With one final opportunity for the top three Heisman Trophy candidates to state their case, the Heisman race is about as close as it can get heading into this Saturday’s trophy presentation. Who should take home college football’s most prestigious individual honor in one of the closest races in recent memory?
1. Tua Tagovailoa | Alabama QB | Sophomore | Last week: 1
Tua Tagovailoa had his worst game of the season when he had an opportunity to basically lock up the Heisman Trophy, and the subpar performance makes it a very interesting situation. Heisman voters must consider that Tagovailoa put up these numbers with not close to as much playing time as Kyler Murray and Dwayne Haskins, as the Crimson Tide blew almost everyone out during the season. Any of the top three is very deserving of the award.
Season stats:
67.7% | 3,353 YDS | 37 TD | 4 INT
48 ATT | 290 YDS | 5 TD | 4.0 AVG
2. Kyler Murray | Oklahoma QB | Senior | Last week: 2
As stated last week, 40+ passing touchdowns and 10+ rushing touchdowns would be quite the feat, and Kyler Murray accomplished it with a big performance in the Big 12 Championship Game against Texas. Murray already broke Oklahoma’s single-season total offense record in one less game than Baker Mayfield (last year’s Heisman winner) played last season. The future Oakland A might hoist the Heisman on Saturday night.
Season stats:
70.9% | 4,053 YDS | 40 TD | 7 INT
123 ATT | 892 YDS | 11 TD | 7.3 AVG
3. Dwayne Haskins | Ohio State QB | RS Sophomore | Last week: 3
Dwayne Haskins also has 51 total touchdowns this season, but he’s done it a little differently than Kyler Murray, throwing for 47 scores while rushing for four more while leading the Buckeyes to a Big Ten title. A red-hot late-season stretch helps give Haskins a legitimate shot to win the award, and he should be sweating it out on Saturday night, as his name could be the one that’s called after the amazing season he’s had.
Season stats:
70.2% | 4,580 YDS | 47 TD | 8 INT
73 ATT | 122 YDS | 4 TD | 1.7 AVG
4. Jonathan Taylor | Wisconsin RB | Sophomore | Last week: 4
Jonathan Taylor isn’t going to win the Heisman, but we now know he’ll be playing the Hurricanes in the Pinstripe Bowl as he looks to hit 2,000 yards rushing. He shouldn’t have much of an issue hitting the mark with just 11 yards to go. Taylor should probably get an invite to New York, but it might not happen.
Season stats:
280 ATT | 1,989 YDS | 15 TD | 7.1 AVG
8 REC | 60 YDS | 7.5 AVG
5. Gardner Minshew | Washington State QB | Senior | Last week: 5
It’s not the Rose Bowl, but Gardner Minshew will look to cap his outstanding graduate transfer season with an Alamo Bowl victory over Iowa State. Minshew also might get invited to New York, but he’s unlikely to win the Heisman despite the exceptional year.
Season stats:
70.6% | 4,477 YDS | 36 TD | 9 INT
52 ATT | 103 YDS | 3 TD | 2.0 AVG
This is so tough. Any of the 3 are deserving honestly.
Are you kidding me? Look at the numbers! Murray leads in almost all categories. Better than Mayfield. Kid is a weapon and knows how to play. He should be hands down winner.
Alabama finally played a real team and Tua couldn’t handle it and fell apart and looked like a deer in the headlights. He was rattled the entire time he was in the game. It’s easy to put up Heisman like numbers against practice squad teams they played all season but they were found out last Saturday.
LOL!!! Murray plays in the Big 12. Just stop.
Murray is so much better than Tua Come on.