Photo by the Heisman Trust
Heisman Watch
Colorado recreates history, Travis Hunter creates his own, and running backs and wide receivers make their push in the usually quarterback heavy Heisman race.
Standouts from Week 4
Cameron Ward
Ward was 24 of 34 for 404 yards and three touchdowns against the South Florida Bulls. South Florida gave the Hurricanes a game early, like they had Alabama earlier this season, but Ward was too much for them.
Blake Horvath
The Navy quarterback had a huge game in their win over Memphis. Horvath was a solid 9 of 12 in the air for 192 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He was even more explosive on the ground where he had 12 carries for 211 yards and four touchdowns, including a 90-yard touchdown run.
Travis Hunter
Hunter had seven catches for 130 yards as a receiver against Baylor. But his highlight came on defense, making a tackle that stopped a touchdown forced a fumble and won the game for Colorado in overtime.
Shedeur Sanders
Sanders followed in the footsteps of Kordell Stewart by throwing a jaw dropping Hail Mary as time expired for Colorado. 30 years after Stewart’s Hail Mary beat Michigan, Sanders’ took Baylor to overtime where Colorado prevailed 38-31. Sanders was 25 of 41 for 341 yards and 3 total touchdowns in the win.
Heisman Leaders
Travis Hunter, Colorado, Wide Receiver/ Cornerback, Junior
Through four games, Hunter has 37 catches for 472 yards and five touchdowns on offense. On defense he has 14 tackles, two pass deflections, one forced fumble, and one interception. If he maintains this level of all-American play on both sides of the ball, the Heisman is his, and rightly so.
Ashton Jeanty, Boise State, Running Back, Junior
Jeanty had a quiet night against Portland State with only 11 carries for 127 yards. Because of playing in the Mountain Pac-West 12, he can’t really afford to have any less than that in any game, and it doesn’t look like he will. He and Kaleb Johnson are battling for best running back in America and could battle each other for the Heisman as well. Ashton Jeanty has 56 carries for 586 yards and nine touchdowns through three games for Boise State this season.
Cam Ward, Miami, Quarterback, Senior
In a quarterback heavy award, Cam Ward is the leader. His only problem at the moment regarding the Heisman is that this is a great year for running back and wide receiver candidates. He is 89 of 123 for 1,439 yards and has 15 total touchdowns so far.
Jalen Milroe, Alabama, Quarterback, Redshirt Junior
Milroe is 35 of 52 for 590 yards and eight touchdowns passing. He has rushed for 156 yards and six touchdowns. He had the week off to prepare for Georgia. Milroe has the task of giving them their first regular season loss since 2020.
Kaleb Johnson, Iowa, Running Back, Junior
My fellow Butler County, Ohio native is having a fantastic season. He had 21 carries for 206 yards and three touchdowns in the Hawkeyes win over Minnesota. Through four games he has 82 carries for 685 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s a big reason why Iowa looks like they finally have a functioning offense.
In the Race
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State, Wide Receiver, Freshman
Smith had three catches for 70 yards and a touchdown against Marshall. The crazy thing about him is not many people outside of Ohio have taken notice, but if he catches fire like Marvin Harrison Jr. did in the past two seasons, Smith could be a frontrunner as a true freshman. On the season he has 14 catches for 281 yards and four touchdowns.
Quinn Ewers, Texas, Quarterback, Redshirt Junior
As I said last week, his chase for the Heisman can survive missing this game. After that the water starts to get a little murky. On the year, Ewers is 58 of 79 for 691 yards and eight touchdowns. You can’t blame him and Texas if they start Arch Manning against Mississippi State before their bye week, and before the Red River Shootout. Missing two games could hurt his Heisman candidacy but he’s still got plenty of time to climb back to the top of this race.
Nick Nash, San Jose State, Wide Receiver, Senior
Nash is another player from the same conference as Jeanty that’s making a name for himself. The former quarterback is leading the nation in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns through four games. He has 50 catches for 637 yards and eight touchdowns. He and Jeanty will need to meet in the conference championship game to contend for a trip to New York.
Other players still on the radar are Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, John Mateer of Washington State, Tetairoa McMillan of Arizona, Carson Beck of Georgia, Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, and Penn State’s Nicholas Singleton.
