Alabama sophomore quarterback Bryce Young captured the Heisman Trophy after passing for 4,322 yards and 43 touchdowns. Young led the Crimson Tide to an SEC championship and a 12-1 season thus far.
He and Alabama will square off in one of the College Football Playoff’s semifinal games against Cincinnati in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31. Young will have the rare opportunity next season to join Ohio State running back Archie Griffin as the only two-time winners of the Heisman Trophy.
Oklahoma true freshman quarterback Caleb Williams will be a popular pick to capture college football’s coveted individual crown in 2022 as well. USA TODAY Sports listed Williams as one of the top 10 contenders to win the Heisman Trophy next season.
USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg wrote this about Williams’ chances.
Williams will enter next season with enormous name recognition after spending a few midseason weeks as the talk of college football. Being a household name may only get him so far. There are some major questions about the future of Oklahoma’s offense without coach Lincoln Riley and just how strong his supporting cast will be given the rash of transfers and lost verbal commitments since Riley left for Southern California. – Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports
Of course, Oklahoma has since hired Brent Venables as its new head coach and announced Jeff Lebby as the Sooners’ offensive coordinator for next season.
Oklahoma wide receivers Jadon Haselwood and Theo Wease each entered their names into the transfer portal following Riley’s departure to USC. Tight end Austin Stogner did as well.
Haselwood is transferring to Arkansas, Stogner to South Carolina and Wease’s future is still uncertain.
Still, finding skill players to come join Lebby and Williams in Norman shouldn’t be a problem fans have much to worry about with.
Two other Big 12 players made Myerberg’s top-10 Heisman Trophy contenders list for the 2022 season. Texas running back Bijan Robinson and Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn.
Here’s what Myerberg wrote about the Longhorns’ Robinson.
Robinson was one of only a few bright spots during coach Steve Sarkisian’s miserable debut season. Whether the sophomore factors into the Heisman race depends on what sort of growth Texas and the offense makes during a crucial offseason. If Sarkisian can identify a permanent starting quarterback and take the next step in a roster rebuild, Robinson has the ability to run for 1,500 yards with another 500 as a receiver. – Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports
Myerberg discussed Vaughn’s prospects, too.
Robinson may not be the best option at running back coming out of the Big 12, however. The one reliable piece of Kansas State’s offense in each of the last two seasons, Vaughn went over 1,000 rushing yards during the regular season and is leading the Wildcats in receptions for the second straight year. There’s a matter of getting his team into New Year’s Six consideration, but Vaughn’s numbers may speak for themselves. – Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports
Oklahoma has seven Heisman Trophy winners in its program’s history: Billy Vessels in 1952; Steve Owens in 1969; Billy Sims in 1978; Jason White in 2003; Sam Bradford in 2008; Baker Mayfield in 2017; and Kyler Murray in 2018.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.