Quarterback, that is. Remember before the season began when everybody assumed the college quarterback landscape was weak and that any of the talented running backs would be a shoe-in for the coveted trophy. Well, everybody was wrong.
We’ve hit the halfway point of the 2018-19 season and five quarterbacks lead the charge in the hunt for the Heisman. It’ll come down to one thing: who wants to be in those Nissan Heisman House commercials the most…
Okay, maybe not the only thing, but I guarantee that plays a role.
Anyways, it looks like we’ll be going another year without a defensive player taking home the honors, which hasn’t been done since Charles Woodson beat out Peyton Manning and Randy Moss in 1997.
But as we look ahead to the announcement just a couple of months away now, where do our top five quarterback candidates stand in the rankings?
#5 – Trace McSorley, Penn State Nittany Lions
If anybody is at risk for losing their standing in the top five to a non-QB, it’s McSorley. Penn State has gotten this far with a 4-1 (B1G: 1-1) record, but a weird dynamic between McSorley’s ability and James Franklin’s play-calling leaves a lot to be desired. He has Baker Mayfield potential, but without tapping into that, he’ll have a tough road ahead attempting to overcome the competition ahead of him.
STATS: 1,049 yards, 73/138 (52.9%) CMP/ATT, 10 TD, 2 INT, 137.8 RAT
#4 – Will Grier, West Virginia Mountaineers
If you woke up before noon to see West Virginia host Kansas on Saturday: 1. God bless you; 2. you saw Will Grier’s red-zone deficiencies firsthand. Three interceptions that weren’t necessarily close to being on target, two of them to the back up safety. Not his best game, but don’t let that fool you. He still made plenty of nice throws in the second half and led his team to a victory. With West Virginia still undefeated, he’s in a prime position to move up the leaderboard in coming weeks with his team’s help.
STATS: 1,819 yards, 126/177 (71.2%) CMP/ATT, 21 TD, 6 INT, 189.9 RAT
#3 – Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State Buckeyes
My goodness, this kid is fun to watch. He has been a video game cheat code all season long, and only isn’t ranked higher because so are the other two guys ahead of him. There was doubt at one point, whether or not he’d be the starter or if Tate Martell would get the call for the Buckeyes. Well, Haskins has silenced any critics and doubters of his with his big play ability, mental leadership and strong arm. With Ohio State rolling, it’s impossible to question whether or not he’ll be in the conversation for #1 at some point this season.
STATS: 1,919 yards, 142/198 (71.7%) CMP/ATT, 25 TD, 4 INT, 190.8 RAT
#2 – Kyler Murray, Oklahoma Sooners
Even though his team suffered their first loss of the 2018 campaign this past weekend at the hands of Texas, Murray’s status as one of the most explosive players in college football remains unchanged. The Oakland Athletics prospect has a lot going for him in his first season as starter with the Sooners, and with the need for big victories to get the Sooners to the Big 12 Championship and possibly further, Murray is going to need to keep on shining like he has all season long. Look out if you’re on the other side of the line of scrimmage with Kyler Murray under center.
STATS: 1,764 yards, 96/135 (71.1%) CMP/ATT, 21 TD, 3 INT, 227.8 RAT
#1 – Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama Crimson Tide
At this point, with the season he’s had, it’s widely believed that the Heisman in 2018 is Tua’s to lose. His play has been so incredible and off-the-charts, he hasn’t thrown a ball anywhere but the sidelines in the fourth quarter. His numbers are LOW because of that success. Quarterback controversy in Tuscaloosa was solved immediately. Jalen Hurts has been placed on the back burner for the Crimson Tide, and for good reason. Alabama and the offense has been nothing short of overpowering and borderline unfair. It’s almost a run away at this point.
STATS: 1,495 yards, 76/101 (75.2%) CMP/ATT, 18 TD, 0 INT, 258.4 RAT