Runner-up may be 2019 favorite
Murray edges Tagovailoa for 2018 Heisman
With winner Kyler Murray of Oklahoma headed to the Oakland Athletics at the conclusion of the season, early handicapping of the 2019 Heisman Trophy race will focus on the runner-up, Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa, who has at least one more season of eligibility before potentially entering the NFL draft.
Tagovailoa, a true sophomore, put together a flawless first season as the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback before an injury-marred stumble in the Southeastern Conference championship game win against Georgia.
With Murray’s win still fresh, here’s an early glance at next year’s Heisman hopefuls (presuming several underclassmen will declare for the NFL draft, such as Memphis running back Darrell Henderson and Oklahoma wide receiver Marquis Brown):
1. Tagovailoa
He’ll be in the driver’s seat throughout the offseason as the face of college football, though it remains to be seen if there will be an almost inevitable backlash to the attention heaved in Tagovailoa’s direction — for example, remember how Tim Tebow’s game was picked apart in his final two seasons at Florida. But Tagovailoa will also be even better as a junior, with more patience as a passer and an even greater sense of awareness in the pocket thanks to this year’s experience. It’s hard, if not impossible, to make a case for any other player in the country to top this early list.
2. Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins
A redshirt sophomore, Haskins might very well opt for the NFL rather than returning to Ohio State and new head coach Ryan Day. The benefits of returning to Columbus are simple: Haskins can add more experience to his resume and chair a team set to again contend for the national championship. If he does come back, Haskins will almost undoubtedly exceed even this year’s lofty passing totals and become the most prolific quarterback in program history, and that’s the stuff Heisman legacies are made of.
3. Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence
The potential is obvious. Lawrence threw for 24 touchdowns during the regular season after replacing incumbent starter Kelly Bryant in late September, showing off arm strength and intelligence that speak to his five-star billing yet belie his age and relative inexperience. It’s a safe bet to have him in the top three, but Lawrence could even give Tagovailoa an early challenge should he lead Clemson to another national title this season.
4. Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor
Taylor is steadily putting together the greatest career by a running back in Football Bowl Subdivision history. After running for a freshman-record 1,977 yards a year ago, Taylor enters the Bad- gers’ bowl game at 1,989 yards on a tidy 7.1 yards per carry. These numbers will at some point be impossible for voters to ignore, though Taylor does need to continue working on protecting the football. An issue this fall was Wisconsin’s inability to factor into the championship race.
5. Clemson RB Travis Etienne
One of the breakout stars of the 2018 season, Etienne’s 1,463 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns paved the way for Clemson’s latest berth in the College Football Playoff after an early quarterback change. The numbers are electric and so are the individual moments: Etienne has flashed a taste for the big play, as shown in his 8.3 yards-per-carry average and six games of 150 or more rushing yards.