Tide teammates Heisman finalists
Alabama teammates Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith along with Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Florida’s Kyle Trask were named finalists late Thursday night for the Heisman Trophy. The Heisman will be awarded Jan. 5 in 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 Football Bowl Subdivision 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 FBS in efficiency rating (202.34), completion percentage (.765) 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 Jan. 1 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. 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 ACC 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 Jan. 1 at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. Lawrence would be the Tigers’ first Heisman winner.
Trask leads FBS 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.
Pitt
The 2021 recruiting class received a gift on Christmas. Phillip O’Brien Jr., a three-star cornerback previously committed to Auburn, flipped to Pitt. The sought-after prospect from Florida verbally committed to the Panthers’ 2021 class with the intention to sign in February. O’Brien is the 24th member of what’s currently Pat Narduzzi’s best class at Pitt. The Panthers were ranked 21st nationally on early signing day after inking 21 signatures, including four-star pass-rushers Elliot Donald, Naquan Brown and Nahki Johnson. O’Brien verbally committed to Auburn in February 2020, but didn’t send over his letter of intent on Dec. 16’s early signing day due to the Tigers coaching change. Gus Malzahn was fired three days before signing day, opening the door for Pitt.
Elsewhere
Chevan Cordeiro threw three first- half touchdown passes, Calvin Turner broke the New Mexico Bowl record with a 92-yard kickoff return had another long scoring play to help Hawaii beat Houston, 28-14, late Thursday in the New Mexico Bowl. The game was moved to Frisco, Texas, from its usual location in Albuquerque because of COVID-19 restrictions in New Mexico. Hawaii (5-4) gave first-year coach Todd Graham his 100th career victory. He previously coached at Rice, Tulsa, Pittsburgh and Arizona State. The Rainbow Warriors had a winning record for the third season in a row, the first time they’ve done that since 200104. Houston (3-5) has consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 2000-02.