While I do think we have a pretty clear race for the Heisman with Ohio State’s CJ Stroud and Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker, it feels like it’s anybody’s ball game after those two. And, the way LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels has come on in recent weeks, I don’t think it’s a stretch at all to say that he can get into this race by season’s end. For one, he gets a night game hosting Alabama on 11/5, and we saw how Hooker was able to parlay such an opportunity into Heisman candidacy. For another, the dude’s just been downright prolific in a Tigers offense that seems like it’s beginning to find its footing under Brian Kelly.
They’ve scored 45 points in back to back weeks in big wins over Florida and ranked Ole Miss. In those games, Daniels has amassed 762 total yards of offense and has hung 11 touchdowns on the board. That is disgusting. This past week, Daniels took on a vaunted Ole Miss defense (or at least what was thought to be a vaunted Ole Miss defense), and went 21/28 for 248 yards and two touchdowns, with 121 rushing yards and three scores on the ground. We’re in the clutch part of the season now, so if he can keep stringing together performances like that, he absolutely still has time to get back into this race.
Clemson absolutely had every opportunity to lose that game on Saturday, and they probably should have given the way the quarterback situation went. But, they have Will Shipley to thank for churning out 172 yards, scoring twice, and breaking Syracuse’s back on Saturday. Shipley’s another guy I haven’t written about this year, but he feels like one of those glue guys for this Clemson team that’s trying to get back to National Championship levels.
Between Hooker and Jalin Hyatt, our pair of Heisman-contending Vols had the chance to pad their stats against UT-Martin on Saturday and they did just that. Hooker was 18/24 for 276 yards and three touchdowns. Hyatt caught seven passes and turned it into 174 yards and two scores. For all of the love that Hooker is getting, Hyatt deserves a little more serious consideration for this award. He’s a game-breaker, and his 12 receiving touchdowns leads the entire FBS in receiving scores.
A recurring theme in this week’s column: guys that haven’t gotten the credit they deserve this season. Up next is Max Duggan. All this dude does is just find ways to score when TCU needs him to. In a game that the Horned Frogs were down 28-17 to a capable Kansas State team to, Duggan went 17/26 for 280 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those came in the second half, during which the TCU defense was able to shut the Wildcats down and keep them from scoring at all. Duggan has thrown 3+ touchdowns in all but two games this season, and only has one interception all season.
I said it somewhat tongue in cheek earlier in the season, but shit…I think I’m actually coming around on Bo Nix, who is playing the best ball of his career right now. Sure, going against Pac-12 defenses helps his case, but Nix has been phenomenal for the Oregon Ducks as of late. He continued that trend against UCLA on Saturday, going
Sam Hartman and the Wake Forest offense somewhat quietly have the Demon Deacons inside the top 10 yet again (albeit in a tie with USC). Hartman was 25/40 for 313 yards and five touchdowns (with an interception), with an additional score on the ground as Wake Forest clobbered Boston College, 43-15. They have a tough slate down the stretch, but the Orange Bowl is still very much in play for this program.
Lastly, I have to mention Spencer Sanders this week for his gutsy performance against Texas. The Oklahoma State quarterback didn’t exactly post gaudy numbers – he went 34/57 for 391 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. But, it was just the fortitude that he stood and delivered with after dealing with a shoulder injury. In other words, Sanders very clearly got that dawg in him, and I tip my cap to him for it.
HEISMAN POINTS (WEEK 8)
- Jayden Daniels
- Will Shipley
- Jalin Hyatt
- Max Duggan
- Bo Nix
HEISMAN POINTS (SEASON)
- Hendon Hooker, CJ Stroud – 14
- Caleb Williams – 11
- Bryce Young – 9
- Jalin Hyatt – 7
- Blake Corum – 6
- Brock Bowers, Jayden Daniels, Cam Rising – 5
- Jordan Addison, Stetson Bennett, Jahmyr Gibbs, Will Shipley – 4
- Will Anderson, Sam Hartman, Anthony Richardson, Bijan Robinson, DJ Uiagalelei – 3
- Max Duggan, Bo Nix, Michael Penix, Jr., Will Rogers, Deuce Vaughn, Mike Wright – 2
- Dorian Thompson-Robinson – 1
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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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