Next year’s Heisman now: Who could take home CFB’s leading

• Mark Schlabach, ESPN

  • Senior WriterDec 9, 2023, 09:00 PM ET Close Senior college football
  • writer Author of 7 books on college football
  • Graduate of the University of Georgia

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels recorded the 89th Heisman Trophy in New York on Saturday night, appearing on 90% of the ballots.With Daniels and fellow finalists Marvin Harrison Jr. of Ohio State, Bo Nix of Oregon and Michael Penix Jr. of Washington anticipated to move on to the NFL after this season, who are the top competitors in 2024?

Will it be a returning quarterback such as Alabama’s Jalen Milroe or Texas’ Quinn Ewers? Or a sleeper who comes out of nowhere? Or a transfer playing at a new school?Here are the leading Heisman Trophy contenders for 2024:

Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama

Benched after a home loss to Texas in Week 2, Milroe gained back the starting task and led the Crimson Tide to another SEC championship and CFP look. He has a rare mix of size (6-foot-2, 220 pounds), speed and arm strength, and he became a more reliable pocket passer throughout the 2024 season. Milroe must grow much more in offensive planner Tommy Rees’ offense in Year 2.

The Cowboys’offense didn’t ride on Gordon’s shoulders up until the 4th game, and the sophomore had 6 straight games with 100 hurrying lawns or more once it did. In back-to-back success over Cincinnati and West Virginia, Gordon had 271 and 282 backyards, respectively. He led the FBS with 1,614 rushing lawns and was No. 2 with 20 rushing touchdowns throughout the regular season.

Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas Ewers wound up being the quarterback who lastly brought Texas back to the sport’s upper echelon. The Longhorns might be right back in the mix if he returns, as anticipated, in 2024. This past season, Ewers tossed for 3,161 backyards with 21 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, while finishing 70.7% of his passes in 11 games. In a 49-21 success against Oklahoma State in the Huge 12 championship game, Ewers threw for 452 yards with 4 scores. Texas tailback Jonathan Brooks (1,139 lawns with 10 goals) is another possible contender if he returns healthy from a torn ACL and doesn’t go into the NFL draft.

Dustin Bradford/Getty Images Sanders is considered a prospective first-round pick in the NFL draft, so it’s uncertain whether he’ll return to play for his dad, Deion, for another season. Sanders revealed a lot of guts playing behind a terrible offensive line this past season, tossing for 3,230 backyards with 27 goals and 3 interceptions. If he returns to school– and the Buffaloes can cobble together some defense– he may contend for the Heisman Prize and be the No. 1 choice in the 2025 NFL draft.

Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Beck had the unenviable job of changing Stetson Bennett, who led the Bulldogs to back-to-back national championships in 2021 and ’22. He succeeded in his very first season as a starter, completing 72.4% of his passes for 3,738 lawns with 22 goals and 6 interceptions. Georgia went 12-1 and came within one success over Alabama in returning to the CFP. The Bulldogs will most likely lose star tight end Brock Bowers and receivers Ladd McConkey and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, however there are other gifted players returning.

The previous USC quarterback has actually revived his career in coach Lane Kiffin’s offense, leading the Rebels to a 10-2 record and a berth in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. He tossed for 2,985 backyards with 20 touchdown passes and 5 interceptions this past season. He made far better choices after throwing 11 picks in 2022. Dart also ran for 377 yards with seven scores. Tailback Quinshon Judkins (1,052 backyards with 15 touchdowns in 2023) is another legitimate candidate for the Rebels.

The Tar Heels were supposed to live and die with quarterback Drake Maye’s arm, however it was Hampton who brought the offense throughout the regular season. He led the ACC and was fifth in the FBS with 1,442 rushing yards with 15 goals. The sophomore had 7 games with 100 yards or more, including 234 on 26 attempts in a 40-34 victory in two overtimes against Appalachian State.

Another Colorado player who caught the sport’s attention early in the 2023 season, Hunter won the Paul Hornung Award as the most versatile player in the FBS. On offense, he had 57 catches for 721 backyards and 5 goals. On defense, Hunter had 30 tackles, 3 interceptions and 5 pass separations. Hunter missed 3 games since of injuries however still logged 1,032 snaps, one of the most of any player in the FBS.

Brian Bahr/Getty Images The one-time UCF starter suddenly got in the transfer website after throwing for 3,660 lawns with 30 touchdown passes and 6 interceptions at Oklahoma this previous season. Oregon and USC were potential landing areas, and Gabriel announced Saturday he’s headed to Oregon. He must grow in their offense as a replacement for Bo Nix, a Heisman Prize finalist this year.Ward is likewise searching for a brand-new home after he tossed for 3,736 backyards with 25 touchdown passes and seven interceptions at Washington State this previous season. He began his career at Division II program Incarnate Word and was one of the leading dual-threat quarterbacks in the Pac-12 the previous two seasons, throwing for more than 6,400 lawns with 43 passing touchdowns and 11 hurrying. Ohio State, Florida State and other leading programs might be interested. The leading receiver and No. 5 prospect in the 2022 ESPN 300, Burden has more than lived up to his lofty recruiting ranking at Missouri. As a sophomore, he was 10th in the FBS in both getting lawns (1,197)and receptions( 83 )in his first season playing slot receiver. Burden had 6 games with more than 100 receiving lawns, including 158 on 9 catches in a 33-31 win versus Florida.Leonard is on the relocation after helping Duke return to respectability in the ACC. This past season, he tossed for 2,967 backyards with 20 touchdown passes, while running for 699 lawns and 13 ratings in 13 starts. Notre Dame might be his next location. Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire McCarthy could take his chances in the NFL draft, specifically if the Wolverines win a championship game. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh’s future at his alma mater is also dirty. McCarthy’s stats aren’t as ostentatious as those of a few of the other quarterbacks in wide-open offenses. He does an excellent task running Michigan’s offense and largely prevents mistakes. He threw for 2,630 yards with 19 goal passes and four interceptions throughout the routine season. There wasn’t a much better freshman quarterback

in the FBS than Fifita, who was connected for 3rd with a 73.6%conclusion portion with 2,515 yards and 23 goal passes. He is trying to end up being the first quarterback with a minimum of 100 attempts in Arizona history to complete more than 70 %of his passes in a season. In a 59-31 success over rival Arizona State, Fifita completed 30 of 41 attempts for 527 backyards with five touchdown passes. Opportunities are he’s only going to get better. Daniels’2023 project was derailed by back injuries. He was sidelined for much of

the season and last played Sept. 23. He was the Huge 12 preseason offensive player of the year after a standout season in 2022. If he’s healthy in 2024, Daniels might be right back in the hunt for the stiff-armed prize.