Three weeks into a college football season is still early, but we are starting to see some schools separate from others in terms of pushing toward the College Football Playoff.
Also, certain players are beginning to stand out more for Heisman consideration.
Quite a few preseason candidates were chosen in the preseason as hopefuls for the coveted bronze award; however, these few weeks have provided analysts, fans and potential voters a guide into whose campaign is legitimate moving forward.
Listed below are the top five frontrunners for this year’s Heisman Trophy, per Touchdown Alabama Magazine.
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
Tagovailoa has a pair of 300-yard plus performances threw the air in three matchups against Duke and South Carolina. He’s twice been named Offensive Player of the Week from the Southeastern Conference and set career marks in passing yards and touchdowns versus the Gamecocks on last week. The junior became the first quarterback at the University of Alabama to have 400+ yards passing and five scores in the same game.
He connected on 28 of 36 attempts for 444 yards with five touchdowns in a 47-23 win.
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Tagovailoa has completed 70 of 91 passes – 76.9 percent – through three weeks for 1,009 yards and has 13 total scores (one rushing) with no turnovers. He is averaging 335.7 passing yards per contest and boasts a passer rating of 213.4. The native Hawaiian has roughly five receivers (Najee Harris, 99 yards) that have over 100 yards through three weeks of the campaign.
Behind Tagovailoa, Alabama is scoring 50.3 points/game
Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma
His father, Averion Hurts Sr., said Lincoln Riley has ‘unleashed him’ at Oklahoma, and these words are accurate. After three years in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Jalen Hurts has taken the Big 12 and college football by storm as the signal caller for the Oklahoma Sooners.
Riley has recently crowned two Heisman winners and No. 1 overall picks in Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray.
The same fate awaits Hurts, or at least the Heisman part of it, should he continue the projection he is on.
He has completed 49 of 61 passes – 80.3 percent – for 880 passing yards with nine touchdowns to no interceptions. Hurts is averaging 293.3 passing yards per game and carries a passer rating of 250.2.
While Tagovailoa is more of a precision passer, Hurts is being a dual threat quarterback with 373 yards rushing and four scores on 38 carries (124.3 yards a game).
Hurts is pushing an offense that’s totaling 55.7 points/game.
Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
Burrow serves as the surprise of the group, seeing how Louisiana State University has struggled with having elite play at the quarterback position.
Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks’ coach, Steve Ensminger has done an exceptional job of molding a scheme to fit Burrow.
The graduate transfer from Ohio State chimes in with 75 of 90 passes completed (83.3%) for 1,122 passing yards with 11 touchdowns to two interceptions.
He is responsible for 374 passing yards per game and a passer rating of 223.9.
Burrow has the Tigers scoring 55 points/game.
Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
They are happy with Jake Fromm; however, moments do creep into the minds of Georgia fans on what could have been if the program still had Justin Fields. Unfortunately, it cannot cry over spilled milk because he is at Ohio State University and dominated the Big Ten competition.
Fields is completing 70.3% of his throws (52-of-74 attempts) for 657 passing yards with nine scoring tosses to no interceptions. He is averaging 219 passing yards a game, while toting a passer rating of 185.
As a runner, the former five-star had four rushing scores.
Fields has the Buckeyes averaging 46 points/game.
Sam Ehlinger, QB, Texas
Many people look at him as a running quarterback, but Sam Ehlinger is quickly changing the tune and becoming one of the sport’s better passers. He, like Tagovailoa, has roughly five receivers that have 100+ yards (Keaontay Ingram, 94 yards receiving) through three weeks.
Ehlinger has completed 82 of 112 passes (73.2%) for 956 passing yards with 11 touchdowns to no interceptions.
He is averaging 318.7 passing yards a game and has a passer rating of 117.3.
The Red River Rivalry matchup, featuring he and Jalen Hurts, will be intriguing.
Ehlinger has Texas churning out 43.7 points/game.
Players still in the hunt
Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State
Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
Guys with statement games this week
Sam Ehlinger (Texas vs. Oklahoma State)
Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin vs. Michigan)
Jake Fromm (Georgia vs. Notre Dame)
Justin Herbert (Oregon vs. Stanford)
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
