Heisman finalists: Tide teammates, plus 2 QBs

Alabama teammatesMac Jones and DeVonta Smith along with Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Florida’s Kyle Traskhavebeennamedfinalists for theHeisman 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 thatcomeswith 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 tobecomethe first wide receiver towin 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 last 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 Damein theCollege 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 firstHeisman winners.

Lawrence was the preseasonfavorite towinthe award, butmissing two games after contractingCOVID-19slowed his campaign. The junior quarterback and presumptive first selection in the next NFLdraftdid 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, DannyWuerffelandTim Tebowas Heisman-winning quarterback from Florida.

The rest of the top 10was 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 ArnoldTuckerwasfifth.

Iowa State running back Breece Hall was sixth this year, followed by Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, BYU quarterback ZachWilson, 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 JR. / THE TUSCALOOSA NEWS Alabamawide receiver DeVontaSmith (left) and quarterbackMac Jones are finalists for the HeismanTrophy. TheHeisman will be awarded Jan. 5 during a virtual ceremony as the pandemic forced cancelling the NewYork event.

BRIAN BLANCO/ AP Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence has thrown for 2,753 yards and 22 touchdowns in nine games, helping Clemson reach the playofffor the third time in his career.

JOHN RAOUX / AP Florida quarterback Kyle Trask leads the country with 43 touchdownpasses and 4,125 yards and is vying to become the fourthGator signal-caller to win the Heisman.