The Union Democrat

Florida QB Kyle Trask widens Heisman lead

- By MATT BAKER

If you believe the latest Heisman Trophy straw polls and betting lines, Florida Gators quarterbac­k Kyle Trask is becoming a clearer favorite for college football's most prestigiou­s award.

Here's an updated look at how Trask compares to the rest of the field:

Kyle Trask, Florida quarterbac­k (seven games)

Touchdown passes: 31 (first nationally) Intercepti­ons: 3 Completion percentage: 70.7 (T-sixth)

Yards per attempt: 10.4 (eighth) Passing efficiency: 197.09 (fifth) Rushing: 33 carries, 85 yards, 0 TDS

Total yards per game: 377.0

(third)

Of note: His 31 touchdown passes are tied for the secondmost ever through seven games, behind only B.J. Symons (who threw 32 for Texas Tech in 2003). Trask threw nine touchdowns and no intercepti­ons over the past two games without his top target, tight end Kyle Pitts.

Mac Jones, Alabama quarterbac­k (seven games)

Touchdown passes: 18 (T-10th) Intercepti­ons: 3 Completion percentage: 77.1 (second)

Yards per attempt: 12.1 (second)

Passing efficiency: 205.06 (third)

Rushing: 18 carries, minus-9 yards, 1 TD

Total yards per game: 345.3 (sixth)

Of note: Jones' completion percentage is more than two points better than Tua Tagovailoa's figure through seven games of his historic 2018 season (74.7).

Najee Harris, Alabama running back (seven games)

Touchdown rushes: 16 (first) Yards per rush: 5.8 (65th) Rushing yards per game: 113.9 (12th)

Of note: Take your pick between Harris and receiver Devonta Smith as the Crimson Tide's other top contender. We're spotlighti­ng Harris this week because his 16 touchdown rushes are the most ever at `Bama through seven games.

Justin Fields, Ohio State quarterbac­k (four games)

Touchdown passes: 13 (T-28th) Intercepti­ons: 3 Completion percentage: 79.6 (first)

Yards per attempt: 10.7 (sixth)

Passing efficiency: 202.10 (fourth)

Rushing: 42 carries, 135 yards, 3 TDS

Total yards per game: 335.8 (ninth)

Of note: He's coming off a mixed performanc­e in a win over Indiana (three total touchdowns and 78 rushing yards but three intercepti­ons).

Zach Wilson, BYU quarterbac­k (nine games)

Touchdown passes: 26 (Tsecond) Intercepti­ons: 2 Completion percentage: 74.3 (fourth)

Yards per attempt: 11.5 (third) Passing efficiency: 205.32 (second)

Rushing: 51 carries, 191 yards, 8 TDS

Total yards per game: 323.9 (11th)

Of note: After lighting up another bad opponent (North Alabama), he really needs some stiffer competitio­n. Maybe a game against Washington or Cincinnati will materializ­e?

Trevor Lawrence, Clemson quarterbac­k (six games)

Touchdown passes: 17 (T-12th) Intercepti­ons: 2 Completion percentage: 70.7 (T-sixth)

Yards per attempt: 9.6 (T14th)

Passing efficiency: 178.57 (11th)

Rushing: 29 carries, 71 yards, 4 TDS

Total yards per game: 317.3 (15th)

Of note: The presumptiv­e No. 1 overall pick didn't get a chance to pad his numbers against Florida State last weekend. Will he be rusty against Pitt in his first game in more than a month?

Zaven Collins, Tulsa linebacker (six games)

Tackles per game: 8 (T-85th) Tackles for loss per game: 1.75 (T-15th) Intercepti­ons: 4 (T-third) Of note: He has the Golden Hurricane in the top 25 and had game-winning intercepti­ons in back-to-back games, including last week's 96-yard walk-off pick-six that beat Tulane in double overtime. So yeah, he deserves considerat­ion.

 ?? Michael Reaves / Getty Images /TNS ?? In this file photo, Kyletrask (11) of the Florida Gators throws a pass against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half of the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in December 2019 in Miami, Florida.
Michael Reaves / Getty Images /TNS In this file photo, Kyletrask (11) of the Florida Gators throws a pass against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half of the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in December 2019 in Miami, Florida.

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