Heisman Watch: Week 14
With only four more weeks to go in the regular season of college football, the fans are starting to get a sense for the possible finalists for the Heisman Trophy. Last year's award winner was former Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith. Smith, now a rookie in the NFL, was the first wide receiver to win the trophy since 1991.
Though there are some very talented wide receivers in the game today, it’s not likely that we’ll see back-to-back years with that position taking home the trophy. The Heisman Trophy, though it is given to players with outstanding statistics, also considers the overall impact that a single player has on a team’s success throughout the season.
Caleb Williams, Quarterback, Oklahoma
As of right now, a player that comes to mind is someone that most people haven’t really placed in the top-four candidates, is freshman quarterback Caleb Williams. The young quarterback didn’t start the season but proved himself worthy of the starting job over sophomore Spencer Rattler.
Williams has managed to throw for 1,189 yards and 14 touchdowns in only four starts this season, leaving everyone wondering his potential stat line if he had started from the beginning of the season.
This past Saturday, October 30, Williams completed 76% of his passes for 402 yards and six touchdowns against Texas Tech. His strength of schedule has people wondering if he can maintain this momentum, but if he continues to play at this high a level for the rest of the season then he deserves to be considered for the Heisman.
Bryce Young, Quarterback, Alabama
A clear front runner for the Heisman this year is sophomore quarterback Bryce Young from Alabama. Young’s resume speaks for itself with 2,453 passing yards and 26 touchdowns.
Young is commanding an Alabama team that is ranked second in the recent polls. Looking ahead, he needs to lead the offense to win out the rest of the season. If Alabama stays at No. 2, he’ll be considered a finalist.
CJ Stroud, Quarterback, Ohio State
No. 6 Ohio State finds itself above the rest of the Big Ten teams with a hope to make the playoffs. It’s afe to say that freshman quarterback CJ Stroud has been one of the main reasons for the team’s success.
Stroud has made an immediate impact for the Buckeyes considering he had some big shoes to fill. He has sensational vision and poise in the pocket for a first-year quarterback and he’s seen great success.
Throughout this season, Stroud has thrown for 2,270 yards and 23 touchdowns. His ability to be accurate is evident in the form of a 91.3 QBR, which ranks first among all quarterbacks in college football. To put that into perspective, an average passer rating (or QBR) in the NFL is around 50.
If things go his way these next four games, he’ll have a case to become a finalist as well.
Matt Corral, Quarterback, Ole Miss
Last, but not least is junior quarterback Matt Corral from the No. 15 Ole Miss Rebels.
The Rebels have been blessed with a true athlete at the helm of their offense. Corral has thrown for 2,202 yards and 15 touchdowns on the year.
Though he is an efficient passer, his chances of winning the Heisman are predicated on his ability to run the football. On Oct. 16, he managed to put the team on his back in a game against Tennessee. In that game, he rushed for a total of 195 yards and threw the ball for 231 yards and two touchdowns.
Though these are the main players people are talking about to become finalists, there are still plenty of players across the nation that are a few games away from being recognized.
Nolan Clark is a third-year studying broadcast journalism. To contact him, email nolanclark11@gmail.com.
