Welcome to the Class of 2022 Heisman vote. These young men have worked their tails off and have dreamed about this moment from an early age. There are many talented players in college football today, but we know only one can win the Heisman Trophy at the end of the day. Who do you think are the Top 5 Heisman Candidates of 2022?
The list below shares more in-depth coverage of whom I believe are in the running to take home this prestigious award.
5. Bijan Robinson- Texas (RB)
Pros- While OSU running back Treyvon Henderson could be in the running to win the Heisman in 2022, he is still only a sophomore. The one guy to beat out the Buckeye is Bijan Robinson. The Junior running back has looked fabulous on an up and coming Texas squad led by second year coach Steve Sarkisian. Robinson has talent, size, and great speed for catching out of the back field.
Sarkisian helped guide former Alabama running back Najee Harris when he was their offensive coordinator in 2020. Now Harris is having a great first-two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Cons- It’s very hard for a non-quarterback to take home the trophy, as it normally takes a mixture of player performance and team accomplishments.
In the past two years, the star running back also has had many injuries, making a flourishing season a bit of a speculation. The Long Horns however, do have a great no. 2 back in Roschon Johnson, whose activeness should keep Robinson fresh every game.
4. Sean Tucker- Syracuse (RB)
Pros-The COVID sophomore has had a blazing fast starting to his college career. The 3-star recruit out of Maryland in the Class of 2020 saw early starting time at Syracuse after early opt outs of COVID-19. The true freshman rushed for 626 yards on a team surrounded by young freshman recruits getting early playing time that only went 1-10.
In 2021, Tucker broke out in his COVID freshman year, tallying 1,496 yards rushing in the regular season. The Maryland native passed other SU greats such as Floyd Little, Walter Reyes and Larry Csonka during a win against Albany. Tucker was second in the NCAA in rushing behind now Seattle Seahawks ball-carrier Kenneth Walker III and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
Heading into 2022, Tucker was projected on Mel Kiper’s Top-10 Big Board to be one of the best running back prospects in the 2023 NFL draft.
Cons-Tucker has had a solid year so far rushing for 758 yards this season. If he keeps rushing for multi- yards games, he could win the Heisman, but the issue is he plays on a program that is up and coming and not on an Alabama or Georgia team.
He could also declare for the NFL draft after this season, but I would like to see him come back for one more year to up his stock.
3. Hendon Hooker- Tennessee (QB)
Pros- Hooker has an incredible story to tell and this young man keeps writing new chapters to his book every Saturday. The 2021 transfer signal caller from Virginia Tech was originally a back-up behind fellow transfer Joe Milton who was named the initial starter. Then Milton was hurt and Hooker never relinquished the starting job. The Vols under Hooker and first year head coach Josh Heupel went 7-6 and lost a tough bowl game to Purdue.
Despite that, Hooker had a great first season as a starter. The transfer threw for 2,945 yards, with 31 td’s and 3 int’s.
So far in 2022, Hooker has had the dream season of his career, going 6-0 in his first six starts and throwing 21 td’s to 1 int. His biggest moment was during “the third Saturday in October” a matchup at home against the number 3 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. He lit up Alabama’s defense by scoring 52 points and the Vols beat the Tide 52-49 on a game winning field goal as time expired.
Cons- Hooker and the Vols have a big game on the road against the number 1 ranked Georgia Bulldogs who look like they are topping Alabama as College Football’s new dynasty. Winning this game would increase Hooker’s Heisman odds, as well as the Vols’ playoff chances. Losing it, and well, it may cost him or drop him down a little bit, but we would have to see how both committees would judge the performance.
2. Bryce Young- Alabama (QB)
Pros- The junior signal caller has set all kinds of records in his two years at the starting quarterback for the Tide. A humble kid growing up in California, Young had to wait his turn in 2020, as he was behind Mac Jones in the depth chart. While he won a National Championship ring with the team, he knew he was the guy to replace Jones after being drafted by the New England Patriots in 2021.
In his sophomore season, Young impressed, only losing one regular season game to Jimbo Fisher’s Texas A&M Aggies. The Californian had one of his best performances of the season, in the SEC championship game against then the number 1 Georgia Bulldogs. He threw for 421 yards along with 3 td’s and 0 int’s.
Young’s impressive season earned him the 2021 Heisman Trophy and he will now look to win it again this year. However, the endured (and only) back-to-back winner was Archie Griffin (Ohio State) in 1974-75.
Cons- Even though Young won the Heisman in 2021, the Tide’s signal caller failed to win the National Championship game in a rematch with the Georgia Bulldogs.
Young was voted second on the Preseason Heisman Watch list behind CJ Stroud and led the Tide to an undefeated 6-0 start before falling to fellow Heisman nominee Hendon Hooker and the UT Vols.
1. CJ Stroud- Ohio State (QB)
Pros- OSU’s offense has been a machine this year as Stroud has two stud receivers in Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jaxon Smith-Njigba catching passes for him. He also has Emeka Egbuka and Julian Fleming, along with speedy back TreVeyon Henderson to round out the amazing team.
He also has one of the best play callers in the NCAA in head coach Ryan Day who could have left to replace Brian Kelly as Head Coach of Notre Dame. Instead the Fighting Irish hired Marcus Freeman (a former OSU player). Having your head coach come back is a great sign of continuity and is the reason why Ohio State has carried on it’s winning tradition in their football program.
Cons- Stroud has all these great weapons around him and while that may help the squad win the National Championship, that could hurt him individually in the Heisman race.
He was also susceptible to slow starts last season, and hasn’t been a hugh running intimidation in game-play this year.
Also, in order for Stroud to compete for the Heisman trophy again, he must play well in their revenge game at the Shoe against the Michigan Wolverines who represented the Big-10 in the CFP, last season.
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5 Comments
Hooker takes it if the beat UGA
Nice analyst!
Giants need to trade for the #1 draft pick and get Shroud. Anyone looking for a big, young, strong, but clueless QB. Dannie Jones is perfect for you!
Wow! Great arrivals, thanks for sharing!
Nice article dude!