The Heisman Trophy is one of the strangest awards in the sports world. There’s no objective way to win…by default, people vote on the award. So, for the most part, it’s all about perception. Numbers don’t matter as much as winning and having those signature “Heisman” moments. We’re talking about the big time players from the big time teams in the big time conferences.
Which is unfortunate, in my opinion. I’m a strong proponent of everyone at least getting a shot, but that’s just not the way the world works. So, with that in mind, I’m taking a look at who’s who in the 2018 Heisman race so far based on who fits the seemingly arbitrary criteria laid forth by the Heisman Trust. But, if you think I’m wrong to do so, feel free to hit up the comments.
2018 Heisman Watch: Week 8
5. Drew Lock, Missouri QB – This last spot came down to Lock, Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins, and Washington State’s Gardner Minshew here. But, we learned something very valuable about Haskins this weekend: he is not good enough to overcome his team’s weaknesses. I felt like he put the team on his back and performed well enough to win the Penn State game for the Buckeyes. He put the team on his back against Purdue on Saturday, and didn’t mean shit. So, Lock it is! The Mizzou quarterback went 23/29 for 350 yards and four touchdowns with a whopping 98.4 QBR against the Memphis Tigers. Can you imagine what Mizzou would be like if they actually played defense?
4. David Blough, Purdue QB – If you could win the Heisman in a single game, then the game Blough played on Saturday night would be the one to do it. Sure, he went 25/48 for 378 and three touchdowns. But, the atmosphere has to be factored in as well. You have the #2 ranked team in the country, undefeated Ohio State, in your house, and you outright smash them. The Buckeyes never had a chance. So, the “Heisman stage” is there to go with the production.
3. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin RB – Taylor had 159 rushing yards on Saturday to make for his 7th straight 100-yard game. He’s now 2nd in the FBS in rushing with 1,109 yards on the season. People aren’t talking about him as much because the Badgers have struggled and he isn’t exactly lighting up the scoreboard, but he’s quietly having one of if not the best rushing performance of the season right now.
2. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama QB – 19/29 for 306 and four touchdowns against the rival Tennessee Volunteers. Tagovailoa continues to have ridiculously efficient games, doing more in less time than most quarterbacks who are playing four full quarters each week. His efficiency rating against the Vols was 199.7 with a QBR of 96.5. Tagovailoa is creeping in on Haskins’ FBS-leading 30 touchdowns passes as well with 25 of his own. The touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle was one of the best throws I’ve ever seen – thrown into double coverage, but where only his guy could get it, and thrown so precisely that Waddle didn’t lose any speed or momentum on the reception. Just an outright thing of beauty – if you don’t love watching this kid play, you don’t love football.
1. Kyler Murray, Oklahoma QB – No one is talking about Murray in the Heisman race outside of Norman, Oklahoma. But, if you look at his season compared to Tagovailoa’s, they are eerily similar. Against TCU, Murray went 19/24 for 213 and four touchdowns, with an additional 51 yards on the ground. He edged Tagovailoa out this week by a hair with a better efficiency rating (208.7) and QBR (96.6), plus a better quality of opponent (TCU > Tennessee). Like Tagovailoa, Murray has 25 touchdowns on the season, but the dude hasn’t had a QBR below 90 all season. He passes Will Grier as “the third guy” in the Heisman race this week.
UPDATED SOBROS HEISMAN WATCH POINTS STANDINGS
1. Tua Tagovailoa – 21
2. Dwayne Haskins – 20
3. Kyler Murray – 13
4. Will Grier – 12
5. Jonathan Taylor – 10
6. Travis Etienne, Benny Snell, Jr. – 8
8. Darrell Henderson – 7
9. Jordan Ta’amu – 5
10. Trayveon Williams – 4
11. Drew Lock, McKenzie Milton – 3
13. David Blough, Jerry Jeudy – 2
15. Kellen Mond, Laviska Shenault, Jr. – 1
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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