Welcome back NCAA football! That's right, the 2019 college football season officially kicked off yesterday with a marque matchup right out of the gates. The #6 Florida Gators played in-state rival Miami for the first time since 2013. And then last night Arizona took on Hawaii from the islands as the first of many games to come got the season started. Week 0 as it is being referred to (next weekend has a full slate of games starting on Thursday and going all the way through the holiday weekend ending with games on Monday night) is here, and with it, the perfect time to roll out the @sportsguychris 'Heisman Contenders' for the 2019 season.
At first glance, this year's Heisman race appears to be just a two-horse race between Vegas co-favorites QB Tua Tagovailoa of Alabama & QB Trevor Lawrence of Clemson. Both return after putting up very impressive numbers during successful 2018 campaigns. Both have talented receivers and backs at their disposals, and should have no problems putting up eye-popping numbers once again. They are not alone, however, as there are several other deserving candidates out there. In fact, there are so many legit contenders to start the season, I had to expand this list from 12 to 15.
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After scouring the country high & low and taking a look at all of the talent throughout the nation, I've compiled the ultimate 'Heisman contenders' preseason list. Per the norm, the list is overwhelmingly quarterback heavy, but there was still room for a pair of halfbacks & a pair of receivers to find themselves in the mix, and even one defensive player made the final 15. Charles Woodson remains the only primarily defensive player to ever win the Heisman Trophy (following the 1997 season), so chances are the trophy will once again go to a big arm, or talented back. Without further ado, here is the @sportsguychris preseason 'Heisman Contenders' ranked in order from 1-15. As the season goes along, this list will be cut down to 10 after all teams have played their opening games, and will be re-configured after each week of the season. Let's start right at the top:
(1) QB Tua Tagovailoa JR ALABAMA
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2018 Stats:
3,966 yards passing, 43TD, 6INT, 69.0% comp %, 199.4 rating
190 rush yards, 5TD
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After last year's brilliant campaign, Tagovailoa is the favorite atop the list. He has All-American wideout (and #1 2020 NFL prospect according to Mel Kiper) Jerry Jeudy back, a favorable schedule, and plenty of other weapons at his disposal. One amazing stat from last season, this kid didn't throw a single interception through the first FULL 8 games of the season a year ago. His first pick came in week 9, a 29-0 shutout at LSU. You have to like Tagovailoa's chances heading into 2019.
(2) QB Trevor Lawrence SO CLEMSON
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2018 Stats:
3,280 yards passing, 30TD, 4INT, 65.2% comp %, 157.6 rating
177 rush yards, 1TD
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Lawrence put together one of the most amazing seasons for a Freshman quarterback in NCAA football history. He capped it off with a 347 yard, 3TD dismantling of Alabama & their highly-touted defense in the National Championship game. The Tigers also return tons of offensive talent, especially at the skill positions, and have a favorable schedule as well. Watch out, Lawrence has the potential to have a really special sophomore campaign.
(3) HB Jonathan Taylor JR WISCONSIN
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2018 Stats:
2,194 yards rushing, 16TD, 7.1ypc
8 rec - 60 yards
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No player in NCAA football history has racked up more rushing yards through their first two seasons than Jonathan Taylor. A year after rushing for over 1,900 yards as a freshman, Taylor once again ran wild as a sophomore. The Badgers struggled to live up to expectations however, and Taylor's remarkable 2018 campaign was largely overlooked. What is tough to overlook are his massive 2-year rushing totals (over 4,000 yards) and if things click this year in Madison and the Badgers can return to 9-10 win territory, Taylor very well could run away with the Heisman.
(4) QB Justin Herbert SR OREGON
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2018 Stats:
3,151 yards passing, 29TD, 8INT, 59.4%, 144.6 rating
166 rush yards, 2TD
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Herbert decided to forgo the NFL draft and return for his Senior season, and has the Ducks poised for a potential Pac-12 championship. He is the most experienced player on this list, having already made 29 starts in his college career. The potential #1 pick in the 2020 draft, has talented players at the skills positions, and four O-lineman who will be 4-year starters protecting him. As one of only three seniors on this list, Herbert has the advantage of experience, coupled with lots of returning talent around him. The Ducks should have one of the best offenses in the entire country, meaning he could have a monster year ending with a Heisman Trophy.
(5) QB Sam Ehlinger JR TEXAS
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2018 Stats:
3,292 yards passing, 25TD, 5INT, 64.7% comp %, 146.8 rating
482 rush yards, 16TD; 5 rec - 51 yards
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Ehlinger's remarkable 2018 season was largely over-looked thanks to the incredible year turned in by Oklahoma's Kyler Murray. All Ehlinger did was account for 41 total TDs as a sophomore, and even added 5 receptions for 51 yards. "Texas is Back" has been ringing loudly in Austin all summer long, and it all centers around the outstanding play of Ehlinger. The Longhorns get both LSU & Oklahoma at home, and are poised to make a serious run at the Big XII Championship & possible CFP birth. If Ehlinger somehow builds off of his already uber-impressive numbers from last year, he could very easily take home plenty of hardware this postseason, starting with the Heisman.
(6) QB D'Eriq King SR HOUSTON
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2018 Stats:
2,982 yards passing, 36TD, 6INT, 63.5% comp %, 167.0 rating
674 rush yards, 14TD, 6.1ypc
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King tore his meniscus in late November and missed the Cougars final two games of 2018. Hard to believe that his 50 total TDs as Junior, were in only 11 games. Houston should be able to improve on a stellar 8-5 season a year ago, and with a healthy King in the mix, figure to compete for the American Athletic crown along with Central Florida. He has a chance to make a huge impression when the Cougars open the season at Oklahoma on September 1st. Upset the Sooners in Norman, and watch out, King could easily go from Heisman "sleeper" (although I disagree that he is a sleeper) to one of the front-runners. At any rate, if the senior can build off of last year's breakout campaign, the sky is the limit in 2019.
(7) QB Jacob Eason JR WASHINGTON
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2016 Stats (Freshman year at Georgia):
2,430 yards passing, 16TD, 8INT, 55.1% comp %, 120.2 rating
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The former Georgia Bulldog, is set to take over the reigns in the Pacific Northwest. While many might have forgotten just how highly-touted Eason was heading into 2016, he is poised to break back onto the scene in a big way in 2019. After sitting out last year, the local Washington product is back home and ready to sling it. The Huskies were very good the past couple of seasons with Jake Browning at the helm, but Eason figures to be an upgrade in every way. With a favorable schedule as well, and a bit of chip on his shoulder, the big-armed Junior has the skill to make a serious run at the Heisman.
(8) QB Justin Fields SO OHIO STATE
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2018 Stats (Freshman year at Georgia):
328 yards passing, 4TD, 0INT
266 rush yards, 4TD
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Another Georgia transfer finds himself on this list. Fields is a former top-5 recruit that decided to take his talents elsewhere after seeing only limited playing time as a freshman for the Bulldogs. With Jake Fromm returning again, and having played so well, Fields decided to transfer with the hopes of taking over an offense and seeing what he could do for a full season. The Buckeyes lost the nation's top passer from a year ago in Dwayne Haskins, and Fields became the perfect candidate to take over in year 1 of the Ryan Day era. The sophomore is athletic and owns a big arm, and of course will step into the same system that saw Haskins throw for over 4,700 yards last year. The potential is there for a Heisman-caliber season.
(9) QB Jake Fromm JR GEORGIA
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2018 Stats:
2,761 yards passing, 30TD, 6INT, 67.4% comp %, 171.3 rating
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Now we finally get to the guy who has been the reason for all of these highly-touted quarterback transfers out of Georgia the past couple of years. Fromm's play has continued to progress, and he had a massive 2018 campaign. The Bulldogs have a very lethal, balanced offense, that has them once-again poised to contend for a CFP birth. The Dawgs' do rely heavily on a superb run-game at times, which is why Fromm checks in closer to 10 on this list instead of the top 5. That being said, the junior has the experience, and the talent surrounding him on offense to turn-in a very special, Heisman-caliber season. Especially if the Bulldogs can finally overcome Alabama and win the SEC.
(10) HB Travis Etienne JR CLEMSON
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2018 Stats:
1,658 yards rushing, 24TD, 8.1ypc
12 rec - 78 yards, 2TD
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The second halfback on the list, Etienne was maybe the most undervalued back from a year ago. He was lost a bit in the hype surrounding freshman QB Trevor Lawrence, the talented & speedy WR corps, and a defensive front that featured 4 NFL draft picks. Don't be mistaken, however, Etienne was just as much a vital part of the Tigers' 2018 National Title as any other player. His 24 rushing TDs led the nation in 2018, and don't be surprised if he surpasses that total this year. Etienne's biggest competition could be teammate Trevor Lawrence. At any rate, both are deserving Heisman contenders heading into 2019.
(11) WR Rondale Moore SO PURDUE
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2018 Stats:
114 rec - 1,258 yards receiving, 12TD, 11.0ypc
213 rush yards, 2TD, 10.3ypc
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What a freshman year it was for Purdue's Rondale Moore. All he did was lead the nation in receptions with a whopping 114, went for over 1,200 receiving yards, and also made a mark as a dangerous option in the run game, producing over 200 rushing yards and a pair of scores on the ground. Moore was a first-down machine, and was a wizard in the quick, short-pass game, turning quick hitters into big chunk plays with ease. The sophomore wideout has all the talent to have one of the great receiving seasons in NCAA history, and has sparked the Boilermakers' resurgence. For the first time since the days of Drew Brees, Purdue has a legit Heisman hopeful. Enjoy watching this kid make mince meat out of opposing secondaries.
(12) QB Jalen Hurts SR OKLAHOMA
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2018 Stats:
765 yards passing, 8TD, 2INT, 72.9% comp %, 196.7 rating
167 rush yards, 2TD
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Former Alabama standout Hurts is set to take over Lincoln Riley's high-powered offense in Norman. With Oklahoma producing the last two Heisman winners in Baker Mayfield & Kyler Murray, respectively, Hurts figures to be in great position to contend for the award as well. Hurts was impressive for the Crimson Tide in his first two years as a starter before giving way to Tagovailoa last year. He handled himself well amid what could have been a dicey situation, and made the most of his opportunities. The last time he was the full-time starter for a whole season he threw for over 2,000 yards with 17TD and only 1 INT and added over 800 yards rushing and 8 scores in 2017. His 2016 freshman season produced 36 total TDs as well, so he has all of the talent required to win the award. Replacing 4 new starters along the O-line and learning a new system, while playing for a team that plays no defense has him a bit lower on this list, but make no mistake, Hurts very well could make it three Sooners in a row to take home the Heisman.
(13) QB Khalil Tate SR ARIZONA
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2018 Stats:
2.530 yards passing, 26TD, 8INT, 56.3%, 149.8 rating
224 rush yards, 2TD, 3.0ypc
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Tate burst onto the national landscape after running wild during his 2017 sophomore campaign. He rushed for over 1,400 yards, including gashing Colorado for a QB-record 327 yards on the ground. An ankle injury at the onset of the 2018 season derailed his junior year, and left him hobbled all season long, leading to rushing totals of only 224 yards and 3.0 yards per carry. His passing numbers took a big step forward, however, and now fully healthy, the Wildcats are anxious to see what Tate can do at 100%. The potential is there for Tate to emerge as a darkhorse candidate, but Arizona will have to improve on last year's 5-7 record.
(14) WR Jerry Jeudy JR ALABAMA
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2018 Stats:
68 rec - 1,315 yards receiving, 14TD, 19.3ypc
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Jeudy was one of the top receivers in the nation as a sophomore, and returns after delivering 14 touchdown receptions and averaging a whopping 19.3 yards per catch. His route-running, and vision are second-to-none, and the Junior finds himself as the #1 NFL prospect on several big boards heading into 2019. He has all of the makings to be the best receiver in the nation over 2019, and has the type of tools and ability to make a run at the Heisman. Receivers don't normally take home the trophy, but if that trend is to change in 2019, Jeudy very well could be the WR to do it.
(15) S Grant Delpit JR LSU
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2018 Stats:
74 total tackles, 9.5FL, 5.0sacks, 5INT, 9PD, 1FF, 1FR
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The lone defensive player on the list rounds out the preseason Heisman Contenders top 15. Delpit was an All-American in 2018, and was the only player in the entire country to produce at least 5 sacks and 5 INTs. He's a legit top-5 NFL talent, who can tackle, hit, cover receivers, and flat-out make plays. The Tigers are poised for a potential big season, and the play of Delpit in the backend of the defense will go a long way in determining just how far they can go in 2019. He is one of the few polished safeties that could step-in and impact an NFL team already. While a longshot, Delpit does possess the ability to turn in an all-time special season for a defender, and make a real run at the Heisman.
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HONORABLE MENTION:
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QB Kelvin Hopkins Jr. SR ARMY
QB Jordan Love JR UTAH STATE
QB Mason Fine SR NORTH TEXAS
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There you have it, the 2019 @sportsguychris ultimate Heisman Contenders list as the season officially kicks off. As always, I would lover to hear your thoughts in the comments sections below, who's your pick to take home the 2019 Heisman Trophy as the nation's top collegiate football player?
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