10. QB Donovan Smith, Soph. Texas Tech
Or Tyler Shough, or possibly Quinn Ewers, or anyone who takes over the Texas Tech quarterback gig.
So you liked that massive season by WKU’s Bailey Zappe – throwing for a nation-best 427 yards per game and 56 touchdowns? Enjoy Texas Tech next year with new head coach Joey McGuire hiring away WKU offensive coordinator Zach Kittley to bring the magic to Lubbock.
Smith is a 6-5, 230-pound mobile baller who looked great at times when thrown into the fire late in the season. However, again, he’s not a sure thing for the job.
If the Red Raider starting quarterback puts up 2020 Zappe numbers in a Power Five conference, he’s in New York in early December.
9. RB Bijan Robinson, Jr. Texas
Talent-wise, there’s no question that Robinson will be the best player on the Texas offense next year, but in the Steve Sarkisian offense he might not be the main man.
Think 2020 Alabama, with Najee Harris sort of being in the Heisman mix, but not enough to push past the other Tide stars.
Robinson ran for 1,127 yards and 11 scores in a rough, banged up season, but again, the talent is undeniable. Like Robinson …
8. RB TreVeyon Henderson, Soph. Ohio State
The problem isn’t talent, and there won’t be an issue with stats and numbers.
Henderson might actually be the best running back in college football, but there’s that quarterback the Buckeyes have who’ll take up most of the Heisman oxygen.
Remember, winning the Heisman requires a whole slew of things to go right. Henderson will be better than his 1,172-yard, 15 touchdown, four-receiving score season, but past Buckeye running backs – at least recently – struggled to get Heisman recognition.
7. RB Sean Tucker, Soph. Syracuse
It’s a flier, but there’s no such thing as a wacky call when it comes to early Heisman calls.
Sean Tucker will lead the nation – at least, the call is that he’ll lead all Power Five running backs – in rushing.
The Orange workhorse came up with close to 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns with two touchdown catches, and that’s even after being held in check against Pitt to end the season.
Pushing for 2,000 yards might not be enough to win it, but he should be a finalist if all goes according to plan.
6. RB Braelon Allen, Soph. Wisconsin
No, if Jonathan Taylor couldn’t win the Heisman, Allen almost certainly won’t, either. That doesn’t mean he can’t be right there in the mix as a finalist.
All it takes is one bad day – think Kenneth Walker against Ohio State – with everyone watching, and that’s it.
In a quarterback world, it’s just too hard to rise up above the pack. Throw in the expected return of Chez Mellusi to take away yards and time, and getting the numbers might be tough. However, if Allen can do what he did over a seven-game stretch after taking over as a freshman, he should be in the discussion.
But enough of the running backs who won’t win …
– Top Five 2022 Heisman Candidates