2021 Heisman Trophy Watch: Week 5

This Saturday will feature a matchup of the two clear top Heisman candidates through the first few weeks of college football.

 

1. Bryce Young | Alabama QB | Sophomore | Last week: 1

While Bryce Young threw the first interception of his career against Southern Miss, he had more touchdown passes (five) than incompletions (two). Young and the Tide now have back-to-back ranked SEC matchups where he can really separate himself early in a race that’s cooled down some to this point.

 

Season stats:

72.1% | 1,124 PASS YDS | 15 PASS TD | 1 INT

 

2. Matt Corral | Ole Miss QB | Junior (RS) | Last week: 2

Ole Miss had off last week, but Matt Corral will now be on the other side of the field playing the top guy in the Heisman rankings. Corral totaled over 400 yards and threw for two touchdowns in the crazy matchup last year, and a similar performance—paired with a victory—would obviously be huge for his Heisman candidacy.

 

Season stats:

68.8% | 997 PASS YDS | 9 TD

33 CAR | 158 RUSH YDS | 5 RUSH TD | 4.8 AVG

 

3. Desmond Ridder | Cincinnati QB | Senior | Last week: NR

Desmond Ridder also had off over the weekend, but he rises back into the top five and all the way up to No. 3 after down games from the three guys ahead of him. Ridder will face Notre Dame in a top-ten matchup on Saturday.

 

Season stats:

65.1% | 748 PASS YDS | 7 PASS TD | 2 INT

20 CAR | 72 RUSH YDS | 2 RUSH TD | 3.6 AVG

 

4. Kenneth Walker III | Michigan State RB | Junior | Last week: 3 (-1)

It was a defensive battle between Nebraska and Michigan State, which led to subpar rushing numbers (19 carries for 61 yards). But Kenneth Walker still leads the nation in rushing while helping power a 4-0 Spartan squad.

 

Season stats:

76 CAR | 554 RUSH YDS | 5 RUSH TD | 7.3 AVG

3 REC | 17 REC YDS | 1 REC TD | 5.7 AVG

 

5. Spencer Rattler | Oklahoma QB | Sophomore (RS) | Last week: 4 (-1)

This season has not gone the way most anticipated for Spencer Rattler individually, but he led the Sooners to six fourth-quarter points and into position for a last-second field goal in the 16-13 win over West Virginia on Saturday night. Rattler narrowly makes the top-five over Georgia’s J.T. Daniels and Oregon’s CJ Verdell.

 

Season stats:

74.1% | 1,017 PASS YDS | 8 PASS TD | 3 INT

27 CAR | 71 RUSH YDS | 2 RUSH TD | 2.6 AVG

 

Dropped out:

Oregon RB CJ Verdell