Tag: top Heisman candidates

10 Best Heisman Trophy Candidates – If It’s Not CJ Stroud or Bryce Young

The 10 best Heisman Trophy candidates going into the 2022 season if it’s not CJ Stroud or Bryce Young?

Who are the 10 best Heisman Trophy candidates going into the 2022 season – if it’s not CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, or Will Anderson taking the prize?

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CJ Stroud isn’t going to win the 2022 Heisman Trophy.

Actually, he might – he’s certainly talented enough and Ohio State will be in the national championship chase all season long – but that’s too easy.

That, and the Buckeye defense should be better, Stroud probably won’t have the same numbers, and he might not be quite as sensational.

Bryce Young isn’t going to win the 2022 Heisman Trophy.

Actually, he might – he’s certainly talented enough and Alabama will be in the national championship chase all season long – but that’s too easy.

That, and it has been impossible to repeat as the Heisman Trophy winner after Archie Griffin pulled off the twozie in 1974 and 1975.

Was Joe Burrow in any discussion to win the Heisman before 2019? He was barely a blip at LSU, much less nationally.

Could a wide receiver really win the greatest individual trophy in all of sports? It didn’t happen since Desmond Howard pulled it off in 1991, and then DeVonta Smith was unstoppable in 2020.

How hard is it to win the Heisman Trophy? Quick, off the top of your head, who were the favorites before the 2021 season to win it?

Time’s up. Yes, Bryce Young was one of the favorites, but he was behind Spencer Rattler – the former Oklahoma quarterback is now at South Carolina – and DJ Uiagalelei, who struggled through an ugly year for Clemson.

Stroud was high up in the odds, but so was Texas RB Bijan Robinson, Iowa State RB Breece Hall, North Carolina QB Sam Howell, Miami QB D’Eriq King, Arizona State QB Jayden Daniels, USC QB Kedon Slovis, and Georgia QB JT Daniels.

Where was Pitt QB Kenny Pickett? He was hanging out with Michigan DE Aidan Hutchinson about 50 miles off the radar.

Here’s my advice – if you think your long shot option might pull it off, go for it. And if it’s possible to take The Field, that’s your best bet.

With all of that said, here are the ten best picks to win the 2022 Heisman Trophy other than Bryce, CJ, and Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson – it’s SO hard to crank up the massive sack numbers needed to get close.

Remember, considering how many finalists come from out of nowhere, sometimes the wilder the call, the better, so let’s start this off with a few insane fliers …

– 2022 CFN Preview of all 131 Teams

10. Tyler Shough, QB Texas Tech

ODDS: +10000
I’ve been trying for a few years to make Tyler Shough into a thing ever since he was at Oregon.

He’s got the talent, he’s got the tools, and he’s got the NFL upside to be a top pick. He now has the Texas Tech starting quarterback job after winning a three-way battle.

But really, why is he here? You know that Western Kentucky offense that threw for over 6,000 yards and 63 touchdowns last season? It’s now in Lubbock under new offensive coordinator Zach Kittley.

Shough’s numbers should be astronomical.

9. Jarek Broussard, RB Michigan State

ODDS: Off The Board
There was a moment last season when Kenneth Walker had the Heisman won. He ripped up Michigan for five touchdowns – the race appeared to be over going into November. Six carries for 25 yards against Ohio State ended that, but he had a Heisman-caliber season.

Wisconsin transfer Jalen Berger might have something to say about it, but Broussard – a transfer from Colorado who rancor 896 yards in six games in 2020 – has the potential to bust out in Walker’s role.

8. Malik Cunningham, QB Louisville

ODDS: +6600
Stats, stats, stats, stats, stats. It’s asking the world for Cunningham to pull of a Lamar Jackson – the former Louisville quarterback who won the Heisman in 2016 – but the numbers should be there.

The senior threw for close to 3,000 yards with 19 touchdowns last year and ran for over 1,000 yards and 20 scores. If he can go off early and generate a buzz, and if Louisville can start winning right away, the momentum will build for the November 12th date at Clemson.

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7. Bijan Robinson, RB Texas

ODDS: +2000
Robinson probably would’ve won the Heisman last season if it was handed out at halftime of the Oklahoma game on October 9th. If he can stay healthy, and if he’s able to be the focus of a Texas offense that’s going to wing it around the yard, he’s got a shot.

However, it could all end immediately with Alabama coming up on September 10th. Or, if he goes big and the Longhorns win, he might have the Heisman wrapped up. Or …

6. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB Alabama

ODDS: +3300
The Texas game could be the showcase for the new Alabama starting running back.

While Bryce Young and Will Anderson should be the headliners, Gibbs – a Georgia Tech transfer – has the potential to blow up with his speed, home run hitting ability, and upside to show off in spotlight game after spotlight game.

5. Anthony Richardson, QB Florida

ODDS: +5000
If you believe the NFL scouts, Richardson has already won the Heisman, the No. 1 pick in the draft, and maybe start fitting him for one of those snazzy yellow jackets. They might not be wrong.

Richardson has all the skills and all the talent to have a huge season, and he has the offense to show off. The Billy Napier attack will get Richardson in places where he can do big things, and he’ll get a shot to make an early statement with Utah coming to town.

4. Hendon Hooker, QB Tennessee

ODDS: +6600
Sort of like Louisville’s Malik Cunningham, the Heisman potential here comes down to stats, stats, and stats.

Hooker took over the Tennessee starting gig after a few games, and he ended up throwing for close to 3,000 yards with 31 touchdowns and just three picks, and he ran for 613 yards and five touchdowns.

The starting quarterback in the Tennessee offense will be a statistical monster, and if Hooker can rip up Pitt, Florida, and LSU early on, the Heisman spotlight will be on when Alabama comes to Knoxville on October 15th.

– CFN Ranking of All 131 Teams

3. DJ Uiagalelei, QB Clemson

ODDS: +2500
I still believe.

So do the oddsmakers – +2500 just isn’t that high.

The formula works – who’s the big name star on the team that’s going to be a near-lock to make the College Football Playoff? Ohio State has Stroud, Bama has Bryce, and Clemson has … well, Clemson’s stars are on the defensive line, but it’s the quarterback who’ll get the spotlight. A recommitted Uiagalelei should be in for a huge rebound season as the offense perks back up.

If he puts up big numbers early and Clemson rolls by NC State, Boston College, Wake Forest, and Florida State, the stage will be set for the showdown in South Bend when the Tigers deal with Notre Dame on November 5th.

Uiagalelei threw for 439 yards and two scores and ran for a touchdown the last time he made that trip.

2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR Ohio State

ODDS: +3300
Yeah, Stroud is probably the right call if you’re picking any Heisman contender from Ohio State, but again, his numbers probably won’t be what they were in 2021. He’ll still be great, but he won’t have to bomb away like he did.

However, Smith-Njigba could be the guy who steps out as the main man after catching 95 passes for 1,606 yards and nine scores.

The 15-catch performance against Utah in the Rose Bowl set the tone, and it’s not crazy to think he could end up with 117 catches for close to 2,000 yards and 23 scores like DeVonta Smith did.

1. Caleb Williams, QB USC

ODDS: +700
Everything is set up perfectly.

The Lincoln Riley offense, having Jordan Addison to throw to, and the relatively easy schedule to build up the hype week after week. Williams will be front-and-center in the Heisman race over the first half of the season, and then comes the date at Utah that should make-or-break his candidacy.

If he’s amazing against the Utes and and USC keeps on winning, the spotlight will be on at UCLA and against Notre Dame to end the regular season. It’s all there to take the prize …

If it’s not CJ Stroud, or Bryce Young, or Will Anderson.

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2022 Heisman Candidates: Early Top Ten Prediction, Watch List

2022 Heisman Candidates: Who are the top candidates to watch out for next year?

2022 Heisman Candidates: To start speculating early, who should belong on the watch list for the trophy?

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Yeah, Bryce Young was on every list of 2021 preseason Heisman candidates, but Kenny Pickett? The guy who didn’t get past 13 touchdown passes in any of his first four years?

DeVonta Smith – a wide receiver? – was going to win the 202 Heisman? NO ONE came close to predicting that, and no, you and nobody else had the first clue that Joe Burrow would have one of the greatest seasons in college football history in his 2019 run.

That’s why we always start any Heisman prediction piece by going with The Field, The Field, The Field.

For every Spencer Rattler of 2021 was a Will Anderson, Kenneth Walker, or Aidan Hutchinson just waiting to pop up and into the race.

Making the 2022 Heisman race even more insane to figure out is that we really don’t know what we don’t know, because …

1. Transfers, transfers, transfers. Not only will a few guys on this list be gone to other spots by the time you’re probably done reading this, but others are going to transfer into sweet gigs with big statistical potential.

2. Draft, draft, draft. Who’s this year’s Kenny Pickett type who’ll stay in school and bet on himself? A whole slew of key players – like Georgia’s JT Daniels – aren’t on this list because we’re just assuming they’re off to the NFL. We’ll do this piece again after all the early entries are set.

3. Coaches, coaches, coaches. Really, who’s going to be Lincoln Riley’s quarterback at USC? Really, what’s Brent Venables going to do at Oklahoma? Will Miami start winging it around? Where will all the star offensive coordinators end up?

The goal is getting the early 2022 Heisman call close to the pin – last year we did have Young at 3; but cheerfully ignore 1 and 2.

2022 Heisman Candidates Watch List: Names On A List As Fliers … Just In Case

Call this the Johnny Manziel/Cam Newton//Joe Burrow/DeVonta Smith base-covering list. These all might seem crazy, but Matt Corral was in this space last year.

It’s in alphabetical order after beginning with …

The Field
Again, if someone offers you The Field, take it. Oh, there’s a 2019 Joe Burrow out there, and we have eight months before next season to find him.

QB Jaxson Dart, Soph. USC
There’s a chance this could be Kedon Slovis’s offense to fly, but there’s a better shot that new head coach Lincoln Riley ends up with Caleb Williams – more on that in a moment – or some other superstar transfer in the Baker, Kyler, Jalen mold. Dart is on this list just in case he turns out to be The Guy.

QB Quinn Ewers, Fr. Undecided
Will he be Steve Sarkisian’s guy at Texas? Will he take over at Texas Tech? More on that with the Red Raiders in a moment. No matter where he ends up, the former superstar get for Ohio State has the talent to be instantly special wherever he goes.

QB Jake Haener, Sr. Fresno State
He was in the transfer portal – the thought was that he’d be off to Washington with former Fresno State head coach Kalen DeBoer – and then he came back in to be new/old head man Jeff Tedford’s quarterback. This is a straight stat play after throwing for over 3,800 yards and 32 touchdowns. He might put up eye-popping numbers that blow away the 2021 stats.

QB Sam Hartman, Jr. Wake Forest
What, you think this is slowing down? For all of the love and affection given to Kenny Pickett this year in the Heisman race, Hartman was stride-for-stride statistically for stretches before the interceptions kicked in. Throw in the 11 touchdown runs with the 36 touchdown passes and close to 4,000 yards, and the stats will be there.

– Bryce Young wins 2021 Heisman Trophy: He checked all the boxes

QB Hendon Hooker, Sr. Tennessee
Possibly the most underappreciated quarterback in college football over the lsat few years, the former Virginia Tech transfer stepped in at Tennessee – after not getting the job to start the year – and finished with 26 touchdowns passes just three interceptions, and 561 yards and five touchdown runs. He could be a super-senior and take his game up a few notches in the Josh Heupel offense.

RB Mohamed Ibrahim, Sr. Minnesota
At the very least, he might be the feel-good story of 2022 if he comes back to form after tearing his Achilles tendon in the opener against Ohio State. He was crushing the Buckeyes with 163 yards and two scores before getting hurt. If he’s his old self, he’ll be a statistical monster.

QB KJ Jefferson, Jr. Arkansas
Totally overshadowed in a division with Bryce Young, Matt Corral, and Will Rogers, all the 6-3, 245-pound Jefferson did was throw for close to 2,600 yards with 21 touchdowns and just three interceptions, and run for 554 yards and five scores. Now he knows what he’s doing.

QB Devin Leary, Jr. NC State
Leary didn’t air it out quite as much as some of the other ACC stars, but he’ll finally get a little bit of the spotlight after throwing for 3,433 yards and 35 touchdowns with five picks.

QB Will Rogers, Mississippi State
Did Bryce Young lead the SEC in passing? No. Did he lead the SEC in completion percentage – at least among quarterbacks who threw at least 100 passes? No. Did Rogers lead the SEC in both categories, and will he likely blow up the stats in the Mike Leach offense after completing 75% of his throws for 4,451 yards and 35 touchdowns? Probably.

– Top Ten 2022 Heisman Candidates

NEXT: 2022 Heisman Candidates: Top Ten

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2021 Heisman Trophy Candidates: Early Top Ten Prediction, Watch List

To start speculating early, who should be the top candidates for the 2021 Heisman Trophy? 

To start speculating early, who should be the top candidates for the 2021 Heisman Trophy? 

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This piece was solid four years ago when the Baker Mayfield Would Win call connected, and three years ago it was full of right ideas, wrong applications, and a whole slew of whiffs.

Let’s just say the 2019 Early Top Ten Heisman Trophy Prediction piece had … issues. No one – NO ONE – saw Joe Burrow coming.

And no, no one had DeVonta Smith in mix for the 2020 Heisman. However, we at least had Trevor Lawrence, Kyle Trask, and random Alabama quarterback in last year’s preseason mix.

Predicting the 2021 Heisman race? Assume this is all typed in pencil.

More than ever, we don’t know what we don’t know.

1. Transfers, transfers, transfers. With this year’s free pass to transfer, don’t get comfortable in any way with your current starting quarterback or top running back. It’s going to be a crazy next several months.

2. Draft, draft, draft. There are still several key guys who might opt-out, get out, or just decided they want to preserve themselves for the NFL. It’s going to be a crazy next several months.

3. Seniors, seniors, seniors. It’s possible this year for some seniors to decide they don’t want to face the real world quite yet – and why would they? In the COVID season, everyone gets an extra year of eligibility if it’s wanted. It’s going to be a crazy next several months.

And finally …

4. The real world. We’re all assuming things will be better and 2021 will see a more normal type of football season. You want to bet the house on that? We can hope for something better, but …

It’s going to be a crazy next several months.

The goal is getting the early 2021 Heisman call close to the pin, so we start with this.

2021 Heisman Trophy Watch List: Names On A List As Fliers … Just In Case

Every name in this group seems like a crazy call that has no business working in the discussion of the 2021 Heisman Trophy. Call it the Joe Burrow and DeVonta Smith curveball list.

It’s in alphabetical order after beginning with …

The Field
It’s the wimp way out, but do you really want to pick the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner a year in advance? Take The Field – not Justin Fields – over everyone else, and you’re likely to be right. But that’s no fun, so we press on.

QB Matt Corral, Jr. Ole Miss
And here we go with the parade of SEC quarterbacks. The main difference between Corral and several others is 1) experience, 2) a team with a likely bad defense to 3) once again force him to put up massive numbers. He ran for over 500 yards and four scores, and hit 71% of his throws for 3,337 yards and 29 touchdowns.

QB Max Johnson, Soph. LSU
Or, just make this spot for Insert Starting LSU QB Here. Lost in all of the problems with the Tigers in 2020 was a passing game that really did work. It wasn’t 2019, but there was hope. Now the program has to settle in on a quarterback from way too many options – and maybe a top transfer. Johnson was the star of the Florida win and closed out with a 435-yard day against Ole Miss.

QB Emory Jones, Jr. Florida
Is he really going to take over the job with Kyle Trask done? He adds more of a rushing element to the mix, provided a bit of a spark in the Oklahoma debacle, and he’s got the skills to put up huge numbers if he’s the guy.

WR John Metchie, Jr. Alabama
No, but last year at this time if someone told you that DeVonta Smith was going to be in the Heisman equation …

Metchie averaged more yards per catch than Smith (17.8 to 15.6).

QB Bo Nix, Jr. Auburn
NO NO … DON’T LEAVE! This is a covering-the-bases listing with Nix going into his third year as a starter working under a new coaching staff. He won’t have the same NFL-caliber targets he had in 2020 when he threw 12 touchdown passes, and … sorry. Okay, carrying on.

QB Brock Purdy, Sr. Iowa State
It only seems like he’s been around for 15 years, but yeah, he’s a senior. Assuming he doesn’t turn pro early, he’s a terrific veteran who should be able to put up even better numbers as the expectations are reasonably higher now.

RB Bijan Robinson, Soph. Texas
The superstar recruit of last year led the team with over 700 yards and four scores – to go along with two receiving touchdowns – averaging over eight yards per carry. He closed out the season with 172 yards and three scores against Kansas State, and 183 yards and a score in the bowl win over Colorado – averaging close to 19 yards per carry in those two games. Now he’s Steve Sarkisian’s running back to work with.

RB Isaiah Spiller, Jr. Texas A&M
The raw numbers probably won’t be there, but he might get a long look in the race in a Great Player, Top Team sort of way. He only ran for 1,036 yards and nine scores, and there are more explosive players in the backfield, but he’s going to be the main man for the Aggie O.

NEXT: Top Ten 2021 Early Heisman Candidates

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Top Heisman Candidates – Other Than The Obvious: 20 for 2020 Offseason Topics No. 3

20 for 2020: 20 key college football offseason topics: Who are the top Heisman candidates … besides the obvious stars?

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CFN in 60 Video: Top Non-Obvious Heisman Candidates

20 for 2020: 20 key college football offseason topics: Who are the top Heisman candidates … besides the obvious stars?

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20 for 2020 Offseason Topics 
20. Best Teams To Not Make CFP
19: Teams That Will Rebound Big
18. Teams That Will Fall Back
17: Every Power 5 Team’s Letdown Game
16. Top 5 Instant Impact New Head Coaches
15. 2nd Year Coaches Who’ll Be Better
14. Power 5 Hot Seat Coach Rankings
13. Key Transfers You Forgot About
12. Five Big Power 5 Upset Alerts
11. Great Players About To Go Nuclear
10. Group of 5 Teams In New Year’s Six Chase
9. Power 5 Sleeper Teams
8. Most Interesting Quarterback Battles
7. 5 Teams That Might Disappoint
6. 5 Teams That Might Surprise
5. Group of Five Conference Ranking
4. Power 5 Conference Ranking

We’ll keep on doing what we do whether or not there’s a season, but all thoughts go out to those suffering and struggling, and to all the health care workers battling above and beyond the call. Please … stay safe.

It’s really, really, really hard to win the Heisman.

After what Joe Burrow did last year, and with Chase Young making a push, it’s really, really, really hard to pick who’s going to be in the race, too.

Last year we totally whiffed on just about all of the calls, but they all came with a caveat that they had to hit at least two of the three parts of the puzzle.

To even be in the mix, a player needs to 1) put up ridiculous numbers, 2) do it when everyone is watching in at least one or two big games, and/or 3) preferably be the reason a team is in a conference title chase and possibly in the mix for the College Football Playoff.

Only two players this year are easy choice for the preseason call – Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State QB Justin Fields. The odds are strong that one of them will win it, but that’s boring.

Here are the five who might just be this year’s Burrow, and the alternative choice at each spot just in case they’re not.

5. QB Sam Ehlinger, Texas

The same reasons why he was on last year’s list all apply here.

He’s a veteran star of a power program, he’s able to crank up the stats on the ground as well as through the air, and he’s got the big games on the massive stages to stand out.

Joe Burrow didn’t win the Heisman in last year’s big LSU win over Texas, but he put himself on the map. The same went for Jalen Hurts, who ran for 131 yards and a score – to go along with three touchdown passes – in Oklahoma’s win over UT.

Flip it around this time.

Ehlinger and the Longhorns have to go to Baton Rouge to face the defending national champs, and as always, they get Oklahoma in Dallas in the Big 12 game of the year.

If he struggles in either one of those two games, forget it, but he’ll have the opportunities, he’ll be deep in the Heisman hunt if Texas is in the College Football Playoff hunt, and he’ll have the stats.

With Washington State’s Anthony Gordon, Burrow, and Hurts all gone, Ehlinger is the nation’s leading returning total offense leader. He’ll have the pats around him, the team should be stronger, and he certainly knows what he’s doing.

Alternative: Another veteran QB who could take that big step up
QB Kellen Mond, Texas A&M
He’s going into what seems like his 14th season with the Aggies, and he’s got the receiving corps to work with for a massive statistical year. He’ll run well, he’ll be the unquestioned leader of the team, and he’ll have plenty of big games and moments to shine in.

NEXT: No. 4 Not Obvious Heisman Candidate

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Heisman Trophy: 2020 Latest Early Odds, March. Top 15 Candidates

Early odds for the 2020 Heisman Trophy are in. Who are the top 15 candidates, and where’s the value?

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Early odds for the 2020 Heisman Trophy are in. Who are the top 15 candidates, and where’s the value?

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The early odds to win the 2020 Heisman Trophy are out from Covers.com, and there aren’t a whole lot of surprises up top.

However, there are a whole bunch of new names in the mix, several seemingly crazy long shots, and enough question marks to make this very, very interesting for anyone trying to handicap the race so far in advance.

What Heisman-caliber players are you going to need to know several months from now once this all gets started for real?

Keep in mind, this is trying to figure out 1) who the best player will be in the 2020 college football season on the 2) best team who’ll 3) crank up the ridiculous stats at an all-time great level.

The bar has been set higher stat-wise after the last few seasons.

Top top ten on this list are done based on what appears to be the best value – about that, here’s your advanced warning that the No. 1 is a bit quirky, but there’s a reason. 11-15 are done based on the odds according to Covers odds, and before that, the …

2020 Heisman Trophy Early Odds: Best of the Rest

So you want to take a shot for the stars? You’re not totally crazy to shoot for the stars – as will be explained later – but …

QB Charlie Brewer, Baylor 60/1
Baylor comes back loaded with talent, but is Brewer going to be able to stay healthy enough after taking monster shots late last season? He’s a terrific baller, but the ceiling – if everything goes right – is to be a Heisman finalist.

QB Brock Purdy, Iowa State 60/1
Stats. He might quickly grow in the eyes of the NFL scouts, but he’s not going to have the raw numbers or the big Big 12 wins to pull it off.

QB Tyler Shough, Oregon 60/1
Are you really sure he’s going to be the Oregon starting quarterback? He’s a big-time talent, but super-recruit Jay Butterfield will get to take his cuts for the No. 1 gig.

RB Master Teague III, Ohio State 60/1
1) JK Dobbins put up massive numbers and wasn’t remotely close to winning the Heisman. 2) Teague is hurt and going to miss the rest of spring practice. It’s being reported by Eleven Warriors that it could be an Achilles’ heel injury.

RB CJ Verdell, Oregon 60/1
Can he put up the stats to be in the mix? He only ran for 1,220 years and eight touchdowns last season, but he has the talent to blow up.

Now for the players with a real shot at pulling this off. Again, starting with projected candidates No. 15 through 11 based on the Covers odds, and then the top ten based on the best values.

NEXT: 2020 Early Heisman Early Odds: No. 15. The 40/1 Candidates

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