interception.

Up next is a bye week before the Tigers face off against Mississippi.

11. C.J. Prosise, running back, senior, Notre Dame

Prosise had an impressive night, but it wasn’t enough as the Fighting Irish fell to Clemson 24-22. He carried the ball 15 times for 50 yards as well as four catches for 100 yards and a touchdown. On the season, he has 89 carries for 650 yards and six touchdowns with nine catches for 131 yards and a score in five games.

Up next is a matchup with Navy on Saturday.

10. Cody Kessler, quarterback, senior, USC

Kessler and the Trojans had the week off to prepare for another Pac-12 foe. On the season, he has completed 72.9 percent of his throws for 1,297 yards and 15 touchdowns with just one interception in four games.

Up next is a battle with the Washington Huskies.

9. Nick Chubb, running back, sophomore, Georgia

Chubb had another 100-yard game, but it wasn’t close to enough as the Bulldogs got hammered 38-10 by Alabama. He finished with 20 carries for 146 yards, including an 83-yard touchdown run. On the season, he has carried the ball 91 times for 745 yards and seven touchdowns in five games.

Up next is an SEC battle with Tennessee on Saturday.

8. Jared Goff, quarterback, junior, Cal

Goff had a big day as the Bears outlasted Washington State 34-28. He completed 33 of 45 passes for 390 yards and four touchdowns. On the season, he has completed 70.2 percent of his passes for 1,620 yards and 15 touchdowns in five games.

Up next is a road test against Utah on Saturday.

7. Seth Russell, quarterback, junior, Baylor

Russell had his fourth straight game with at least four touchdowns as the Bears knocked off Texas Tech 63-35. He completed 15 of 23 passes for 286 yards and four touchdowns to go long with 12 carries for 81 yards and two more scores. On the season, he has completed 63.1 percent of his throws for 1,281 yards and 19 touchdowns in four games. He also has 22 carries for 172 yards and three scores.

Up next is a road contest against Kansas on Saturday.

6. Ezekiel Elliott, running back, junior, Ohio State

Elliott had his biggest game of the season as the Buckeyes held on to beat Indiana 34-27. He totaled 23 carries for 274 yards, including touchdowns runs of 55, 65 and 75 yards. On the season, he has carried the ball 100 times for 729 yards and eight touchdowns in five games. He also has 10 catches for 63 yards.

Up next is a battle with Maryland on Saturday.

5. Baker Mayfield, quarterback, junior, Oklahoma

Mayfield had another solid passing day as the Sooners beat West Virginia 44-24. He completed 14 of 25 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns. On the season, he has completed 65.2 percent of his throws for 1,382 yards and 13 touchdowns as well as 138 yards and four scores on the ground in four games.

Up next is a battle with Texas on Saturday.

4. Josh Doctson, wide receiver, senior, TCU

Doctson was one of the favorite weapons for Trevone Boykin as TCU crushed Texas 50-7. Doctson totaled seven receptions for 129 yards and two touchdowns. On the season,he has caught 42 passes for 722 yards and eight touchdowns in five games.

Up next is a road matchup with Kansas State on Saturday.

3. Corey Coleman, wide receiver, junior, Baylor

Coleman had another big day as the Bears beat up Texas Tech 63-35. He finished with seven receptions for 110 yards, including touchdowns of 24, 16 and 16 yards. On the season, he has 24 catches for 570 yards and 11 touchdowns in four games.

Up next is a Big 12 matchup against Kansas on Saturday.

2. Trevone Boykin, quarterback, senior, TCU

Boykin had another monster outing as the Horned Frogs destroyed the Texas Longhorns 50-7. He completed 20 of 35 passes for 332 yards and five touchdowns to go along with seven carries for 52 yards. On the season, he has completed 63.3 percent of his throws for 1,802 yards and 19 touchdowns in five games. He also has 242 yards and two scores in the running game.

Up next is a road trip to face off against Kansas State.

1. Leonard Fournette, running back, sophomore, LSU 

Fournette had another magical performance as the Tigers beat Eastern Michigan 44-22. He totaled 26 carries for 233 yards, including touchdown runs of 3, 75 and 11 yards . On the season, he has carried the ball 99 times for 864 yards and 11 touchdowns in four games.

Up next is a road test against South Carolina.

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