Illinois Football: 5 reasons Illini running back Chase Brown is a Heisman Trophy contender

Illinois football is having one of the best seasons in program history.

There is a lot of “first time since” statements going on for the Illini right now. An example, Illinois is ranked inside the top 20 for the first time since 2011.

While there have been many “first time since” statements already thrown out there, it is possible the Illini could have another one on December 5. That is when the finalists are announced for the 2022 Heisman Trophy.

This season, Illinois has a player in running back Chase Brown who could end up being in consideration and, potentially, win the Heisman Trophy. If he even cracks the top 10 in the Heisman Trophy voting, it would be the first time since 1982 that an Illinois player has appeared in the top 10. That year, Tony Eason finished No. 8 in the voting.

I believe, as of right now, Brown is easily in the top 10 in Heisman voting. But the run Brown is on is bigger than just being top 10 in voting. I think Brown’s 2022 campaign is that of a legit Heisman Trophy contender.

Here are five reasons Illinois football running back Chase Brown is a Heisman Trophy contender.

1. Explosive playmaker

It has been a true joy to watch Brown do work this season. He hasn’t been just one of the best running backs in the nation, but he has been one of the best players in all of college football.

These slides will lay out a little more about why I believe Brown is a true contender for the Heisman Trophy. I will start off with the fact Brown is one of the most explosive playmakers in college football this season.

If you haven’t watched Brown run the football this season, you should probably get to a television and see this kid in action. He has the ability to see where holes are going to open up. Brown can twist his hips in between the blockers to squeeze through holes that aren’t there to the naked eye. He also has the patience of Le’Veon Bell in his prime.

This playmaking ability has earned Brown the top spot for some impressive numbers this season. According to Pro Football Focus College, Brown has 33 carries of at least 10 yards in 2022, which is the most out of any running back. He also has 621 rushing yards after contact, which also takes the top spot in the nation.

With teams like Alabama, Michigan, etc., they have four and five-star offensive linemen who open semi-sized holes for their running backs. While Illinois does have good offensive linemen, the fact Brown has 621 yards after contact this season shows that he has to work for the yards he is getting.