The word “unstoppable” is going to pop up quite a bit in this week’s Heisman Watch. We’re well into the season at this point, and the big stages are starting to be set each and every weekend. This weekend, we had a massive showdown in Tuscaloosa between the 2nd ranked Georgia Bulldogs and the 4th ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, as well as a ranked matchup between Penn State and Illinois. Both games are featured in this week’s column.
Heisman Watch: Week 5, 2024
5. QB Avery Johnson, Kansas State – What a bounce back win for the Wildcats. Johnson finally gets into a Heisman race with a five-touchdown performance against Oklahoma State. He had an interception, but otherwise finished 19/31 for 259 passing yards and three passing touchdowns with 60 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground to boot.
4. WR Ryan Williams, Alabama – Did you guys know Ryan Williams is just 17? Tongue-in-cheek snide commentary aside, the true freshman looked like one of the most explosive playmakers in the game on Saturday night. The touchdown catch was one of the most impressive plays I’ve seen in awhile. He finished the game with six catches for 177 yards and a touchdown.
3. RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State – Jeanty was downright dominant on Saturday night. If you didn’t stay up late to watch Boise State take on Washington State, you missed out on one of the most impressive performances of the season so far. Jeanty had several highlight runs, breaking tackles, fighting through contact, and going the distance. He finished the game with an absurd 259 yards and four touchdowns, putting him at 845 yards and 13 touchdowns on the season. Both marks are first in the FBS, and Jeanty may be playing his way into a first round lock during next spring’s NFL Draft.
2. EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State – Let’s put a defensive guy in the Heisman race, why don’t we? That Illinois offensive line is no joke, but Carter was *checks the theme of this year’s Heisman Watch* unstoppable. They had no answer for him, and he completely took over that game late in the contest. His stat line reads seven total tackles, two sacks, four tackles for loss, and one pass deflected. But, the eye test shows just how dominant he was and why he could play himself into being the first edge rusher drafted come April.
1. QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama – I mean, come on. In the first half of that game against Georgia, Milroe was imposing his will on the Bulldogs. He was getting anything he wanted against that vaunted defense, going 27/33 for 374 passing yards, two passing touchdowns (and a pick), 117 rushing yards, and two more touchdowns on the ground. He’s now had four straight games accounting for at least four touchdowns to start the season. His eight rushing touchdowns are tied for fifth in the FBS right now. Milroe is starting to stockpile stats, and should be in the conversation as one of the favorites to claim this year’s Heisman.
Heisman Watch 2024 Standings
- Cam Ward – 12 (total points)
- Jalen Milroe – 11
- Ashton Jeanty – 9
- Quinn Ewers, Kaleb Johnson – 5
- Abdul Carter, Jaxson Dart, Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders – 4
- Dillon Gabriel, Tetairoa McMillan, Jam Miller – 3
- Luke Altmyer, Luther Burden III, Miller Moss, Ryan Williams – 2
- Ethan Hampton, Arch Manning – 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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