Photo by the Heisman Trust
Heisman Watch
Ashton Jeanty, Cam Ward, and Travis Hunter are easily the top three in the hunt for the Heisman!
Standouts of the Week
Travis Hunter
Hunter showed back up after a couple of off weeks due to injury, and he showed up with force! He had nine catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns in Colorado’s win over Cincinnati. He also had two tackles and four passes defended on defense. Hunter is a force for the Buffs on either side of the ball.
Marcel Reed
Reed was the perfect example of a quarterback coming off your bench and giving your team a spark. If your favorite team ever puts in the back up quarterback hoping for a spark, this is the perfect example of what a coach is looking for. Reed came in and only completed two passes and rushed the ball only nine times. But he had 70 yards passing, 63 yards rushing, and three rushing touchdowns in Texas A&M’s win over rival LSU. The Aggies are now in sole possession of first place in the SEC because Mike Elko made the call to put Marcel Reed in and Reed was explosive for them!
Jarquez Hunter
Kentucky got out to a 10-0 lead on Auburn and then Travis Hunter put the entire Tigers program on his back and said; ‘let’s go to work.’ And he worked on that Kentucky defense. UK’s defense’s are usually pretty stout, so when a running back puts up 23 carries for 278 yards and two touchdowns it’s a big deal. Hunter may have had a career game for Auburn but it as worth giving a shoutout to!
Heisman Leaders
1. Ashton Jeanty, Boise State, Running Back, Junior
You don’t usually say this about a running back, but Jeanty was clutch for Boise State in the win over UNLV. Late in the game, Jeanty was being held to about four yards a carry but it was fourth and goal for Boise State and they were down 23-24. They handed it to Jeanty and he got into the endzone. The Broncos then had a 29-24 lead. With 8:07 to go in the fourth, they got the ball back after forcing a Rebels punt and behind the running of Jeanty the Broncos ran out the clock and won the game 29-24. Jeanty had 33 carries for 128 yards and the game winning touchdown. On the season he has 158 carries for 1,376 yards and 19 touchdowns.
2. Cameron Ward, Miami, Quarterback, Senior
Ward had a quiet game but still provided a highlight. He was 22 of 35 for 208 yards and no passing or rushing touchdowns but he caught a touchdown pass! This season he is 191 for 281 for 2,746 yards and 28 total touchdowns.
3. Travis Hunter, Colorado, Wide Receiver/ Cornerback, Junior
Hunter’s stats are eye-popping to say the least for a two-way player. He has 60 catches for 757 yards and eight touchdowns as a wide receiver. He has 20 tackles, seven passes defended, one forced fumble (that won a game in overtime) and two interceptions as a defensive back. If Colorado keeps winning and he keeps performing steadily, he’ll be a Heisman Finalist in New York in December.
4. Bryson Daily, Army, Quarterback, Senior
Daily and his Army Black Knights had the week off. His incredible stats remain 138 carries for 909 yards to go with those 19 touchdowns. He also is 27 of 47 for 629 yards and seven passing touchdowns.
5. Kaleb Johnson, Iowa, Running Back, Junior
Johnson had 14 carries for 109 yards and three touchdowns in Iowa’s 40-14 victory over Northwestern. On the year he has 146 carries for 1,144 yards and 17 total touchdowns.
In the Race
Dillon Gabriel, Jeremiah Smith, Shedeur Sanders, and Dylan Sampson are still hanging in there but will have a tough time being finalists without major explosive performances and or stumbles by the guys ahead of them. Thanks for reading! Follow me on X!
