Clemson Football: Isaiah Simmons overlooked in Heisman picture

The Clemson football program entered the 2019 season with two Heisman front-runners, but it’s another Tiger who has stolen the spotlight.

The Clemson football program entered the 2019 season with two odds front-runners to win the Heisman Trophy in QB Trevor Lawrence and RB Travis Etienne.

While both Lawrence and Etienne are still in line to break several career Clemson football records, they have fallen off the radar in terms of the Heisman Trophy.

Though Lawrence and Etienne have taken backseats in terms of national discussions to this point, another Clemson football player has emerged as one of the most dominant athletes in the nation and he’s not getting enough credit for what he’s accomplished.

That player is LB/Nickel Isaiah Simmons.

Through the first seven games of the season, Simmons has been the leader of a Clemson football defense that has been absolutely dominance. Simmons has accounted for 59 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and six sacks from the hybrid position.

He has been intricate in coming up and stopping the run, but has also been a force in pass-rushing situations and in coverage. No player in the country is as versatile as Isaiah Simmons.

Through the first part of the 2019 Clemson football season, Simmons has proven to be the best defensive player in the nation in terms of talent, skill and production. Teams are intentionally calling plays away from him and he is still finding a way to make plays, lead the team in tackles and get in the backfield and create havoc.

That brings us to the Heisman Trophy.

According to its website, the Heisman Trophy is “awarded annually to the most outstanding player in the country. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance and hard work.”

This is not to say that Simmons has been the most outstanding player in the country, but he certainly has been one of them. Even though Simmons consistently goes out and makes unbelievable plays, he is overlooked by flashy names like Tua Tagovailoa, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts and Jonathan Taylor.

When was the last time the Heisman was given to a defensive player? You have to go all the way back to 1997 when Michigan’s Charles Woodson won the award.

This post is not to say that Isaiah Simmons should win the Heisman, however he should begin getting a fair shake. Without Simmons, I’m not sure that the Clemson defense is as dominant as it is right now. While he doesn’t get to put up the highlight-reel plays like a quarterback or running back, voters need to be more educated.

Simmons has easily been one of the most outstanding players in the country bar none and a trip to New York shouldn’t be out of the question for the talented linebacker.