A way-too-early look at the 2020 Heisman Trophy race
Clemson's Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State's Justin Fields were in the same high school class coming out of the same state, Georgia. While Lawrence was an immediate star, Fields didn't blossom until transferring after his freshman season. They met in the Fiesta Bowl, with Lawrence leading Clemson to a win in the national semifinals.
Come the start of the 2020 season, the Tigers and Buckeyes will be at or near the top of every preseason poll. Just as the two teams stand poised to battle for the national championship, Lawrence and Fields will enter next season as the overwhelming co-favorites for the Heisman Trophy.
Now that the deadline has come for players to declare for the NFL draft, let's revisit the crop of returning standouts to take the early temperature of the 2020 Heisman race. Lawrence and Fields lead.
One running back expected to throw his hat into the ring for the NFL, Oklahoma State's Chuba Hubbard, instead opted to return for his redshirt junior season. Over with the Cowboys' in-state rival, Spencer Rattler is ready to be the latest Oklahoma quarterback to be a Heisman factor after redshirting this season behind Jalen Hurts.
Here's how things shake out as we get ready for the long offseason:
QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
In a way, that Lawrence struggled in Clemson's loss to LSU may help him avoid the inevitable backlash that often comes with being anointed the top prospect in a given draft class. It might also spark a monster junior season: Lawrence will almost certainly be motivated to make up for his first career loss.
QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
The preseason Heisman field will have Lawrence and Fields — or Fields and Lawrence, depending on how you feel — and then a wide gap of space. Look for Fields to be even better as a second-year starter with the Buckeyes in 2020, though he'll have less help in the backfield with running back J.K. Dobbins headed to the NFL along with several key receivers departed.
RB Travis Etienne, Clemson
Etienne's decision to come back in 2020 is shocking given his already established college track record and the recent trend for productive backs to leap to the NFL in the first shot at draft eligibility. For Clemson, meanwhile, bringing back the nation's most productive per-play back only increases of another College Football Playoff appearance. It will be interesting to see how voters approach the Tigers' two offensive standouts in terms of which ends up drawing the most first-place attention.
RB Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State
Hubbard's decision to return is almost equally surprising. Then again, this year's class is loaded at the position even with Etienne out of the mix, with Dobbins, Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor and others topping the rankings. Returning for his junior campaign might only help Hubbard's draft stock. It's certainly going to help Oklahoma State justify some early Top 25 consideration; the Cowboys' offense will be loaded at the skill positions.
QB Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma
There's nothing to go on in terms of experience, even if Rattler did replace Hurts in the fourth quarter of the Sooners' blowout loss to LSU in the Peach Bowl. This is more about his potential, which has been obvious for years, and coach Lincoln Riley's recent track record of development at the position. Expect Oklahoma's offense to regain the throwing success it had under Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray.