The Heisman Award is one of the most notable awards in all of sports, and with the college football season underway, many new candidates are competing for this award. As we take a look at this season’s Heisman Watch, we’ll look at the players who are stepping up and making big plays on the field.
So far, the Heisman favorite is Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer. Last season, he played at Washington State University, where he led the Cougars to an 8-5 record. This season, he decided to transfer to Oklahoma. Through 2 games, he’s thrown for 662 yards and 4 touchdowns. He beat #23-ranked Michigan and Illinois State so far. His impressive performance has caught the attention of people all over the country.
Next up is LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. In his second season as the starter for LSU, he is off to a very hot start. He beat the #12-ranked Clemson Tigers on the road and also beat Louisiana Tech 23-7. For the rest of the season, they are playing 6 more ranked teams, which will give the Tigers a good challenge. He has 469 passing yards and 2 passing touchdowns on the year.
Carson Beck is the next player on the list. This is his first season at the University of Miami, after transferring from Georgia last year. He led the Bulldogs to a playoff berth last season, where they ultimately lost to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. This season, he was able to get his rematch and beat the #8-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the rematch of “Catholics vs Convicts” with his new squad. Justifiably, he is receiving lots of hype and praise for his recent performances. Through his 2 games, he’s passed for 472 yards and 4 touchdowns, while also throwing no interceptions.
Next up, and also the first defensive player on the list, is Ohio State’s Caleb Downs. A defensive player being on the Heisman watch is usually uncommon, but he’s been getting it done on the field. He has recorded 7 total tackles and 1 interception throughout his 2 games. Although his stats aren’t very crazy, the amount of impact he has on the game is enough to put him on the Heisman radar.
The last player on the list is a sleeper pick. USF Bulls Quarterback, Byrum Brown, came into the season with no one talking about him, but now he is receiving lots of deserved hype for his recent performances. Last season, he was a starter for 5 games until suffering a leg injury against Tulane in September. This season so far, he’s led his unranked team to beat 2 ranked opponents, Boise State and Florida. His stats so far are 473 passing yards and 1 passing touchdown, while also having 109 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground.
All in all, this college football season has allowed lots of guys to step up and show that they have what it takes to win the award, but there are plenty of other guys who can show out and be on this list later in the season.
