The 2022 Heisman Trophy race is still very early and so far, the quarterbacks are standing out such as last year’s winner Bryce Young. Plus a new name has emerged.
So far, the Heisman Trophy race hasn’t generated much excitement. Bryce Young wasn’t great last week in the win over Texas but he was great when he had to be.
Part of this is because college football tends to start the season sort off slow. There are some important games but most teams tend to cupcake their way through the first few weeks of the season and that tends to impact the Heisman Trophy race.
It’s hard to build really good stats if you only play three quarters of a college football game and that’s one reason why you can’t just judge players by stats.
Once again, we don’t have any non-quarterbacks on the list but Will Anderson is still a name to watch. He made a big play late against Texas but his sack numbers need to be jaw-dropping.
Deuce Vaughn has 271 rushing yards through two games and Kansas State could have a chance to be pretty good. He’ll need to shine in the biggest games of the season and the electrifying back is going to have to put up some eye-popping numbers too, just like Anderson.
While we usually rank the top five Heisman Trophy contenders, this week, we are going to include six names and yes, one of them is Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy.
T5: J.J. McCarthy (QB, Michigan), Hendon Hooker (QB, Tennessee)
It’s hard to ignore what Hooker did over the weekend as he threw for more than 300 yards and two touchdowns against Pittsburgh. It was a notable performance and could be the start of something bigger.
However, the Vols have a really tough schedule and will need to keep winning in order to keep their chances afloat.
That’s where McCarthy comes in. FanDuel has already moved McCarthy up to fourth overall in terms of 2022 Heisman Trophy favorites, but that seems a little premature.
Yet, McCarthy has completed 15-of-16 passes for 259 yards and three touchdowns in two games, while also adding 66 on the ground. Now that he’s the full-time starter, he should start to put up big numbers and if the first two games are any indication, the Michigan offense will be much more explosive.
Still, this is a projection and it also shows that this year’s Heisman Trophy field, seems to lack contenders. Bryce Young took control of the 2021 race in his first start and never looked back, so don’t act like McCarthy who just made his first career start, doesn’t have any chance at all.
I still like some others above him though.
No. 4: Stetson Bennet, QB, Georgia
For the second straight week, Bennet passed for over 300 yards and didn’t throw an interception. It’s true that Georgia played Samford, but prior to that, Bennett dominated Oregon and is averaging over 330 yards per game. His QBR is ranked eighth according to ESPN.
Bennett is playing for what could be the best team in college football and he’ll have another chance to impress voters on Saturday against South Carolina.
It’s not necessarily a marquee game but it’s not an FCS opponent either and if Bennett has another 300-yard outing, college football fans really need to start taking him seriously.
3. Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Caleb Williams was spectacular on Saturday and threw for 341 yards and four touchdowns in a two-touchdown win over Stanford. It was the first big test of the season for the Trojans and they passed with flying colors.
Williams has the second-highest QBR in college football (J.J. McCarthy is the only one higher) and he’s got six touchdowns. He’s completing 79 percent of his throws.
Fresno State awaits and it will likely be another big day for the leader of one of the most explosive offenses in college football.
2. C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Stroud had a strong outing last week against Arkansas State and threw for 351 yards, as well as four touchdowns. He’s got six touchdown passes so far and is averaging 9.9 yards per attempt.
The win over Notre Dame lost a little luster last week when the Irish were upset by Notre Dame but with Penn State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Michigan all on the schedule too, a lack of marquee games won’t be an issue.
Stroud just needs to put up big numbers and beat Michigan. If that happens and the Buckeyes don’t have any other slip-ups and win the Big Ten, he’s going to have a great shot.
1. Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Bryce Young is holding onto this spot now but his play has been anything but spectacular so far in 2022. Young is averaging 6.6 yards per attempt and has a total of 408 yards. Young did throw five touchdowns (and had six total vs Utah State), plus made key plays down the stretch against Texas.
His touchdown pass got Texas in the lead late and needing two points to win the game, Young drove Alabama down the field and had a nice run to top it all off.
So far, Young has done enough to remain the favorite, because, through two weeks, no one is the clear leader as Young was out of the gates a year ago.