Stanford RB Love again a top Heisman contender
Any preseason Heisman Trophy list must start with Stanford senior Bryce Love, the reigning runner-up for the award after running for more than 2,000 yards for the Cardinal in 2017. Love sits in the driver’s seat heading into September, but beware: It’s hard to find examples of wire-to-wire Heisman winners in recent college football history.
For the last time until the start of the regular season, here’s the USA TODAY list of the leading Heisman contenders for the 2018 season:
RB Bryce Love, Stanford (Sr.)
There are any number of ways to quantify how impressive Love was as a junior. For example: Love’s 13 carries of 50 or more yards set a new single-season record and exceeded the total of every team in the country but one. After cracking the 2,000-yard mark and averaging more than 8 yards per carry last fall, Love deserves to be seen as the preseason Heisman favorite.
QB Trace McSorley, Penn St. (Sr.)
Look for McSorley to take advantage of the spotlight now splashed on the Penn State senior with running back Saquon Barkley’s leap to the NFL. Like Baker Mayfield before him, McSorley should set a number of school records as a passer and create enough highlightreel moments with his arms and legs to draw eyeballs to the Nittany Lions. McSorley needs to keep Penn State in the mix for a Big Ten Conference title and spot in a national semifinal.
RB Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (So.)
What can Taylor do after putting together the most productive rookie season by a back in FBS history? He’ll make a run at 2,000 yards in 2018, thanks in no small part to the group up front – Wisconsin’s offensive line is second to none in college football. Taylor will also benefit from the preseason hype after spending a good portion of last season under the radar.
QB Will Grier, West Virginia (Sr.)
Grier is the perfect fit for Dana Holgorsen’s offense and has the weapons on the outside to score at will in Big 12 Conference play. But the numbers aren’t in doubt; what’s unknown is whether WVU will meet expectations and make a run at a league championship.
QB McKenzie Milton, UCF (Jr.)
As a team, it might be hard for Central Florida to match last year’s run to a New Year’s Six bowl as the program transitions from Scott Frost to Josh Heupel. On an individual level, however, it’s equally hard to see Milton’s numbers taking a step back in a slightly tweaked offensive system. Pound for pound one of the nation’s best, Milton is capable of leading all FBS quarterbacks in the major categories.