Bear Down Wildcats

Scooby Wright, LB, Arizona

He's only a sophomore, yet Wright finished the season leading the nation in tackles (163), tackles for loss (29), and forced fumbles (6). He was the only player who averaged more than two TFL per game (2.07), and second place in that category (Hau'oli Kikaha, also from the Pac-12) was way down at 1.79. Simply put, Wright dominated the stat sheet in 2014, and that's what a defensive player must do to have any shot of contending for college football's grandest individual prize. Wright was the only Pac-12 player besides Mariota to finish in the top 10 of the Heisman balloting. His 17 votes put him on the radar for 2015.

Nick Wilson, RB, Arizona

A healthy Anu Solomon may get some Heisman run in Rich Rodriguez's offense next season, but the true freshman Wilson delivered the most impressive 2014, so he's more prominent on our early radar. Wilson actually led all non-kickers in Pac-12 scoring, averaging 7.8 points per game. His power-speed combination fueled a 1,375-yard, 5.8 per carry, 17-touchdown season.

Below are the complete set of July Heisman odds, again courtesy of Bovada.lv. the July Bovada Heisman Odds

Merkin wrote:Scooby has less chance than Nick Wilson? Only bet I would place on Wilson is that he won't stay injury free.

Charles Woodsen 1997 last defensive player to win it.

Merkin wrote:Appears no 100% defensive player has ever won.

Sorry Scoob...

9) Scooby Wright, LB, Arizona Wildcats -- 100/1

OK, it's a really, really long shot ... BUT if "Two-Star" Scooby somehow betters his numbers from last year -- 163 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 14 sacks and six forced fumbles en route to Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honors -- and the Cats win the Pac-12, he's going to NYC and may have a puncher's shot to win the stiff-arm statue.

Anu Solomon, Arizona (30-1): The Wildcats may be this season’s big surprise given the abundance of talent Rich Rodriguez has returning, so Solomon may actually offer tremendous value. He’s Mariota-like in his maturity and presence running an up-tempo offense, shining as a true freshman (58 pct, 3,793 yds, 28 TDs, 9 INTs). The Las Vegas product may indeed be worth gambling on.

#1 SCOOBY WRIGHT LB, Arizona
There have been a handful of defensive players who have received an invite to the Heisman ceremony like Manti Te’o or Ndamukong Suh in recent years, but Charles Woodson is the only defensive player to win when he took it over Peyton Manning in 1997.

Scooby Wright was the best defensive player in the nation last year when he won the Nagurski, Bednarik and Lombardi en route to earning consensus All-American honors. The Arizona Wildcats superstar linebacker led the nation with 163 tackles, 29 tackles for loss and six forced fumbles and was third with 14 sacks for the Pac-12 south champions.

Despite his dominant play, Wright only finished ninth in the Heisman vote, so I guess he’ll have to have 200 tackles, 50 tackles for loss, 10 forced fumbles and 25 sacks to get some Heisman love from the voters. But I’m showing him some love and think he’s deserving of an invite if he can do that again.

#6 NICK WILSON RB, Arizona
Nick Wilson was one of the many outstanding freshmen running backs who burst on the scene last year when the Arizona back ran for 1,375 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Pac-12 south champions.

With a full offseason behind him to prepare him for the rigors of his sophomore season, I think Wilson will have no trouble topping the output from his freshman season and could end up leading the Pac-12 in rushing like former Wildcat, Ka’Deem Carey did from 2012-2013.

As talented as Wilson is, he may not even be the best “dark horse” Heisman pick from his own team.

3. Scooby Wright, LB, Arizona (100/1)
History proves that playing defense exclusively is a good way to guarantee a player doesn’t win the Heisman, but Wright has unique buzz heading into the 2015 season. The Wildcats’ star junior linebacker broke into the Heisman conversation last fall with his nation-leading output for tackles, tackles for a loss and forced fumbles.

With national attention already on him, Wright is ahead of the game. The hard part now is replicating his otherworldly play of a season ago, which might be asking more than even expecting Heisman voters to cast ballots for a defensive player.

Still, in terms of past production and sheer name recognition, Wright may be the conference's most recognized player heading into 2015. That goes a long way in pursuit of the coveted award.

8. Nick Wilson, RB, Arizona (50/1)
Before the start of the 2014 season, Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez said just one back replacing Ka’Deem Carey was unlikely. Whether Rodriguez was playing his hand close to the vest, or if he didn’t know just what he had in Wilson, but the Wildcats barely missed a beat without the record-setting Carey.

Now after a spectacular freshman debut, Wilson can one-up his predecessor, who was never a Heisman finalist despite two monsters seasons in 2012 and ‘13. He'll be given more opportunities to run in his sophomore campaign.