NEW YORK (AP) — The day before Jayden Daniels He won the Heisman Trophy He was asked if he would return to LSU for another season next year.
“I can’t,” he said.
correct.
The careers of college quarterbacks may seem endless these days, but even with the extra coronavirus year the NCAA doled out to those in college in 2020, Daniels was done after playing five seasons.
Teammate Bo Nix of Oregon State, a Heisman finalist, also finished five years later. Injuries allowed Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. to play for six years. He, too, will get a job next year — likely in the NFL.
Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. was the only Heisman finalist to remain eligible. He said he hasn’t decided to return, but as a top-five draft pick, there probably won’t be enough dollars to entice him back to Columbus for another season.
With 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams also heading to the NFL, the 2024 Heisman race looks wide open.
Current QBs
Alabama’s Jalen Milroe leads this category though a word of caution: He’s been in college for three seasons and could go pro. This seems highly unlikely, even with a good performance in the College Football Playoff.
Most likely, Milroe will start next season as one of the Heisman favorites after finishing sixth in this year’s voting.
Georgia’s Carson Beck also appears to be on track to return for a second season as a starter, and has a chance to become QB1 in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Then there’s Quinn Ewers from Texas. Speculation is high that he plans to return to Austin for a third season, but a lot could change over the course of a playoff game or two.
Penn State’s Drew Allard has had a bumpy first season as a starter, but with a new offensive coordinator in Happy Valley, there could be a big jump in year two for the former five-time star.
QBs conversions
Five of the last seven Heisman winners have been quarterbacks who transferred.
One look at the portal suggests something else could be going on.
Just hours before the Heisman presentation ceremony, former Oklahoma and UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel announced he will play his sixth season of college football at Oregon State next year.
There are still plenty of decisions to come but Cameron Ward, Riley Leonard, Kyle McCord and Will Howard are among the veterans who could turn to Daniels, Nix or Penix.
Perhaps the most interesting quarterback in the portal is Dante Moore, who had a tough freshman season at UCLA, but comes with a five-star pedigree and room to grow.
New starting QBs
Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel, Florida State’s Jameis Winston, and Alabama’s Bryce Young showed that second-year players and first-year starters can win the Heisman Trophy.
If you’re looking for players to take this path to the award, start with Gabriel’s replacement at Oklahoma, Jackson Arnold.
Tennessee is also likely to turn to a 2023 five-star prospect in Niko Imalieva.
And if Ewers turns pro, Texas has college football’s most famous backup quarterback ready to play in Arch Manning.
Running back
Racers aren’t getting the Heisman love they used to. Alabama’s Derrick Henry was the most recent to win the award in 2015.
At least two stellar ball carriers deserve some hype next season, even if they are unlikely to win the award.
Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II leads the nation with 1,614 rushing yards after barely playing in the Cowboys’ first three games.
North Carolina State’s Omarion Hampton got lost in the Drake May hype, but he ran for 1,442 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Two freshmen who will likely step into bigger roles next year are Texas’ CJ Baxter and Miami’s Mark Fletcher.
Receivers
This has been a great season for the receivers and Harrison is still the only one who can make it to the finals. It’s tough for pass catchers when pass rushers get all the credit, but just three years ago, Alabama’s DeVonta Smith earned the Heisman.
Most of this year’s star-studded receiving class (LSU’s Malik Nabers, Washington’s Roma Udunze) is headed to the NFL.
Missouri’s Luther Bearden III and Arizona’s Teterua McMillan will be the best of the bunch next year, but they have a long shot at winning the Heisman Trophy.
____
Follow Ralph D. Rousseau on https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP And listen in http://www.appodcasts.com.
___
Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll all season long. Register here.
___
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football And https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
As the college football season approaches, all eyes are on three standout players from different schools: Alabama’s Melroe, Georgia’s Beck and Oregon’s Gabriel. These three athletes have already made significant impacts on the field, and now they are being touted as potential Heisman Trophy contenders for the 2024 season. With impressive statistics and game-changing performances, they have captured the attention of fans and analysts alike, and are poised to make a major impact on the college football landscape in the upcoming season.