The Josh Adams versus Saquon Barkley Heisman Trophy debate reminds me of this prose from the Detroit poet Marshall Mathers:
Biggie and Pac just missed all this
Watchin’ all these cheap imitations get rich off ’em
And get dollars that shoulda been theirs like they switched wallets
What Eminem/Slim Shady said about wallets, applies here in regards to reputation and hype. Yes, Barkley is an amazing, transcendent player, and scouts project him to be a much better professional prospect, but right now Adams is way more productive and the results show that.
Josh Adams has a 3.1 better yards per carry average than Barkley, ranks 18 places higher than him on the list of the nation’s leading rushers, and has 268 more yards in six less carries.
Adams has much better numbers than Barkley, so why isn’t he considered the favorite to claim the Trophy?
Well, once certain narratives take hold, it can take a line of category five fact storms to blow them out of the water. Also, there is a night and day difference between the two offensive lines and schemes blocking for these two guys. Barkley, with his out of this world ability and elite athleticism makes so many plays of out of nothing at Penn State.
The Nittany Lions aren’t actually very good at running the football, but Barkley, because he’s so special makes it look like they are.
Both Northwestern and Ohio State showed you how to slow him, and that he can be contained. Barkley only broke a big chunk play to inflate his numbers, which would have otherwise been poor.
Josh Adams on the other hand, is only the third best player on his own unit. Left tackle Mike McGlinchey and left guard Quenton Nelson are extremely elite, first round draft pick level talents, and they form the backbone of the most physical rushing attack in college football.
#33 is a big beneficiary of that.
Saquon Barkley averages 6.5 yards per carry. Not bad.
Josh Adams averages 6.4 yards AFTER CONTACT. #1 in the nation. #33Trucking
— JoshAdams4Heisman (@JAdams4Heisman) October 27, 2017
Barkley has certainly become a target, to put it lightly, and an enemy, to put it plainly of Notre Dame football fans. Do a Twitter search of Josh Adams and Saquon Barkley, and you’ll see.
It’s actually kind of humorous when you consider the fact that the two teams haven’t played recently and won’t play this year…unless they somehow meet in a playoff game.
Notre Dame has built an aggressive Heisman campaign around Adams with hats, a website, logo and the #33Trucking hashtag.
“I know it has my number on it,” Adams said when he was asked about it.
“But I don’t think it’s built around me. It’s built around 11 guys on offense, defense, and on special teams. That hat really represents us as a team and how we’ve been able to approach each and every game.”
“Wherever we’re at in the season, we’re not here by any one individual. We’re here collectively as a team.”
Adams is an exciting player to watch, because he breaks off so many long runs, and it’s surprising that he doesn’t get any more national publicity for it. He’s the entire focal point of the offense on a team ranked third in the initial college football playoff rankings.
Asked what goes through his mind when he sees a big wide open space cleared for him, he said:
“Finish it. Just staying patient, and knowing that every guy on the offense are going to do their job. So if I see something like that, that’s where my job kicks in.”
Just keep trucking.
Heisman candidate Josh Adams continued his impressive run for @NDFootball vs. NC State.#33Trucking #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/WYuATlK7VH
— The Fighting Irish (@FightingIrish) November 1, 2017
“You know, it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t go finish it for those guys.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now and Minute Media. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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