Heisman Trophy watch 2021: Top 5 contenders going into Week 6

Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) walks onto the field before the NCAA football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind.Cincinnati Bearcats At Notre Dame Fighting Irish 208 /

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Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch /

Heisman Trophy Candidate No. 4: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

Being the quarterback of the Ohio State football team has a lot of pressure that comes with it and you could see that with the reaction to C.J. Stroud’s start to the season.

The talented former top-50 recruit threw an interception in each of his first three starts and then missed a game due to injury. But he was simply spectacular last weekend against Rutgers in his return, throwing for 339 yards and five touchdowns.

I’ve been higher on his Heisman prospects than most and that’s because you can still see Ohio State tearing through the Big Ten with him leading the way. He’s averaging more than 300 yards per game and has 1,293 total as well as 13 touchdowns.

The game against Oregon hurt and so have his interceptions. But if he can put up gaudy numbers and lead Ohio State to a Big Ten championship, he’s going to have a good shot to at least be a finalist.

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