Heisman Watch
The Leaders:
There isn’t any change here after Week 0 as all of these guys have yet to play, but with so many stars this year, expect different people to make their names heard starting in Week 1.
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Bryce Young, Alabama, Quarterback, Junior.
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C.J. Stroud, Ohio State, Quarterback, Junior.
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Will Anderson, Alabama, Linebacker, Junior.
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Bijan Robinson, Texas, Running Back, Junior.
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Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State, Wide Receiver, Junior.
In the Race:
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TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State, Running Back, Sophomore
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Caleb Williams, USC, Quarterback, Sophomore
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Stetson Bennett, Georgia, Quarterback, Senior
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Hendon Hooker, Tennessee, Quarterback, Senior
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Jaren Hall, BYU, Quarterback, Junior
Making Noise:
- Ryan Hilinski, Northwestern, Quarterback, Junior. Hilinski would have to have the kind of great performance he had against Nebraska every week for him to be in the Heisman race. I had said that Evan Hull would be the most important piece to the Wildcats this year, but now Hilinski is making the case for himself (though Hull played a great game). He went 27 of 38 for 314 yards and two touchdowns against Nebraska with no turnovers in a game that went down to the wire.
- Chase Brown, Illinois, Running Back, Junior.
Chase Brown is who the Illini will live and die with this season and after their first game, they’re starting out living high. Brown had 19 carries for 151 yards and two touchdowns rushing. The Canadian also added three catches for 16 yards and another score as the Illini beat Wyoming 38-6. - Mike Wright, Vanderbilt, Quarterback, Junior. Despite Hawaii jumping out to an early lead, the Commodores dominated the Warriors and in no small part because of the great game their quarterback had. Wright was 13 of 21 for 146 yards and two touchdowns in the passing game. Mike Wright also led Vandy on the ground with 13 carries for 163 yards and another pair of scores. This included a run of a whopping 87 yards!
- Logan Bonner, Utah State, Quarterback, Senior. Utah State faced a scrappier than expected UConn team at home in Week 0 before heading to Tuscaloosa, Alabama next week, so a game that was tight till the final quarter in a 31-20 victory still had a bright star and that was Bonner. Bonner went 20 of 29 for 281 yards and three touchdowns.
- Drake Maye, North Carolina, Quarterback, Freshman.
The Freshman signal caller for Mack Brown’s Tar Heels had a great debut. He went 29 of 37 for 294 yards and five touchdowns in the air and added 55 yards on the ground in only four carries as North Carolina defeated Florida A&M soundly, 56-24.
*Normally this portion of the weekly awards would go to guys having career days, breaking records, or bursting onto the national stage and into the very crowded race for the Heisman that is expected in 2022, and guys like the five listed above would be in the honorable mention area. However nothing talks like actual on-field production, and these guys have walked the walk before anyone else so far and deserve recognition.
National Players of the Week
National Player of the Week: Ryan Hilinski
Hilinksi carved up the Husker defense in Dublin.
National Offensive Player of the Week: Ryan Hilinski
Ryan Hilinski has Northwestern off to a hot start in the Big Ten West.
National Defensive Player of the Week: Justin McKithen, Florida Atlantic, Cornerback, Sophomore. 
McKithen had three tackles in Florida Atlantic’s 30-point win over Charlotte but he also had the defensive play and highlight of Week 0 when he intercepted a 49er pass and took it 63 yards to the house. Defensive scores are always big time, and the further out and the more work put in, the bigger the dagger.
National Special Teams’ Player of the Week: Morgan Suarez, Florida Atlantic, Kicker, Freshman.
The true freshman went three for three in field goals for the Owls and four for four on extra points in Florida Atlantic’s 43-13 win over Conference USA foe, Charlotte. Suarez alone accounted for as many points as Charlotte did all off of his leg.
Honorable Mention of the Week :
Power Echols, North Carolina, Linebacker, Sophomore. 
Echols had a great game for the Tar Heels. He totaled 10 tackles, a sack, and two tackles for a loss in North Carolina’s 56-24 win over Florida A&M to start their 2022 season.
Doug Brumfield, UNLV, Quarterback, Sophomore. 
Brumfield had a near-perfect game to open the season for the Rebels. He was 21 of 25 for 356 and four touchdown passes in a blowout win over Idaho State. Say what you will about beating an FCS opponent but this is a game that UNLV might have struggled with in the past, so it’s a good sign for them when they play as expected, FCS or not.
Daniel Grzesiak, Utah State, Defensive End, Junior.
Grzesiak only had two tackles for the Aggies in their opening win against UConn, but the defensive had a nose for the ball, recovering two fumbles. Anytime a defensive player has multiple turnovers in a game it’s a big deal, and Utah State needed them to outlast a scrappy UConn team.
