Haynes King Listed as A Long-Shot In Initial 2024 Heisman Trophy Odds Release

King is going to be one of the top quarterbacks in the ACC this season

Is it too early to be talking about the 2024 Heisman Trophy? Considering spring practive has not started for Georgia Tech, I would say probably, but that is not going to stop me. 

Circa Sports released a comprehensive list of 2024 Heisman Trophy Odds and if you look far enough down the list, you will find Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King. King was one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC last season and he is going to be leading the offense for the Yellow Jackets again this upcoming season. Georgia Tech is bringing back the majority of its starters on offense this season and could be even better than they were last year. 

Despite all of this, Circa listed King at +50000 to win the 2024 Heisman Trphy today. 

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2024 Heisman Trophy

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— Circa Sports (@CircaSports) February 29, 2024

I think there are two ways to look at these odds. While I don't think King will win the trophy, I think those are long enough odds where you should at least think about him as a darkhorse. King has shown he can put up stats as a dual-threat quarterback and if Georgia Tech is in contention in the ACC, it is likely because King is having a monster season. 

What would it take for King to actually be in contention and even win it?

I think it would take Georgia Tech being a contender in the ACC, King having even better stats than he did last year, and him cutting down on the turnovers. He is playing in enough big-time games where he could get the nation's attention as well. Georgia Tech opens the season against defending ACC champion Florida State while also playing Louisville, Notre Dame, Miami, and Georgia. If King finds a way to put up big numbers and win those games while also having the Yellow Jackets in contention for the ACC, he should he seen as a contender. 

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King is one of only two players in the nation with at least 2,700 passing yards, 600 rushing yards, 25 touchdown passes, and five touchdown runs this season (joining LSU’s Jayden Daniels), and one of only six ACC players to achieve those numbers in a regular season since 2000. He led the ACC in touchdown passes and was fourth in passing yards.

According to PFF (Pro Football Focus), King will be the fourth-highest-graded returning quarterback in the ACC, behind SMU's Preston Stone (91.3 Overall Grade), Florida State's DJ Uiagalelei (82.0), and Miami's Cam Ward (80.7). 

Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King / Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

There is one big area that King needs to improve upon in 2024 and that is decision making and cutting down turnovers. King led the ACC with 16 interceptions last season and he needs to cut that number in half. A lot of his turnovers came in a handful of games. King threw 11 interceptions in four games (Bowling Green, Miami, Clemson, and Boston College) and Georgia Tech was 1-3 in those games. If he cuts down on the turnovers and makes better decisions, King should have another special season.

When talking about the biggest takeaways for the ACC from the opening days of the transfer portal being open, ESPN analyst David Hale (who does a great job of covering the ACC) suggested that Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King might be the biggest name returning at the position for the conference next season:

"The ACC's QB pecking order is going to look a lot different in 2024. Not only is the league losing Jordan Travis and, almost certainly, Drake Maye -- the top two QBs in 2023 -- but with the departure of Riley Leonard and Tyler Van Dyke, the biggest name returning for next year might be Georgia Tech's Haynes King. UNC already made its move to replace Maye, adding former Texas A&M and LSU starter Max Johnson.

Florida State and Louisville would be inviting landing spots for a QB, though both programs also have younger players they'd like to see develop. NC State, too, showed flashes of its offensive potential in the latter stages of the season, and after the departure of MJ Morris, the Wolfpack will be in the market, too. Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Boston College and Clemson figure to be the only schools who aren't in search of a new starter, and they might even be in the market for another veteran to provide insurance for their younger QBs."

Now, that was before FSU got Uiagalelei and Miami got Ward to turn down the NFL and come to Miami, but I think King, Ward, and Uiagalelei are the clear top three quarterbacks in the ACC going into the 2024 season. There are going to be high expectations on King for this upcoming season. 

Do I think King will win the award? No, I don't. At +50000 odds though, there is some value that is worth looking at however.