Alabama teammates Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith, Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, and Florida quarterback Kyle Trask were announced Thursday night as Heisman Trophy finalists.
Unlike 2019, when LSU quarterback Joe Burrow was the prohibitive favorite to win, voting figures would be much closer without a clear first rider leaving the field. The winner of the Heisman Trophy will be awarded on January 5 in a virtual ceremony that will begin on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET.
Choose from the Alabama finalists. Smith defended his case over the past month, stepping up with teammate Jaylen Waddle and showing off his ability to make explosive plays in space. Smith leads the country with 98 receptions and 1,511 receiving yards, while taking 17 touchdown passes.
Jones said this of his teammate: “He’s the most electric player in college football. He’s the one who means the most to us in Alabama football. You can watch the games and see that, what kind of person he is with. how he plays “.
He hopes to become the first non-quarterback to win the Heisman since Alabama runner-up Derrick Henry in 2015. The last receiver to win the Heisman was Michigan’s Desmond Howard in 1991.
Jones, red junior, started four games last season after Tua Tagovailoa was injured and had a dazzling performance in the Citrus Bowl against Michigan. But he had to beat five-star former Bryce Young to win the starting job this season.
And then he was out, showing his comfort to the system, effortlessly accumulating yards, touchdowns and points. Jones has the best skilled players in college football around him, and that includes Waddle, a hopeful Heisman until an ankle injury in late October forced him out for the season.
For the past four games of the year, Jones and Smith made it clear that they were among the best players in the country and put an exclamation point on that statement in a 52-46 victory over the Gators in the championship game. the SEC.
Jones threw 418 yards and five touchdowns, and Smith had 15 catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns. In all, Jones threw 3,739 yards and 32 touchdowns, with just four interceptions to lead No. 1 Alabama.
Only one school has had teammates finish 1-2 in the history of Heisman: 1945 Army (Dr. Blanchard won it and Glenn Davis finished second).
With teammate Najee Harris announcing Thursday that he finished No. 5 in the polls, Alabama is the first team with three players in the top five in Heisman’s vote since the Army in 1946.
Smith and Jones are also finalists for the Maxwell Award, given to the best player in the country.
So is Lawrence, 34-1 as a starter with the Tigers. He is only the second player in Clemson’s history to become a Heisman finalist, joining Deshaun Watson (2015 and 2016). While Lawrence’s stats aren’t as prolific as Jones ’, all Lawrence does is win. He also demonstrated the value he has for the Tigers in their 34-10 win over Notre Dame in the ACC championship game last weekend.
Lawrence missed the first showdown with the Irish when he recovered from the coronavirus. Clemson lost in overtime. In the rematch, Lawrence had 412 total offensive yards and scored three total touchdowns in a game that was never really close.
After the match, the Clemson coach, Dabo Swinney, started the lobby on behalf of his quarterback. “That’s what I would say, it would be a shame if the Heismans didn’t attribute their name to Trevor Lawrence,” Swinney said. “I know it’s become a statistical award, but if you look at college football and you don’t know he’s the best player in the country? I don’t know what you’re looking at.”
In nine games this season, Lawrence has thrown 2,753 yards with 22 touchdowns and four interceptions, adding 211 running yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.
Trask has put together one of the best seasons in Florida school history, and that’s saying something considering three Heisman winners played quarterback there. In 11 games, Trask set a school record of 43 touchdown passes, leading the nation by 11. Trask also leads the nation passing yards per game (375.0), setting a school record with 4,125 yards. by the way, including a school. records five 400-yard passing games.
Despite throwing 408 yards and three touchdowns against Alabama, Florida lost the game to go 8-3. Two straight losses to end the season, including one against LSU, could have had an impact on his chances of winning.
Players who finished in the top 10 in Heisman’s vote were also announced on Thursday. They are: Harris number 5; Num. 6 Iowa State, Breece Hall; Ohio State fourth quarterback Justin Fields; Zach Wilson, BYU No. 8 quarterback; Ian Book, Notre Dame quarterback, No. 9; Kyle Pitts, Florida No. 10.