Quarterbacks dominate preseason Heisman race
Two things have changed since Kyler Murray became the second Oklahoma quarterback in a row to claim the Heisman Trophy. The first: Murray is now a member of the Arizona Cardinals and not the Oakland Athletics, his projected post-college destination in December.
And the second: Trevor Lawrence and Clemson pummeled Tua Tagovailoa in January to change the preseason Heisman pecking order. While Tagovailoa was a no-brainer pick to lead the chase in December, Lawrence now sits in the driver’s seat.
Both quarterbacks have company. For the first time since Murray’s win in December and the last time until closer to the start of the regular season, here’s how the preseason Heisman race is shaking out across the Bowl Subdivision.
1. Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence: Lawrence leads after capping his unbelievable freshman season with 347 yards and three scores in the Tigers’ romp against the Crimson Tide in January. Three factors in Lawrence’s corner: Clemson’s going to be very good, he is perhaps the trendiest name in college football and he’s already been anointed one of the great quarterback prospects in recent history. Don’t underestimate how that perception can fuel the Heisman debate.
2. Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa: Not that Tagovailoa can be overlooked. Don’t forget how he was the Heisman front-runner for much of last fall only be leapfrogged by Murray in the final weeks of the regular season; one bad game, in the win against Georgia, dropped Tagovailoa down a peg. With great accuracy, good feet and a rare feel for the game — not to mention an absolutely elite receiver corps — Tagovailoa will be a constant in the Heisman race.
3. Texas QB Sam Ehlinger: Last fall saw Ehlinger join a select group of Power Five quarterbacks in throwing for 25 touchdowns and running for 15 in the
same season, though this notable marker was lost in the Big 12 behind Murray’s brilliance. Look for the numbers to take another step forward in 2019 as Texas takes aim at a conference title and spot in the College Football Playoff. If so, Ehlinger might be on his way to Manhattan as a finalist.
4. Georgia QB Jake Fromm: Fromm’s steady growth since taking over the starting job one month into his freshman season hasn’t gone unnoticed on a national level, even if Tagovailoa dominates headlines in the Southeastern Conference. As he enters his junior year, Fromm is as productive on a perpass basis as any starter in the country and very clearly an irreplaceable piece on a team destined to again butt heads
with Alabama to decide the Southeastern Conference and perhaps the national championship.
5. Nebraska QB Adrian Martinez: Martinez is a dark-horse candidate but far from a long shot, though a significant part of his candidacy depends on Nebraska bursting forward after a slog of a debut under Scott Frost. If the Cornhuskers can win the Big Ten West and if Martinez puts up program-record sort of numbers — the latter is the safer bet — he’ll be the sort of quarterback who develops Heisman momentum in the second half of the season.
6. Oregon QB Justin Herbert: Herbert is destined to contend for the top overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft and potentially push Oregon back into a New Year’s Six bowl. The notion that Herbert won’t get the attention he needs while playing in the Pac-12 isn’t rooted in reality: Stanford running backs Christian McCaffrey and Bryce Love finished second in the Heisman voting in 2015 and 2017, respectively, so Herbert won’t be overlooked simply because of late-night games on the East Coast.
7. Clemson RB Travis Etienne: Etienne could match last year’s gaudy totals (1,658 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns) and still find himself on the outskirts of the voting, thanks to Lawrence’s presence in the same backfield. If on the second tier of candidates, Etienne is still a strong contender to earn significant Heisman attention as Clemson marches toward another Atlantic Coast Conference title.
8. Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts: Hurts won’t approach the numbers put up by Murray and Baker Mayfield but should approach a similar impact, with his abilities as a runner papering over any shortcoming he has as a passer. It’s a great match: Lincoln Riley’s deft touch with quarterbacks combining with a seasoned quarterback with experience on the brightest stage the sport has to offer.
9. Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor: Taylor has name recognition, eye-popping numbers and the offensive scheme to maintain his record-setting level of production. That the Badgers are pegged to call on a true freshman at quarterback should allow defenses to key on Taylor — not anything new, to be honest — but will make the junior even more indispensable.
10. Ohio State QB Justin Fields: Fields has immense talent and the good fortune to find himself playing in one of college football’s friendliest offenses. His numbers from the Buckeyes’ spring game weren’t great but are far from a major concern, especially given the ample amount of time Fields has to develop a familiarity with Ryan Day’s system before the opener. The Buckeyes will be in the mix come November and December, which helps.