Two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter is considered one of 4 Heisman Trophy finalists who have been revealed on Monday.
Boise State operating again Ashton Jeanty, Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel and Miami quarterback Cam Ward will be part of Hunter in New York on Saturday for the Heisman Trophy ceremony, the place the winner can be revealed.
Hunter, who performs broad receiver and cornerback for Colorado, has emerged late within the season as the favourite for the award. Jeanty has gained floor as his projected prime competitors as Jeanty challenged Barry Sanders’ single-season FBS speeding file.
Will Hunter or Jeanty break QB pattern?
Either would signify an unorthodox choice within the trendy faculty soccer panorama. Just as soon as within the final eight seasons and twice within the final 14 has a non-quarterback taken dwelling faculty soccer’s most prestigious particular person honor.
Alabama broad receiver DeVonta Smith was the final non-quarterback to win the award in 2020. Alabama operating again Derrick Henry was the final operating again to safe the Heisman Trophy in 2015. Either Gabriel or Ward must emerge as an upset winner to proceed the pattern of quarterbacks claiming the Heisman Trophy.
The case for every finalist
Hunter’s produced a season like few others, if any, that we have seen earlier than. As Colorado’s prime offensive weapon, Hunter leads the Big 12 in receptions with 92 for 1,152 yards and a league-best 14 touchdowns. As a cornerback, he is one of many nation’s greatest who’s accounted for 4 interceptions, one compelled fumble, 32 tackles and a Big 12-best 11 passes defended.
He’s a projected prime 3 NFL Draft choose for his anticipated potential to play both place — however not going each — on the subsequent stage.
Jeanty has emerged within the Heisman Trophy dialog because of a monster season that is helped propel Boise State to the No. 3 seed in College Football Playoff. The two-time Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, Jeanty leads the FBS in each speeding yards (2,497 on 7.3 yards per carry) and speeding touchdowns (29). For comparability, North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton is a distant second in speeding yards with 1,660.
With at the very least yet one more sport to play, Jeanty has Sanders’ all-time file (Oklahoma State, 1988) for speeding yards (2,628) in his sights.
In his first season at Oregon since transferring from Oklahoma, Gabriel has led the Ducks into the CFP because the No. 1 seed and the nation’s solely undefeated group (13-0). He has accomplished 73.2% of his passes for 3,558 yards with 28 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He’s added 192 yards and 7 touchdowns on the bottom.
Gabriel has quarterbacked the Ducks to wins over then-No. 2 Ohio State and over No. 3 Penn State in Saturday’s Big Ten championship sport.
Ward was among the many early Heisman Trophy favorites, however fell off within the eyes of analysts in latest weeks alongside Miami’s fortunes. The Hurricanes misplaced two of their final three video games to Georgia Tech and Syracuse to fall out of the CFP image.
Regardless, Ward posted a stellar season, finishing 67.4% of his passes for 4,123 yards, an ACC-best 36 touchdowns and 7 interceptions for a Miami group that completed 10-2 and is ranked No. 15 within the nation heading into its Pop-Tarts Bowl matchup towards Iowa State.
