Heisman Trophy 2018: Way-too-early ranking of top 5 contenders
By Dana Becker
In two seasons in Eugene with Oregon, Justin Herbert has played in 15 total games, completing almost 65 percent of his passes with 32 touchdowns and throwing for nearly 3,700 yards.
Herbert was injured this year, which caused the Ducks to suffer. But the sophomore made a triumphant return from his collarbone injury and should bring Oregon back to the Heisman ceremony next year.
After completing 162 of 255 passes for 1,936 yards with 19 touchdowns and just four interceptions last year, Herbert connected on 113-of-170 for 1,750 yards and 13 touchdowns with just three picks. He amassed a quarterback rating of 174.6 and will be the featured piece next year under new head coach Mario Cristobal and with Royce Freeman having exhausted his eligibility.
Herbert isn’t the running threat of a Lamar Jackson or others, but he did after almost five yards per carry on 35 attempts, scoring five touchdowns this past fall.