Derwin James, safety, Florida State
The only other defender on this list, James has perhaps a much better chance than Hand to become only the second defensive player ever to win the Heisman.
Of course, it’s also possible he’s being hyped a bit too much after missing last season with a knee injury. But after his outstanding freshman campaign, who can blame us for being excited? He racked up 91 tackles, 9.5 for a loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 2015. He also tallied an interception last year before getting injured in Week 2.
This redshirt sophomore is the best defensive back in the nation and has future NFL star written all over him. We’re talking about a guy who has the type of impact Tyrann Mathieu has had but has a good six inches on the Honey Badger.
A hard hitter who possesses elite instincts, a real nose for the ball and outstanding athleticism, this 6-foot-3, 211-pound nightmare of a defender makes plays all over the field. Whether he’s ripping around the corner on a blitz, running at breakneck speed to crush a ball carrier or chasing down a pass deep downfield, James has the skills to pay the bills.