Jalen Hurts Catapults To Top Of Heisman List

After impressive win against West Virginia, Hurts is the one to beat.

Sooner Sports

The Heisman Trophy has been awarded to the best college football player every year since 1935. The last two winners have gone to a quarterback at the University of Oklahoma. With the play of Jalen Hurts, could it be the first ever 3-peat?

As of October 21st, Jalen as catapulted back atop the Heisman list. The competition is fierce, as there are several other players who have a legitimate shot at winning. We rank them as to how the race would finish if it ended today.

OU Daily

1. Jalen Hurts (QB, OU)-- After going 16/17 passing and totaling 5 total touchdowns, Hurts’ performance against WVU was enough to send him back to the top. The numbers are staggering: 74.0% completion, 2074 yards passing, 20 TDs, 3 INTs, and a 226.1 RTG. As a dual threat option, Jalen has run for 705 yards and 10 more TD’s on the ground. Kyler Murray put up amazing numbers last season, and Hurts is on pace to surpass nearly every record that the Heisman winner broke last year. Hurts will face K-State on the road this week.

Star Tribune

2. Joe Burrow (QB, LSU)-- With the rebirth of the LSU offense, Joe Burrow has without a doubt put himself as a serious contender for the Heisman. In a game in which Burrow threw for 327 yards and 4 TDs against Miss St, the Tiger QB is continuing to prove he belongs near the top of this list. A completion percentage of 79.4%, 2484 yards and 29 TDs are showing that the hire of Joe Brady was the right move. Through seven games, Burrow has already surpassed many of his totals from last season. With games against Alabama, Auburn, and A&M left, there will be ample to for the QB to make or break his Heisman campaign.

USA Today

3. Justin Fields (QB, tOSU)-- As a first year starter, the young Buckeye QB has been stellar. Although the numbers aren’t as eye-popping as what Hurts and Burrow have put up, the Ohio State phenom hasn’t had to play as much. The thrashings that have been put on the opponents by Ohio State have caused them to go to backups early on. The numbers are still impressive: 70.7% completion, 22 TD’s and only 1 INT. Coming in third on this list is nothing to scoff at. Fields will have some chances to shine beginning this week against Wisconsin, who has one of the top ranked defenses in all of the country.

The Athletic

4. Tua Tagovailoa (QB, Alabama)-- Tua has been phenomenal. Leading the Crimson Tide to a perfect 7-0, albeit against an easy schedule to date, the numbers have been every bit of what is expected from the potential first-round pick. The biggest question is now the injured ankle of Tagovailoa, who injured it during the first half against Tennessee. No exact date has been given as to a return, but the expectation is that he will be back by LSU. Missing multiple weeks will hurt Tua in the Heisman race, hence the reason we have him sitting at number 4.

Journal Sentinel

5. Jonathan Taylor (RB, Wisconsin)-- As one of the top running backs in the country, it’s hard to leave Taylor off any type of Heisman list. The Wisconsin RB has been the focal point of the offense and has put up the stats to be considered Heisman worthy, accumulating 957 yards and 15 TD’s, both of which rank in the top three in the nation. The Badgers suffered their first loss of the season this last weekend in a road game at Illinois. With a big game this week against the Buckeyes, can Taylor climb into the top four with a big performance?

Honorable Mention: Justin Herbert (QB, Oregon), J.K. Dobbins (RB, tOSU), Chuba Hubbard

(RB, Oklahoma State), CeeDee Lamb (WR, OU).

- Austin Wood