Stanford sophomore Christian McCaffrey named Heisman Trophy finalist

Christian McCaffrey (Photo Credit: Stanford Athletics)

Cardinal football standout CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY has been named a Heisman Trophy finalist.

The record-breaking running back and Academic All-American was named one of three finalists for the award, which is presented to the best college football player in the country. The other finalists are by University of Alabama junior running back DERRICK HENRY and Clemson University sophomore quarterback DESHAUN WATSON.

The winner will be announced in New York City, Saturday, Dec. 12, at 5 p.m. PT. The ceremony will be televised live on ESPN.

McCaffrey has done it all for the Cardinal. He leads the Football Bowl Subdivision in all-purpose yards and broke BARRY SANDERS’ 27-year-old NCAA single-season record on Saturday by collecting 461 while leading Stanford to the Pac-12 title over USC. He now has 3,496 and averages a nation-best 268.9 yards per game.

The Castle Rock, Colo., native is the fourth Stanford player to be invited to the Heisman Trophy ceremony since 2009, when running back TOBY GERHART finished second behind running back MARK INGRAM of Alabama by 28 points, the closest voting in the history of the award. In 2010 and 2011, Cardinal quarterback ANDREW LUCK placed second to quarterback CAM NEWTON of Auburn University and quarterback ROBERT GRIFFIN of Baylor University, respectively.

Quarterback JIM PLUNKETT captured Stanford’s only Heisman Trophy in 1970. He led the team to a Pacific-8 Conference title and engineered a 27-17 upset over previously unbeaten Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.

McCaffrey, the Pac-12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year, is also a finalist for the Walter Camp Football Foundation Player of the Year award; the Maxwell Award, presented to the top player in the nation; the Doak Walker Award for the best running back and the Hornung Award for the most versatile player.

Read the original announcement on Stanford Athletics website.