Two weeks ago, when I ranked the Heisman contenders, I had a list of 10 with Rondale Moore on the outside looking in. What a difference two weeks makes. The Heisman field has already narrowed itself down, and I can’t justify ranking 10 players again. One month into the season, it appears to be a five-player race.
Outside Looking In
Anthony Gordon – leads the nation in attempts, completions, passing yards, and passing TDs with 137/183, 1,894 yards, 21 TDs
Jerry Jeudy – 30/404/6 receiving in 4 games
Henry Ruggs – 16/350/4 receiving and 1/75/1 rushing in 4 games
Tylan Wallace – 20/473/6 receiving in 4 games
Chuba Hubbard – leads the nation in rushes, rushing yards, and rushing TDs with 103/642/9 in 4 games
5. Jonathan Taylor
Taylor is scoring a TD every six touches and leads all non-QBs with 10 total touchdowns and he’s averaging 170 scrimmage yards per game. The Heisman Trophy has turned in to a QB statistical award, but Taylor will continue to represent the RBs well.
4. Joe Burrow
Through four games, Joe Burrow and the LSU offense have begun rewriting school record books. His 17 TD passes are more than he had in all of 2018. The last LSU QB to have at least 17 TD passes in a season was Zach Mettenberger with 22 in 2013. Burrow’s six TD passes against Vanderbilt was a new school record. Only Washington State QB Anthony Gordon has more TD tosses this season.
3. Justin Fields
After an uncharacteristic start against Miami (OH), Fields threw 4 TDs and ran in 2 more all in the second quarter. Fields has only played 9 second-half drives in 4 games, but he is second nationally with 19 total TDs (13 passing, 6 rushing). He’s not as electric of a runner as Hurts. While Hurts benefits from designed runs for yardage, Fields looks to extend plays and then scrambles when things break down. It appears he’s usurped J.K. Dobbins as the primary goal line back as well. They each have 9 red zone carries. Fields has scored on 5 of the 9 while Dobbins has only scored on 2 of them.
2. Tua Tagovailoa
Last season, Tua would have won the Heisman had he not sat nearly every single fourth quarter. One month into the 2018 season, he had thrown for 1,033 yards and 12 TDs. One month into the 2019 season, he’s thrown for 1,300 yards and 17 TDs. He is dominating teams early and sitting the second half again. The only difference is he’s getting the ball out quicker and letting his WRs do the work instead of chucking the ball downfield all the time.
1. Jalen Hurts
I won’t penalize Hurts because Oklahoma was idle this week, but his lead over the field has narrowed. Through three games against probably the worst competition on this list, Hurts has completed 80% of his passes for 880 yards and 9 TDs. Like Fields, his passing yards are down because he does damage with his legs as well. He’s rushed 38 times for 373 yards and 4 TDs. As we get into conference play, Hurts will continue to face weak defenses and Oklahoma’s offensive scheme is proven to generate one big play after another. Hurts is on track to be Oklahoma’s third straight transfer-QB-Heisman-winner, but I wonder if that might actually hurt his Heisman chances. Voters have already seen this with Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray and that could be a negative for Jalen Hurts.
