Kyler Murray won the 2018 Heisman December 8th as I predicted but now I will make a very early prediction for next year’s winner.
Now some players have already declared for the draft but some have yet to declare and might return. Most players have yet to declare but one can predict who stays and who goes. If the person I predict enters or any of the three I predict to be the finalists I will make an updated post. If any of the sleepers I predict enter I will do the same for them.
Dwayne Haskins was a favorite for me to win next year but he is most likely entering the draft but has yet to officially declare so he won’t be discussed any further in this post. Kyler Murray the 2018 winner is eligible for the draft but also to continue playing football at Oklahoma but before the season started he said this would be his last season because he was drafted by the Oakland Athletics professional baseball team and plans on playing in their minor league system. He can change his mind and stay at Oklahoma and this would make him a favorite for the Heisman but it’s unlikely he stays.
I will start with three sleeper picks then go into my two runner ups and end with the winner of the award.
Boston College’s offense runs through running back AJ Dillon and will next season. He has missed two games this year and might miss his bowl game this year too with an ankle injury but should be primed and ready to go next season. BC does not have the toughest schedule but they do play a few tough teams and if he excels all year has close to 2000 yards and double digit touchdowns and plays the tough teams well he’ll definitely be in the running. He is still a sleeper though because of the school he goes to, and his position, but he had over 1500 yards his freshman year and could have gotten closer to that this year if it wasn’t for the injury.
Another sleeper is Boise State running back Alexander Mattison. Mattison just had a great year with almost 20 touchdowns and over 1500 yards from scrimmage. His carries were over 300. Now he might enter the draft but I don’t think he will. There are some personal question marks concerning his draft status and another great statistical year will go a long way to reduce NFL scouts’ doubts. Huge games go a long way in Heisman voting, games that voters remember. He ended this season with two back to back 200 yard games and the two games before that were 145 yards and 144 yards. If he can have more 200 plus yard games next year, increase his total yards number, and total touchdown number he could be a real threat. Negatives against him are his easier schedule even when compared to other sleepers like Dillon, His position, he is mainly just a runner, and Boise State has a very balanced offense.
My last sleeper quarterback Khalil Tate of Arizona. This season he was great passing the ball last season he was amazing running the ball. If he can blend those two factors into one or even have similar passing stats to this year and running stats to last year he’ll have a Heisman worthy stat sheet. Of course he is draft eligible so he could enter but I don’t think he will so watch out for him to be a serious threat for the Heisman. I think he will improve upon his passing stats and hopefully be better used in the running game like he was in 2017.
The man who I think will finish 3rd in Heisman voting is Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor. Taylor in his first two seasons has had over 2000 total yards from the line of scrimmage. He has also had 28 total touchdowns. He slightly improved his stats this year and if he can again that will be huge for a Heisman run. He doesn’t just need to be great statistically but needs to be a huge reason why his team wins. 2018 was not Wisconsin year they went 7-5 so they’ll need to be better to better help Taylor make a run for the Heisman. The Heisman is the NCAA’s MVP award and one must not just have great stats but be the reason or main reason of their team’s success.
My pick for Heisman runner-up is Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert. Many think he will be entering the draft but I don’t think so. He announced that he will play in the Redbox Bowl vs Michigan State and usually players who enter the draft sit out bowl games if their team makes one. Also his younger brother is coming to Oregon next year and he wants to be able to throw the football to his younger brother and top Tight End recruit, Patrick Herbert. Justin Herbert is a great college quarterback who can dominate teams, and if he stays next year and dominates he will definitely be considered for the award. He’ll have to have his best season yet though to be taken seriously and throw for around 3500 yards and over 30 td’s.
Tua is my Heisman pick. Is this a safe pick yes, do I like it being safe no, but I don’t see any other person winning and neither do most analysts. He was a lock for most of this year, is on the best team, and will definitely have a lot of old and new dependable weapons at his disposal and is in my opinion the best player in college football. Tua will not be runner-up again and in 2019 will be your Heisman winner.
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