Heisman Watch and National Players of the Week – Week 9

Heisman Watch and National Players of the Week – Week 9

Heisman Watch

The Leaders:

1. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State, Quarterback, Junior.

   

   The national media is saying C.J. struggled against Penn State, yet he still was 26 of 33 for 354 yards and a touchdown and no turnovers. He is still 159 of 223 for 2,377 yards and 29 touchdowns (which is tied for 1st nationally) and his quarterback rating is 93.1 which is first in the entire country.

2. Hendon Hooker, Tennessee, Quarterback, Senior.

   

   Another great game by Hooker has him and Stroud at virtually 1a and 1b and whichever one you’re talking about at the time is 1a. Hendon Hooker was 19 of 25 for 245 yards and four total touchdowns. His Heisman resume has him at 156 of 219 for 2,338 yards and 21 touchdowns in the air and 73 carries for 338 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. If Hooker duplicates his game against Alabama this week and with the same results he’ll be #1 in this race and he’ll have it all to himself.

3. Max Duggan, TCU, Quarterback, Senior.

   

   No one was talking about Max Duggan in the Heisman race at the beginning of the year (I sure wasn’t). Now because of the unexpected and undefeated season, he is leading TCU in, his name deserves to be in the conversation. Against West Virginia, he was 16 of 28 for 341 yards and three touchdowns. On the year he is 149 of 221 for 2,212 yards and 22 touchdowns in the air and has 64 carries for 276 yards for four touchdowns on the ground.

4. Bo Nix, Oregon, Quarterback, Senior.

   

   Bo Nix has such a great game against Cal, I had to have him jump up a spot. Nix was 27 of 35 for 412 yards and three touchdowns passing and had 12 carries for 59 yards and three touchdowns rushing. In the seven games since their loss to Georgia Nix is responsible for 31 touchdowns. He is 180 of 249 for 2,221 yards and 20 touchdowns in the air and has 60 carries for 441 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.

5. Blake Corum, Michigan, Running Back, Junior.

   

   Blake Corum is only fifth in this race because it favors quarterbacks. It’s the nature of the Heisman in 2022. It took Nix scoring six touchdowns and having over 450 total yards of offense to jump Corum. Corum had another great, and what’s becoming typical for him, game. He had 34 touches for 178 total yards and two touchdowns. On the season he has 179 carries for 1,078 yards and 15 total touchdowns. Corum is averaging a whopping 6.0 yards per carry.

In the Race:

1. Caleb Williams, USC, Quarterback, Sophomore.

   

   Williams had a great game against Arizona, going 31 of 45 for 411 yards and five touchdowns. So far he is 178 of 275 for 2,382 yards and 24 touchdowns passing with 65 carries for 249 yards and three touchdowns rushing. If Williams and USC win the rest of their games and some teams and players ahead of them fall, look to see him in the top five of the players going to New York in December.

2. Drake Maye, North Carolina, Quarterback, Freshman.

   

   North Carolina’s star freshman was sensational in their win over Pittsburgh. Maye was 33 of 44 for 388 yards and five touchdowns in the air with 14 carries for 61 yards on the ground. On the season Drake Maye is 196 of 275 for 2,671 yards and 29 touchdowns passing with 98 carries for 439 yards and three touchdowns rushing. Maye is tied with C.J. Stroud for the most passing touchdowns in the nation at 29. He has the Tar Heels rolling toward a potential ACC Championship game matchup with Clemson.

3. Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee, Wide Receiver,

   

   Jalin Hyatt came out of nowhere to have a good spot in this race. After his breakout game against Alabama, everyone in the country knew him by name and so far it hasn’t been just a one-hit wonder for him. Against Kentucky, he had five catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns. For the year he has 45 catches for 907 yards and 14 touchdowns. He’s clearly the best receiver in college football right now.

4. Bryce Young, Alabama, Quarterback, Junior.

   Alabama was idle this week but Bryce Young’s chances to shine are coming up, starting this weekend in Death Valley against rival LSU. The Tide control their own destiny and if Young plays well and they beat good teams like LSU and Ole Miss and make it to Atlanta against Tennessee or Georgia, Young’s repeat chances will have new life.

5. Stetson Bennett, Georgia, Quarterback, Senior.

   Stetson Bennett is hanging by thread in the Heisman race. Despite Georgia being undefeated and the defending national champions, Bennett just isn’t having the output he needs to be in the Heisman race. On the year he is 181 of 267 for 2,349 yards and 14 total touchdowns. The game against Tennessee is his last chance. Even if Georgia wins, if Bennett doesn’t have some great numbers and some Heisman moments, he’ll have fallen out of the race.

Fallen Out:

Spencer Sanders, Oklahoma State, Quarterback, Senior.

Oklahoma State losing to Kansas State was bad enough for them and for Sanders’ Heisman hopes but being blanked buried his chances at the trophy. The Cowboys were early favorites for the Big 12 after the 12-2 season they had last year when they beat Oklahoma and Notre Dame, and now their Big 12 hopes are on life support. An awful loss for the Pokes against K-State.

National Players of the Week

National Player of the Week:

J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State, Defensive End, Sophomore.

I haven’t seen this dominant performance by a defender all year long. Tuimoloau beat Penn State badly. He single-handedly gave the Buckeyes the ball three more times than they otherwise would have, including two big ones in the fourth quarter, one he took to the end zone on his own.

National Offensive Player of the Week:

Bo Nix, Oregon, Quarterback, Senior.

Bo Nix has video game numbers (even if they were against Cal) and accounted for six total touchdowns. Nix was 27 of 35 for 412 yards and three touchdowns passing and had 12 carries for 59 yards and three touchdowns rushing. He doesn’t look like the same guy who struggled against Georgia in Week 1. Nix’s Heisman chances will be affected by the Tennessee-Georgia game coming up this weekend, as his performance will be compared to the Vols’ Hendon Hooker.

National Defensive Player of the Week: 

J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State, Defensive End, Sophomore.

How about Tuimoloau’s stats? He had six tackles, three tackles for a loss, two sacks, a fumble forced, a fumble recovered, and two interceptions, the second of which he returned for a touchdown. He did it all, in all facets of the game for the Ohio State defense and he came through the biggest when the Buckeyes were down 21-16 and this game was still in doubt. An absolutely epic performance.

National Special Teams Player of the Week:

Zach Schmit, Oklahoma, Kicker, Sophomore.

Schmit was automatic for Oklahoma. He was perfect kicking in making three field goals and two extra points, but his biggest play of the day came on a 2-yard touchdown catch on a fake field goal thrown to him by his holder Michael Turk. Schmit scored 15 of Oklahoma’s 27 points, accounting for enough to have beat Iowa State (13 points) with only his own scoring.

Honorable Mention of the Week:

Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss, Running Back, Freshman.

Judkins had 205 yards on 34 carries and a touchdown for Ole Miss as the Rebels rushed for 390 yards in their 31-28 win over Texas A&M. Judkins is a freshman and is having a fantastic season. He has 180 carries for 1,036 yards and 14 total touchdowns this year and has the Rebels at 8-1.

Zach Charbonnet, UCLA, Running Back, Senior.

Zach Charbonnet ran all over Stanford. He had 26 touches (21 rushing, 5 receiving) for 259 total yards (198 rushing, 61 receiving) and three touchdowns. On the season Charbonnet has 128 carries for 964 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing with 20 catches for 232 yards receiving. Charbonnet is a big reason the Bruins are finally living up to what they expected when Chip Kelly took over.

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Check out every week of the Heisman Watch so far this season!

0. Heisman Watch and National Players of the Week – Week 0
1. Heisman Watch and National Players of the Week – Week 1
2. Heisman Watch and National Players of the Week – Week 2
3. Heisman Watch and National Players of the Week – Week 3
4. Heisman Watch and National Players of the Week – Week 4
5. Heisman Watch and National Players of the Week – Week 5
6. Heisman Watch and National Players of the Week – Week 6
7. Heisman Watch and National Players of the Week – Week 7
8. Heisman Watch and National Players of the Week – Week 8