1. TUA TAGOVAILOA, SOPHOMORE, QB, ALABAMA
Week 6: 10 for 13, 334 yards, 4 TDs
Season stats: 75%, 1,495 yards, 18 TDS, 0 INT
The main argument against Tua is that his numbers are low. That is primarily because never plays in the 4thquarter because Alabama is up 30 every game. He has scored a touchdown on 31 of his 44 drives. Crazy. Until he has a bad game Tua should be leading the pack.
2. DWAYNE HASKINS, SOPHOMORE QB, OHIO STATE
Week 6: 31 for 42, 434 yards, 6 TD, 2 INT
Season stats: 73%, 1,919 yards, 25 TDs, 4 INT
Haskins threw 2 INTs but otherwise had an outstanding game against Indiana. Haskins Is 3rdin the nation in passing yards and leads the nation in TDs. Ohio State has only 1 remaining ranked opponent (Michigan). Haskins will need to continue to put up big games to potentially move up to 1.
3. WILL GRIER, SENIOR, QB, WEST VIRGINIA
Week 6: 28 for 41, 332 yards, 4 TDs, 3 INT
Season stats: 71%, 1,819 yards, 21 TDs, 6 INT
Grier had a rough stat line verses a terrible Kansas team throwing 3 Goal-Line interceptions. These multi INT games can’t happen again if he hopes to be a legit Heisman finalist. Grier is more important to WVU than any of the other players are for their school which will be his primary talking point. Grier is 7thin the nation in passing yards despite playing 1 game less than most due to the hurricane.
4. KYLER MURRAY, JUNIOR, QB, OKLAHOMA
Week 6: 19 for 26, 304 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT
Season stats: 71%, 1765 Yards, 21 TDs, 3 INT; 377 rushing yards, 5 rushing TDs
Murray is probably putting up the best numbers in the nation but lost this week and thus drops a spot. The top 3 candidates are the best players on undefeated teams and Oklahoma has yet to beat a Top 25 team.
5. JONATHON TAYLOR, SOPHOMORE, HB, WISCONSIN
Week 6: 24 Attempts, 221 Yards, 3 TDS
Season Stats: 126 Attempts, 849 YDS, 8 TDs
Arguably the best RB in the nation, Taylor had his best game of the year last week collecting 221 yards and 3 TDs on only 24 Attempts. Passing the Top 4 QBs will be near impossible, but they’ll have bad games eventually and Taylor breaking out 200 yards a game could do it.
6. TRAVIS ETIENNE, SOPHOMORE, HB, CLEMSON
Week 6: 10 Attempts, 167 Yards, 3 TDS
Season Stats: 83 Attempts, 761 Yards, 11 TDs
Etienne has more or less came out of nowhere and is 4thin the nation in Yards averaging a crazy 9.2 per attempt. The fact that he plays on a likely CFB Playoff team only helps his Darkhorse campaign.
7. LAVISKA SHENAULT JR., SOPHOMORE, WR, COLORADO
Week 6: 13 receptions, 127 yards, 2 TDs
Season stats: 51 receptions, 708 yards, 6 receiving TDs, 4 rushing TDs
Will a receiver win Heisman this year? No. But does Laviska Shenault at least deserve a mention in the Heisman race? Yes. He’s the best player on a 6-0 AP 19thranked and a constant threat to score 6. He acquired his second Pac-12 Player of the week honor last week and can only go up from there.
8. BENNY SNELL JR., JUNIOR, HB, KENTUCKY
Week 6: 13 Attempts, 60 Yards, 0 TDs
Season Stats: 128 Attempts 699 Yards 8 TDs
Snell cooled off a Heisman campaign that had him sitting at 5thplace last week. Snell lost to Texas A&M and put up only 60 yards severely hurting his stock. Georgia is the only remaining ranked team on the schedule, so he will need to make a name for himself there to get a legit chance.
