Trio of quarterbacks, Michigan DE named Heisman finalists
Quarterbacks have dominated the Heisman Trophy winners’ list of late, and this year may be no different, given that three of the four finalists announced Monday play the position. They are joined by a defensive player hoping to help his school again make history when it comes to college football’s most famous award.
The 2021 Heisman Trophy finalists:
Alabama sophomore quarterback Bryce Young
Ohio State redshirt freshman quarterback C.J. Stroud
Pittsburgh redshirt senior quarterback Kenny Pickett
Michigan senior defensive end Aidan Hutchinson
The Heisman Trophy Trust said last week that it distributed ballots to 928 electors, including 870 media members who cover college football, 57 Heisman Trophy winners and one collective fan vote. The deadline was Monday to determine four finalists who will be invited to the trophy ceremony in New York, set to take place Saturday and be televised on ESPN.
Only three non-quarterbacks have won the award since 2000, all from Alabama: running back Mark Ingram in 2009, running back Derrick Henry in 2015 and wide receiver Devonta Smith in 2020. No Alabama quarterback has won the award, but Young was installed by oddsmakers as the heavy favorite well before the field of four was determined.
Ticketed for stardom as a high-schooler, Young has ably followed in the footsteps of recent Crimson Tide signal-callers Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones. After playing sparingly last season as Jones set Alabama and Football Bowl Subdivision passing records, Young ranks second nationally this season in passing touchdowns (40), fourth in passing yards (4,322) and fifth in passing efficiency rating (175.53). The California native has led the Crimson Tide to a 12-1 record and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff, and to some observers he locked up the Heisman by strafing Georgia in Saturday’s SEC championship game. Facing a ferocious Bulldogs defense that had allowed less than seven points per game over 12 contests, Young threw for 421 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in a 41-24 win that knocked Georgia from the undefeated ranks.
Hutchinson collected MVP honors Saturday for his efforts in Michigan’s Big Ten championship game victory over Iowa, prompting teammates to chant, “Hutch for Heisman!” Similar sentiments were shared more widely following the defensive end’s dominant, three-sack performance in a long-awaited win over Ohio State that let 12-1 Michigan displace its bitter rival in the CFP rankings. For the season, Hutchinson has 14 sacks, third most in the FBS, and he’s the leader of a Wolverines unit that is tied for fourth in scoring defense.
One major issue for Hutchinson’s Heisman candidacy is in its 86-year history, the trophy has only once gone to a primarily defensive player. On a more promising note, that player, cornerback Charles Woodson (1997), also played for Michigan.
Stroud may have been unable to prevent the first Ohio State loss to Michigan in 10 years, but he produced good numbers in that game by throwing for 394 yards and two touchdowns. For the season, Stroud’s 3,862 passing yards are the eighth most in the FBS, his 38 touchdown passes are fifth, and his 182.23 rating is good for second. At 551.4 yards per game, his 10-2
Buckeyes rank first in total offense, and they are also unmatched in scoring at 45.5 points per game.
While Young was garnering praise for his performance Saturday against Georgia, Pickett authored arguably the day’s most memorable play. During Pittsburgh’s ACC championship game win over Wake Forest, the Panthers quarterback scrambled downfield and faked a slide as defenders closed in. The maneuver freed Pickett to complete the run for a 58yard touchdown in a 45-21 victory for 11-2 Pitt. Pickett set school records this season in most major passing categories, and his 47 touchdowns rank third in the FBS.
Among the players thought to be in strong contention for an invitation to New York were Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral and Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III. News of Hutchinson’s inclusion in the final quartet sparked some outcry on behalf of Alabama linebacker Will Anderson, who leads the FBS with 15.5 sacks and has far better numbers than the Michigan star in tackles (92-55) and tackles for loss (32.5-15.0).
If Young wins the Heisman, he would give a school back-to-back winners for the second time in five years, following Oklahoma quarterbacks Baker Mayfield (2017) and Kyler Murray (2018). Smith was the first wide receiver to win since Michigan’s Desmond Howard in 1991. Apart from Howard and Woodson, Michigan’s other Heisman winner was running back Tom Harmon in 1940.
Ohio State players have been given the trophy seven times, most recently in 2006, when quarterback Troy Smith topped the field. Pickett would be the second Heisman winner to represent Pitt, following Tony Dorsett in 1976.