This race for the 2019 Heisman Trophy is off to a pretty crazy start, but the players that should be in the top five are clear as we enter the final weekend of September—it’s the order where things get complicated.
1. Joe Burrow | LSU QB | Senior | Last week: 2 (+1)
Burrow is back in the top spot in the Heisman race after lighting up Vanderbilt for 398 yards and six touchdowns as LSU began their SEC schedule. The shift in offensive philosophy is part of it, but Burrow is a big reason LSU looks like a completely different offense than they have in the past.
Season stats:
80.6% | 1,520 PASS YDS | 17 PASS TD | 2 INT
19 CAR | 20 RUSH YDS | 1 RUSH TD | 1.1 AVG
2. Jalen Hurts | Oklahoma QB | Senior | Last week: 1 (-1)
Hurts had off last week with Oklahoma having a bye week, but he’s basically tied with Burrow for No. 1 in the Heisman race. He should have an opportunity to put up massive numbers in a potential shootout versus Texas Tech this Saturday.
Season stats:
80.3% | 880 PASS YDS | 9 PASS TD | 0 INT
38 CAR | 373 RUSH YDS | 4 RUSH TD | 9.8 AVG
3. Tua Tagovailoa | Alabama QB | Junior | Last week: 3
The Alabama receivers are doing a ton of damage after the catch, but Tagovailoa is putting them in positions to make chunk plays with accurate throws. Despite not playing full games and the Crimson Tide taking their foot off the gas a bit in blowout wins, Tua became the first quarterback in school history with four touchdown passes in consecutive games.
Season stats:
77.7% | 1,300 PASS YDS | 17 PASS TD | 0 INT
12 CAR | 44 RUSH YDS | 1 RUSH TD | 3.7 AVG
4. Jonathan Taylor | Wisconsin RB | Junior | Last week: 4
There was some thought to putting Taylor all the way up at No. 1 after he had no trouble toasting Michigan’s defense for 203 yards and two touchdowns despite missing some time with cramps. In just three games, Taylor has totaled ten touchdowns for what is now a top-ten Wisconsin team in the AP poll.
Season stats:
58 CAR | 440 RUSH YDS | 7 RUSH TD | 7.6 AVG
6 REC | 70 REC YDS | 3 REC TD | 11.7 AVG
5. Justin Fields | Ohio State QB | Sophomore | Last week: 5
You know the Heisman race is a good one when someone that totaled six touchdowns in a single quarter is down at No. 5. Fields threw for four touchdowns and ran for two more in the second quarter against Miami (Ohio), and he’s up to 19 total touchdowns and no interceptions this season. The next few weeks should be tougher for Fields and the Buckeyes.
Season stats:
69.5% | 880 PASS YDS | 13 PASS TD | 0 INT
34 CAR | 150 RUSH YDS | 6 RUSH TD | 4.4 AVG
*NOTE: White Wolf is not affiliated with the Heisman Trophy. This article is a staff opinion and is not an official Heisman Trophy watch.
I’ll go Hurts 1 Burrow 2