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Auburn running back Tre Mason was one of six Heisman Trophy finalists named Monday evening. Mason will make the trip to New York for the Heisman ceremony, and he's the first Tiger to do so since quarterback Cam Newton took home the hardware in 2010.
The announcement of Mason as a finalist was the second honor of the day for the junior. Earlier, he was tabbed by the Associated Press as SEC Offensive Player of the Year. He'll join Florida State quarterback Jameis Winson, the favorite for the award, along with Northern Illinois QB Jordan Lynch, Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel, Alabama QB A.J. McCarron and Boston College running back Andre Williams in the Big Apple.
Mason has mostly flown under the radar this season, not receiving national attention until recent weeks. He ran for 164 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries against Alabama, the SEC's top rushing defense, in the regular-season finale, and in the SEC Championship Game against Missouri, the conference's second-best rushing D, he blew up for 46 carries, 304 yards and four TDs. Mason broke SEC title game records in all three categories and was picked as the game's MVP.
Mason is averaging 5.7 yards on 21.8 carries per game this year, and he's failed to find the end zone just once. Over 13 games, he's compiled 1,621 yards and 22 touchdowns, a record for Auburn ball-carriers. He's 166 yards short of breaking the school's single-season rushing record, set by Bo Jackson in 1985.
The Heisman Trophy ceremony will be broadcast live from the Best Buy Theater in New York Saturday at 7 p.m. CT. ESPN has the coverage.
