Daily Press

Clemson quarterbac­k Trevor Lawrence is among four finalists announced for the Heisman Trophy.

Tide’s Jones, Smith are the eighth set of teammates to make list

- By Ralph D. Russo

Alabama teammates Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith along with Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Florida’s Kyle Trask have been named finalists for the Heisman Trophy.

The Heisman will be awarded Jan. 5 during a virtual ceremony. The coronaviru­s pandemic forced the cancellati­on of the usual trip to New York for the trophy presentati­on that comes with being a finalist.

Jones and Smith are the eighth set of teammates to be finalists together since the tradition started in 1982. Smith is trying to become the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since Michigan’s Desmond Howard in 1991.

If it isn’t Smith, who leads the nation in receptions (98) and receiving yards (1,511), the winner will be a quarterbac­k for the 13th time in the past 15 years.

Jones leads the nation in efficiency rating (202.34), completion percentage (76.5) and yards per pass (11.4), with 32 touchdown passes.

The top-ranked Crimson Tide will play No. 4 Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinals on Jan. 1.

Jones or Smith would become

Alabama’s third Heisman winner. Running backs Mark Ingram (2009) and Derrick Henry (2015) were the Tide’s first Heisman winners.

Lawrence was the preseason favorite to win the award, but missing two games after contractin­g COVID-19 slowed his campaign. The junior quarterbac­k and presumptiv­e first selection in the next NFL draft did not play against Boston College and at Notre Dame.

He did play in Atlantic Coast Conference championsh­ip rematch against the Fighting Irish last weekend and led the Tigers to a blowout victory. On the season,

Lawrence has thrown for 2,753 yards and 22 touchdowns in nine games, helping Clemson reach the playoff for the third time in his career.

No. 2 Clemson plays No. 3 Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl semifinals on Jan. 1. Lawrence would be the Tigers’ first Heisman winner.

Trask leads the country with 43 touchdown passes and 4,125 yards. The senior is trying to join Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel and Tim Tebow as Heisman-winning quarterbac­k from Florida.

The rest of the top 10 was revealed in order, starting with Alabama running back Najee Harris. The Crimson Tide is the

second team to have three players in the top five in Heisman voting.

In 1946, Army running back Glenn Davis won the Heisman, fellow running back Doc Blanchard finished fourth and quarterbac­k Arnold Tucker was fifth.

Iowa State running back Breece Hall was sixth this year, followed by Ohio State quarterbac­k Justin Fields, BYU quarterbac­k Zach Wilson, Notre Dame quarterbac­k Ian Book and Florida tight end Kyle Pitts.

Pitts is the first tight end to finish in the top 10 of the Heisman voting since Notre Dame’s Ken MacAfee was third in 1977.

 ?? GARY COSBY/THE TUSCALOOSA NEWS VIA AP FILE ?? Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith, left, and quarterbac­k Mac Jones have both been named Heisman Trophy finalists. Smith has caught 98 passes for 1,511 yards and 17 TDs, while Jones has thrown for 3,739 yards with 32 TDs and only four picks.
GARY COSBY/THE TUSCALOOSA NEWS VIA AP FILE Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith, left, and quarterbac­k Mac Jones have both been named Heisman Trophy finalists. Smith has caught 98 passes for 1,511 yards and 17 TDs, while Jones has thrown for 3,739 yards with 32 TDs and only four picks.
 ?? GETTY IMAGES/TNS
KEVIN COX/ ?? Florida quarterbac­k Kyle Trask leads the nation with 4,125 passing yards and 43 touchdown passes.
GETTY IMAGES/TNS KEVIN COX/ Florida quarterbac­k Kyle Trask leads the nation with 4,125 passing yards and 43 touchdown passes.
 ?? BRIAN BLANCO/AP FILE ?? Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence has thrown for 2,753 yards and 22 touchdowns despite missing two games with COVID-19.
BRIAN BLANCO/AP FILE Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence has thrown for 2,753 yards and 22 touchdowns despite missing two games with COVID-19.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States