Man, these Tennessee Volunteers are making this year’s Heisman Watch kind of boring at this point. What started as a fun little underdog story has turned into a bit of a runaway, at least in this particular college football blogger’s mind. Hendon Hooker is beginning to look like the clear favorite, head and shoulders above second place. I don’t know that anyone is more battle-tested, and I don’t know that anyone is performing as well in big games this season. Hooker had another big game on Saturday night, this time against a Kentucky team that was supposed to put up more of a fight. The Vols quarterback was 19/25 for 245 yards and three passing touchdowns, with 23 rushing yards and a score on the ground.
But, it’s not just Hooker in this Vols offense. I don’t know why Jalin Hyatt isn’t getting more love in the larger Heisman conversation. All this dude does is make plays and wrestle the ball away from defenders. He added 138 yards and two more scores to his season totals on Saturday night. He’s now 4th in the FBS in receiving yards with 907, and he’s 1st in the FBS in receiving touchdowns with a whopping 14. Give the guy the shine he’s due.
Arizona was game on Saturday night, and they gave the USC Trojans their best effort in what ended up being just a one-possession game. Jordan Addison and Mario Williams were out for this one, so it took a little Caleb Williams magic to keep the potent offense on track. He did just that, going 31/45 for 411 yards and five touchdowns. Elsewhere out West, the Oregon Ducks got off to a bit of a slow start on Saturday and Bo Nix did have a couple of picks in that game, but holy shit, what a day against Cal. He continues to have these days when he just randomly goes off and hangs five or six tuddies on his opponent. On Saturday, dude was responsible for six touchdowns. He was 27/35 for 412 yards, three touchdowns (and the two interceptions), with 59 rushing yards and another three scores on the ground. Nix is playing the best football of his career.
I can’t believe I haven’t found a way to talk about Illinois running back Chase Brown in this column more. My man got 32 carries on Saturday and turned it into 149 yards and a touchdown. He also had a receiving touchdown against Nebraska. He’s leading the FBS in rushing with 1,208 yards, and just might hit 2,000 yards if they can hold onto their lead in the Big Ten West and get an extra game with the Big Ten Championship. Insane how Bielemaball is working wonders at Illinois.
I haven’t written about North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye yet, but that prolific Tar Heels offense deserves some love, as does Maye’s place among the FBS leaders in passing yards (4th). In the pull-away win over Pitt on Saturday night, Maye was electric once again. He finished the game 34/44 for 388 yards and FIVE touchdowns, with 61 rushing yards to boot.
Brock Bowers was once again doing Brock Bowers things on Saturday, too. He hauled in five catches for 154 yards and a touchdown scored on an insane tipped pass that showed off his hands and focus. Georgia pulled away from Florida late and won the game 42-20.
HEISMAN POINTS (WEEK 9)
- Hendon Hooker
- Jalin Hyatt
- Chase Brown
- Bo Nix
- Caleb Williams
HEISMAN POINTS (SEASON)
- Hendon Hooker – 19
- CJ Stroud – 14
- Caleb Williams – 12
- Jalin Hyatt – 11
- Bryce Young – 9
- Blake Corum – 6
- Brock Bowers, Jayden Daniels, Cam Rising – 5
- Jordan Addison, Stetson Bennett, Jahmyr Gibbs, Bo Nix, Will Shipley – 4
- Will Anderson, Chase Brown, Sam Hartman, Anthony Richardson, Bijan Robinson, DJ Uiagalelei – 3
- Max Duggan, 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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