Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey Named AP Player of the Year

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A late-developing Heisman Trophy push for Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey may have gotten started too late in the season, but the Associated Press did not allow McCaffrey’s tremendous season go unrewarded. McCaffrey was named AP Player of the Year on Tuesday. McCaffrey is the first non-Heisman Trophy winner to win the AP’s Player of the Year Award in six seasons.

McCaffrey received 29 of 60 votes from the AP voters for the Player of the Year award, staying ahead of Alabama running back and Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry. Henry received 16 votes and Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson received 11 votes. Navy quarterback Keenan Reynoldsand Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield each received two votes from the AP voters.

The last non-Heisman Trophy winner to win the AP honor was Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh in 2009. Alabama’s Mark Ingram won the Heisman Trophy. Maybe the AP just doesn’t buy into Alabama Heisman Trophy winners?

McCaffrey rushed for 1,847 yards and eight touchdowns, racked up 540 receiving yards and four more touchdowns and tossed two more on offense. McCaffrey also added 1,042 kickoff return yards and a touchdown, proving to be quite the threat in multiple areas of the game.