Paul Perkins on Las Vegas’ early shortlist of Heisman favorites

UCLA tailback Paul Perkins (24) runs during a 38-20 win over USC at the Rose Bowl on Nov. 22, 2014. Perkins finished the game with 93 yards and a touchdown. (Keith Birmingham/Staff)

UCLA tailback Paul Perkins (24) runs during a 38-20 win over USC at the Rose Bowl on Nov. 22, 2014. Perkins finished the game with 93 yards and a touchdown.
(Keith Birmingham/Staff)

Despite becoming the Pac-12’s leading rusher, UCLA’s Paul Perkins settled for an all-conference honorable mention — shut out of the first and second teams in favor of four other tailbacks.

He might not stay under the radar much longer. Online sportsbook Bovada released some way-too-early Heisman Trophy odds this week, and the Bruins’ soon-to-be redshirt junior was given the fifth-best shot at college football’s preeminent award. The star tailback was listed with a 12-to-1 shot, tied with USC quarterback Cody Kessler and Georgia running back Nick Chubb.

The trio trailed Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott (6/1), Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott (7/1), LSU’s Leonard Fournette (7/1), and TCU’s Trevone Boykin (15/2).

Perkins figures to be the centerpiece of UCLA’s offense in 2015, as the Bruins to find a replacement for three-year starting quarterback Brett Hundley. The 5-foot-11, 198-pound back finished his first season as a starter with 1,575 yards, the second-highest single-season rushing total in school history.

See the full list of Heisman odds below, courtesy of Bovada:

Ezekiel Elliott (RB Ohio State) 6/1
Dak Prescott (QB Mississippi State) 7/1
Leonard Fournette (RB LSU) 7/1
Trevone Boykin (QB TCU) 15/2
Cody Kessler (QB USC) 12/1
Nick Chubb (RB Georgia) 12/1
Paul Perkins (RB UCLA) 12/1
Derrick Henry (RB Alabama) 14/1
Samaje Perine (RB Oklahoma) 14/1
Cardale Jones (QB Ohio State) 14/1
J.T. Barrett (QB Ohio State) 16/1
Braxton Miller (QB Ohio State) 18/1
Connor Cook (QB Michigan State) 20/1
Josh Robinson (RB Mississippi State) 22/1
Corey Clement (RB Wisconsin) 25/1
D.J. Foster (RB Arizona State) 25/1
Royce Freeman (RB Oregon) 25/1
Brad Kaaya (QB Miami) 33/1
Dalvin Cook (RB Florida State) 33/1
Deshaun Watson (QB Clemson) 33/1
James Connor (RB Pittsburgh) 33/1
Justin Thomas (QB Georgia Tech) 33/1
Nick Wilson (RB Arizona) 33/1
Seth Russell (QB Baylor) 33/1
Mason Rudolph (QB Oklahoma State) 40/1
Jacoby Brissett (QB North Carolina State) 50/1
Jalen Hurd (RB Tennessee) 50/1
Jared Goff (QB California) 50/1
Marquise Williams (QB North Carolina) 50/1
Laquon Treadwell (WR Mississippi) 66/1
Scooby Wright (LB Arizona) 66/1