USC fifth-year senior QB Cody Kessler humbled by preseason Heisman talk
Several of the very early 2015 Heisman watch lists include none other than USC quarterback Cody Kessler.
Should he have been among those mentioned for the award in 2014?
Quite possibly. The fact that he wasn't brought up along with some of the other Heisman candidates last season was -- and continues to be -- a mystery to head coach Steve Sarkisian.
"Nobody ever has had the kind of season Cody had last year and went as unnoticed as he did," Sarkisian said.
Kessler finished the 2014 campaign completing 69.7 of his passes for the season. He threw for 3,826 yards, 39 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. Along the way, he also set or tied six school records. This at USC -- a place that produced two Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks since 2002.
By comparison, Carson Palmer threw for 3,942 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions during his 2002 Heisman season while completing 63.2 percent of his passes.
When Matt Leinart won the trophy two years later, he passed for 3,322 yards, 33 scores, and six interceptions while completing 65.3 percent of his passes. In 2005, Leinart finished third in Heisman voting (3,815, 28, eight, 65.7 percent).
Kessler, a fifth-year senior quarterback, will enter the 2015 campaign with a "chip on his shoulder," Sarkisian says.
Spring practice has begun for #USC. @KevinCarden brings you the best shots from the field. http://t.co/RbyN6CpKSD pic.twitter.com/fZR98l8iTT
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) March 4, 2015
Some Heisman frontrunners for next season include TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin, who finished fourth in Heisman voting last season, Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott, and Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott.
Kessler should enter the season in that mix. At least, USC thinks so. The school, has already begun the QB's Heisman campaign, if you will, by listing him as a 2015 Heisman candidate in the program's Spring Football Media Guide.
On the "Trojans Live" radio show on Tuesday night, Sarkisian said he hasn't mentioned anything to his quarterback about the Heisman hype just yet, citing the team is still six months away from even competing in a game.
That time will come, however.
As for Kessler, he says his focus continues to be on the team and not any individual accolades.
"It's humbling," Kessler said of being mentioned with the Heisman. "It's a very prestigious award and I would never want to say that it didn't mean anything to me because I think it is pretty cool but I'm always going to stick with my belief and at the end of the day it's all about the team awards. Kind of (like) what Marcus (Allen) said last year, he'd trade his Heisman Trophy for a national championship any day. That's something you have to have as a player. If you don't put your team goals first, you don't put the team before yourself first you're never going to be successful."
