Elliott among early Heisman favorites

Ezekiel Elliott has been to the ESPYs, where he walked the red carpet after joking about wearing a crop-top suit. He’s been immortalized in song. And the Ohio State running back has been installed as nothing worse than a co-favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. That’s how much three football games changed life for the former John Burroughs standout. Oh, Elliott was impressive before facing Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon last season on the way to leading the Buckeyes to the national championship. But those performances, which amounted to 696 rushing yards, eight touchdowns and the championship game MVP award, took Elliott to a new level. Or, as he was introduced to a crowd at Ohio State by coach Urban Meyer: “The best running back in America.” That message is now implanted in the mind of every defensive coordinator the Buckeyes will face this season. Yet for some reason, Elliott was asked recently if he felt as if he still was under the radar. “Honestly, I don’t care,” he said. “My goal is another national championship. If the Heisman comes, it comes, but the national championship is more important.” The offseason was one of activity and hype for Elliott, who was the Post-Dispatch offensive player of the year as a senior at Burroughs. Elliott jetted to Los Angeles for the ESPYs…

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