Heisman Watch: Week 15

Do we really need to bring up quarterbacks in this final regular season Heisman watch?

I mean this season has been one of the most unpredictable seasons of all time with the chaos and upsets that have ensued and it will likely conclude with a position player winning the Heisman.

As much as people can make a Heisman case for quarterbacks like Miami’s Cam Ward and Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, their statistics aren’t anything crazy or historic.

Let’s just make it simple. It’s a two-man race between Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and Colorado’s Travis Hunter. Their seasons are historic.

Ashton Jeanty

Jeanty has registered 2,288 rushing yards and 29 total touchdowns on 7.3 yards per carry through 12 games this season and when you compare that to previous running backs who won the Heisman, he clears them in almost every category.

He is the best college running back we’ve seen since Derrick Henry carried a lackluster Alabama team to a national championship in 2015. Some may say he’s the best college running back we’ve seen since Barry Sanders, statistically speaking.

Jeanty is inching closer to the record that Barry Sanders set for single-season rushing. He has potentially two games left if Boise State beats UNLV and wins the Mountain West conference.

However, it will be interesting how Jeanty will fare against superior competition and Power 4 level schools if Boise State clinches their conference and heads into the playoff.

Doubters will argue he wouldn’t put these numbers up against Power 4 level competition and supporters will argue he dominated against the No. 1 team in the country in Oregon, putting up 192 rushing yards and 3 rushing touchdowns.

The reality is that Jeanty has little room for error with how well Travis Hunter closed out his season. As phenomenal as he’s been, he can’t end his season on a bad note.

Travis Hunter

Hunter is the other leading Heisman candidate with Jeanty. It’s criminal how he got snubbed from the Jim Thorpe Award, however, he seems to be eyeing one trophy and one trophy only and that is the Heisman.

His performance to close out the season against Oklahoma State was astronomical for his Heisman odds as he is now the clear betting favorite for the award.

He caught 10 receptions for 116 receiving yards, three receiving touchdowns, and added one interception in that game against the Cowboys, and I’m not afraid to say that people may need to consider him to be one of the best athletes college football has ever seen.

Hunter’s two-way ability is the best we’ve seen since Charles Woodson in his Heisman trophy campaign in 1997.

Ending the season tallying four interceptions and a forced fumble on defense on top of 1,152 yards and 14 receiving touchdowns on offense, playing 124 snaps per game, may just cement his case.

In addition, he has turned the Buffaloes program around completely. Leading Colorado along with the father-son duo of Deion and Shedeur Sanders to a 9-3 season after they finished 1-11 two seasons ago will only help his candidacy.

It is tough to pick between the two players as they are both having equally historic seasons, but I would favor Ashton Jeanty as he has more time due to the 12-team playoff to truly cement his case and it will prove pivotal in the Heisman race if he can.

Owen Daszko is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email opd5073@psu.edu.