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McCaffrey deserving of spot in New York

Stanford+wide+receiver+JJ+Arcega-Whiteside+%2819%29+celebrates+with+teammates+after+catching+the+go-ahead+touchdown+against+UCLA+defensive+back+Nate+Meadors+%2822%29+late+in+the+fourth+quarter+at+the+Rose+Bowl+in+Pasadena%2C+Calif.%2C+on+Saturday%2C+Sept.+24%2C+2016.+Stanford+won%2C+22-13.+%28Gina+Ferazzi%2FLos+Angeles+Times%2FTNS%29
Stanford wide receiver JJ Arcega-Whiteside (19) celebrates with teammates after catching the go-ahead touchdown against UCLA defensive back Nate Meadors (22) late in the fourth quarter at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Stanford won, 22-13. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

BY MICHAEL CALLOW

Christian McCaffrey is without question one of the most versatile players in all of college football. Heisman Runner Up in 2015, many felt like he was the favorite this year to bring home the award. However, the Stanford star got off to a slow start. His team lost in a blowout to the playoff-bound Washington Huskies 44-6. McCaffrey was virtually nonexistent the next week against Washington State where Stanford suffered its second straight blowout loss, 42-16.

McCaffrey was then sidelined for the second half versus Washington State and then stayed on the shelf against rival Notre Dame in week six. McCaffrey returned against Colorado in a game where both offenses were stagnant, resulting in a final score of 10-5, where Stanford suffered its third loss of the year. From that point on, McCaffrey torched every defense.

Over his last five games, he rushed for 991 yards, averaged over seven yards per carry, and found the endzone 12 total times. McCaffrey led the nation in all purpose yards, accumulating 2,327 yards and missed a game and a half.  It is a travesty that such a dynamic and explosive player was left out of the trip to New York.

“He leads the nation in all purpose yards despite missing a game and a half, why is he not up for the Heisman? Is anybody paying attention?” said sports media personality, Colin Cowherd.

McCaffrey deserved to be in New York for the Heisman presentation. He gained 103 points in this years vote, putting him in eighth place. Even though he put up the most yards in the country , he did not receive an invitation.

This is his second straight season leading the nation in all purpose yards. Numbers like this just don’t come around very often. The last person to produce like McCaffrey was one of the all time greats, Barry Sanders.

After three dazzling years at Stanford, McCaffrey has declared himself for the NFL draft this coming year.

“I wanted to get this out of the way so that it’s not a distraction to the team,” McCaffrey said. “I want to focus, and I want my team to focus, on beating North Carolina.”

McCaffrey’s last college was against Rice where he rushed 30 times for 204 yards and a touchdown. Announced via Twitter, McCaffrey has decided to forgo the bowl game and prepare himself for the upcoming NFL Draft.

“Very tough decision, but I have decided not to play in the Sun Bowl so I can begin my draft prep immediately,” McCaffrey wrote. “Thanks to all my teammates for their 100% support–It means a lot to me. Go Cardinal!”

Stanford at Cal
Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey (5) bursts through a hole against Cal’s Jaylinn Hawkins (6) in the first half of the 119th “Big Game” at Memorial Stadium (Dan Honda/Bay Area News Group/TNS)

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McCaffrey deserving of spot in New York