It's unknown if Ezekiel Elliott will get an invitation to New York City and the Heisman Trophy presentation, but he's already considered one of the best college football players in the midwest.
Elliott, the reliable and steady Ohio State running back, is one of three finalists for the Chicago Tribune Silver Football, voted on by the Big Ten's coaches and awarded to the conference's best player. He joins Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard and Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook as finalists, the newspaper announced Saturday.
The Buckeye bruiser led the conference with 1,672 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns while leading Ohio State to an 11-1 record and No. 6 national ranking.
Elliott also caught 26 passes for 176 yards in 2015, in addition to being a terrific blocker on an offense that finished third in the Big Ten in total yards per game (428.9) and second in scoring (35.0 points per game). His rushing yards are good for fourth best in the country, while his touchdown total is tied for second nationally.
Braxton Miller is the last Ohio State player to win the Silver Football, taking it home after the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Elliott, a junior from St. Louis, can become the 18th Buckeye to earn the league's highest individual honor, a record.
Other previous Ohio State winners include:
- Wes Fesler (1930)
- Jack Graf (1941)
- Les Horvath (1944)
- Ollie Cline (1945)
- Vic Janowicz (1950)
- Howard "Hopalong" Cassady (1955)
- Archie Griffin (1973, 1974)
- Cornelius Greene (1975)
- Art Schlichter (1981)
- Keith Byars (1984)
- Eddie George (1995)
- Orlando Pace (1996)
- Joe Germaine (1988)
- Troy Smith (2006)
