The 2024 Heisman Trophy finalists have been introduced on Monday, and two frontrunners are formally within the combine.
Colorado’s two-way star Travis Hunter and Boise State’s bruising working again Ashton Jeanty are thought-about the 2 favorites to win the award, whereas quarterback Dillon Gabriel of Oregon and Cam Ward of Miami spherical out the quartet.
This has been an exhilarating school soccer season within the first 12 months of the expanded School Soccer Playoff. However whereas his Buffaloes gained’t be taking part in for a nationwide title, Hunter’s efforts alongside the potential first total choose within the 2025 NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders, has led to a profitable Colorado season.
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Hunter is the heavy favourite to win the Heisman, as he’s merely doing one thing that nobody in school soccer has: play on either side of the ball.
Hunter performed full-time on offense and protection, and he completed within the high 5 in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and passes defended. Professional Soccer Focus additionally gave him the highest protection grade this season as nicely.
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On offense, Hunter had 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 receiving touchdowns over 12 video games, averaging 96.0 yards via the air per sport. And on protection, he defended 11 passes whereas accumulating 4 interceptions and 32 mixed tackles over the identical set of video games.
Regardless of Hunter being the overwhelming favourite, it’s merely been a blast to look at Jeanty lead the Broncos all the way in which to a Mountain West Convention title whereas incomes a bye within the School Soccer Playoff because the No. 3 seed.
Jeanty led school soccer in speeding yards (2,497), speeding touchdowns (29), complete touchdowns (30) and rush makes an attempt (344) because the Broncos’ offense really ran via the junior, who can also be projected to be a first-rounder come April.
His argument for successful the award over Hunter is the truth that he took a Group of 5 faculty to a CFP bye in his historic season. If he breaks Barry Sanders’ all-time speeding report (2,628), who is aware of how the voting ought to shake out.
However there’s solely a single No. 1 seed this 12 months within the CFP, and Gabriel’s Ducks are it as his sixth collegiate season has led to extra elite manufacturing.
Gabriel had 3,558 passing yards and 28 passing touchdowns over his 297 makes an attempt via the air to assist the Geese to an undefeated common season at 13-0.
The Hawaii native’s finest sport got here in opposition to No. 2 Ohio State, the place he had 341 yards passing and three complete touchdowns, proving Oregon was the staff to beat within the Large Ten in its inaugural season within the convention. Oregon went on to beat Penn State to win the Large Ten, and now they’re searching for an undefeated season with a nationwide title connected to it.
Ward, one other potential first total choice in 2025, is about as cool and picked up as a quarterback may be within the pocket, which has led to quite a few come-from-behind victories for the Hurricanes this season.
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He’s additionally a implausible school soccer story, beginning at Incarnate Phrase out of highschool, his solely provide, and in the end main school soccer with 36 passing touchdowns and ending second with 4,123 passing yards this 12 months.
Miami wasn’t in a position to make the CFP this 12 months, however an argument may be made that Ward was the most effective quarterback within the sport this season, which earned him a visit to New York.
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