Heisman Watch: 7 (really early) candidates you need to know

The Heisman Trophy won't be awarded until December, but with the college football season about to start it's never too early to take a look at who could be hoisting the hardware.

Traditionally, if you weren't in the Heisman talk at the start of the season, your chances of winning the award were next to zero. Recent years have bucked that trend, however, with redshirt freshman quarterbacks walking away with the last two trophies.

Speaking of quarterbacks, that's the position most likely to capture the Heisman, so it comes as no surprise to see them peppered throughout this list. That doesn't guarantee a signal caller will be taking home the award though, as a running back could walk away the winner for the first time since Mark Ingram won in 2009. Plus, there's a defensive wild card that could throw a wrench into everyone's plans.

Here's a look at seven early candidates for the 2014 Heisman Trophy:

1. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State 

The list obviously has to start with Winston, last year's winner. It would have been nearly impossible for Winston to have put forth a better freshman season than he did in 2013. Not only did he win the Heisman, but he led the Florida State Seminoles to their first national championship since 1999.

Winston completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 4,057 yards with 40 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last year, and those numbers could have been even higher if the Seminoles didn't blow out so many opponents.

Winston is the clear early favorite and if he can duplicate the kind of season he had in 2013, then he's likely to join Archie Griffin as the only two-time winners of the Heisman Trophy.

2. Marcus Mariota QB, Oregon 

The biggest challenge to Winston should come from the Ducks junior quarterback. Mariota turned down a chance to leave for the NFL so he could bring a national championship to Oregon, but winning the Heisman Trophy has also got to be a serious goal.

The dual-threat QB was slowed by injury at times last year, but still managed 3,665 passing yards, 715 rushing yards and 40 total touchdowns (31 passing, nine rushing).

Mariota is the key to Oregon's success and if he can guide the Ducks into the inaugural College Football Playoff, then expect to see him as one of the Heisman finalists.

3. Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA 

Like Mariota, had Hundley decided to enter the NFL Draft he would have been considered a potential No. 1 overall pick. His decision to return makes the Bruins a serious threat to win the Pac-12 for the first time since 1998.

After passing for 3,745 yards and 29 touchdowns as a freshman, Hundley's passing totals actually dropped last season to 3,071 yards and 24 touchdowns. He did throw two less interceptions and upped his production on the ground from 355 yards and nine scores to 748 yards and 11 TDs on the same number of carries.

UCLA's chances this season hinge squarely on Hundley and he has what it takes to be the second Bruin to ever capture the Heisman.

4. Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor 

It's not easy to emerge from the shadow of Robert Griffin III (and to a lesser extent Nick Florence), but that's exactly what Petty did last season. He stepped in to Art Briles' offense and made the Bears the nation's highest scoring team, putting up over 60 points in a remarkable six games in 2013.

Petty's numbers were eye-popping in his first season as a starter, as he passed for 4,200 yards and had an incredible 32-to-3 touchdown to interception ratio. While not a huge threat for big runs, Petty did show off a nose for the end zone with 14 rushing touchdowns as well.

5. Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia 

Of course it's not all about the quarterbacks, as Georgia running back Todd Gurley will look to earn an invitation to New York come December. 

Gurley was banged up last season, missing three games while playing hurt in others, yet he still managed to rush for almost 1,000 yards. As a freshman Gurley rushed for 1,385 yards and 17 touchdowns, a better basis for how he could preform this season.

Gurley should be able to eclipse those numbers as the Bulldogs will look his way plenty while breaking in a new starting quarterback.

6. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin

There might not be a more exciting player in college football than the Wisconsin running back. Despite splitting carries with James White last season, Gordon still managed to have a monster year.

Gordon had 206 carries in 2013 compared to 221 for White, yet Gordon was the Badgers' leading rusher with 1,609 yards on the ground. His 7.8 yards per carry were the most for any player in the nation with at least 150 attempts.

With White now a member of the New England Patriots, Gordon will see the ball even more in 2014 and could be on his way to a 2,000 yard season.

7. Myles Jack, LB/RB, UCLA

While defensive players have often been left out of the conversation for the Heisman, Jack has forced his way into the mix with solid play on both sides of the ball.

As a freshman last season, Jack was a beast on defense, recording 76 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two interceptions, one sack and a defensive touchdown. However, it was Jack's emergence on offense that put his name in the headlines.

With a banged-up backfield, head coach Jim Mora inserted Jack at running back and he proved a major threat, rushing 38 times for 267 yards and seven touchdowns, including a four TD game in a win over Washington. 

While he's been used as only a linebacker leading up to the season, don't be surprised to see him go both ways at times this season and earn an invite to New York in December.