Young, Stroud favorites for ’22 Heisman
Alabama quarterback Bryce Young will be the latest to make a run at college football immortality as the second twotime Heisman Trophy winner, joining former Ohio State running back Archie Griffin.
But that he took home this year's Heisman doesn't necessarily make Young the favorite to do so again in 2022. In fact, the results since Griffin's second win in 1975 tell us that Young is facing a very uphill battle heading into what may be his final season with the Crimson Tide.
He still leads the way in an early look at next year's Heisman race.
QB Bryce Young, Alabama
Next year's offense will lose a superb left tackle in Evan Neal and will need to do another slight rebuild at the skill positions, but the starting lineup should include multiple seniors and be far more experienced than in Young's first season as the starter.
QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
The numbers will only get Stroud so far, as we saw down the stretch of the regular season. He'll probably be just as productive in 2022, if not more so, even as the Buckeyes lose star receivers Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave to the NFL. Returning receiver Jaxon Smith-njigba might be a Heisman candidate in his own right. But Ohio State needs to win the Big Ten and get back to the playoff to put Stroud on top.
QB Caleb Williams, Oklahoma
There are some major questions about the future of Oklahoma's offense without coach Lincoln Riley and just how strong Williams' supporting cast will be given the rash of transfers and lost verbal commitments since Riley left for Southern California.
LB Will Anderson, Alabama
Anderson just missed being a finalist for this year's Heisman despite leading the Football Bowl Subdivision during the regular season in tackles for loss and sacks.
RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
If Steve Sarkisian can identify a permanent starting quarterback and take the next step in a roster rebuild, Robinson has the ability to run for 1,500 yards with another 500 yards as a receiver.
RB Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State
The one reliable piece of Kansas State's offense in each of the last two seasons, Vaughn went over 1,000 rushing yards during the regular season and is leading the Wildcats in receptions for the second straight year.
QB Tyler Van Dyke, Miami (Fla.)
With 25 touchdowns and just six interceptions, Van Dyke quietly put together an outstanding freshman season during a tumultuous year for the Hurricanes.
RB Will Shipley, Clemson
Shipley will have to do more as a receiver to work his way into the top tier of Heisman contenders. There's also the question of how Clemson's offense will look amid the possibility of some schematic tweaks after a down season.
RB Braelon Allen, Wisconsin
Recruited as a safety by most programs and only 17 years old as a freshman after reclassifying into the 2021 class, Allen went for 1,109 yards and 12 scores on 7.1 yards per carry during the regular season despite carrying the ball just 12 times in Wisconsin's first four games.
WR Wan’dale Robinson, Kentucky
Getting quarterback Will Levis to turn down the NFL and return in 2022 would be huge for Robinson's Heisman chances.