Heisman Trophy Race Led By Core 4

Through five weeks, the competition for the Heisman Trophy looks like a hip-to-hip race between four ballplayers, each with a heck of an argument to earn the award. 

Colorado's Travis Hunter continues to defy expectations as a two-way phenom, dominating both as a wide receiver and defensive back. Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty has put the nation on notice with his game-breaking ability as an elusive yet powerful ball-carrier. Meanwhile, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe has looked sensational behind a blend of arm talent and athleticism as the Crimson Tide’s leader under center. Then there’s Miami’s Cam Ward, who has transformed the Hurricanes’ offense into a powerhouse attack that currently sits atop the ACC. 

With all four players making compelling cases, let’s dive into each player's case with Week 6 on the horizon.

Travis Hunter, WR/DB, Colorado

There may not be a more electric athlete in all of sports. In an era where specialization reigns supreme, Hunter's ability to excel on both sides of the ball as a pass-catcher and aerial stalwart is more than just a novelty; it's a game-changer. 

While the Heisman Trophy has historically been awarded to the nation's best quarterback on what must be a competitive roster, in the case of Hunter, his multifaceted skill set, herculean athleticism, and must-watch-TV type of playmaking ability should make him one of the clear frontrunners for college football's most prestigious award.

On the offensive side of the ball, Hunter is lightning in a bottle that demands double teams. He combines his physical gifts at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds with an innate understanding of route-running, positioning, and creativity after the catch. He can dominate at the position, possessing both the speed to beat defenders over the top and the agility to create separation on short routes. 

Through five weeks, he ranks in the top five among all Power Four wide receivers in receptions (37), yards (472), and touchdowns (5). He’s simply a nightmare for opposing defensive backs. Hunter’s explosiveness off the line of scrimmage is complemented by a nuanced understanding of how to manipulate coverages. Whether facing zone or man principles, Hunter shows a maturity in his route-running that belies his young age. His hands are reliable, and he attacks the ball with an aggressive approach that allows quarterback Shedeur Sanders to throw passes his way with the confidence that Hunter will come down with the football. 

Hunter also understands spacing, leverage, and situational football in a way that few players at his position do, at any level of the game. It allows him to make critical plays in clutch moments (see his forced fumble in Week 4 against Baylor or interception in Week 5 at UCF), a hallmark of past Heisman winners. And even though Hunter's offensive production might be enough to earn Heisman buzz, his impact on defense truly separates him from the rest of the pack. 

In a modern college football landscape where shutdown corners are at a premium, Hunter stands out not just as a solid perimeter defender, but as a potentially transcendent one. His instincts, ball skills, and fundamentally, his presence, make him one of the most dangerous defensive backs to play the game in some time.

For me, he’s the best player in college football, and I really don’t think it’s close. 

Cam Ward, QB, Miami

Not patting my own back here, but why not flaunt for just a second? As talented a signal-caller as there is in the country, Ward has been nothing short of sensational in elevating the Hurricanes’ offense through five weeks. And thus, his draft stock has continued to skyrocket. 

One of the most enticing aspects of Ward's game is his fundamental arm talent and arm arrogance—but we knew that coming into the fall after years spent at Washington State and Incarnate Word. It’s been his ability within chaos, awareness of his athletes in space, uncanny poise, and a seemingly rarely inflated heart rate no matter the situation that separates him. Whether it's a vertical shot into a bucket down the sideline or a layered throw over the linebacker and in front of the safety, Ward has fired on all cylinders in 2024. 

But it's not just about touting the ability to rip throws. Control, ball placement, and the knack for throwing receivers open showcase Ward’s refined bag as a passer under center. His ability to change arm angles to what we've seen from the likes of Matthew Stafford, Aaron Rodgers, and Patrick Mahomes allows him to get the ball out quickly and with pop to avoid oncoming rushers. It’s an invaluable trait at the next level, where windows are tighter, defenders are quicker and the processing clock that quarterbacks use internally is sped up.

Due in large part to Ward under center, Miami is currently the favorite to come out of the ACC and looks like a program that could push the bluebloods of college football come time for the CFP.

Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama

A monster night over the Georgia Bulldogs has firmly placed Milroe in the Heisman conversation.

In a Week 5 performance that saw Milroe total a career-high 374 yards and a pair of touchdowns through the air, along with another 113 and two more scores on the ground, Alabama needed everything out of their dual-threat captain to halt Georgia’s comeback. 

While many will place Milroe in a bucket due to his acceleration and ability to take it for six off-script on each play, he’s been much, much more than just an athlete under center. He’s continued to evolve as a processor inside the pocket, and beyond any lazy comparisons that often draw comparisons to a ‘running back playing quarterback.’

What also has stood out in Milroe’s game is his ability to improve the talent around him. There isn’t a DeVonta Smith, Jerry Jeudy, Jameson Williams, or Jaylen Waddle type on the outside. And there certainly isn’t a Julio Jones lining up on the perimeter each week for first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer. It’s not to say talent isn’t in the building—Alabama always recruits well—but Milroe’s ability to elevate those around him, while also putting the offense on his back at times in the ground game, showcases a leader under center that can put an offense in a position to succeed no matter his surroundings.

Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

If the Heisman were strictly awarded to the player that means most to its team's success, it’d be a runaway for Jeanty. 

The country’s top ball-carrier that continues to prove he deserves to be the top running back in the 2025 NFL Draft, Jeanty has been spectacular for Boise State. In four games, he’s amassed 845 yards on the ground with 13 (!!!) trips to the endzone, an average of about three and some change per outing. In Week 5 alone, Jeanty, on 26 carries, totaled 259 yards on the ground, a ridiculous 234 of which came after initial contact. He also forced 17 missed tackles in a win over Washington State, pushing the Broncos into the AP Top 25 for the first time in 2024. 

Alabama’s Derrick Henry (2015) was the last ball-carrier to take home the Heisman, but if the first four games for Boise State is a sign of what’s to come, Jeanty still hasn’t scratched the surface of what remains in store down the line. He currently leads all of college football in rushing yards, touchdowns, and his gaudy 10.3 yards per carry, by a large margin, ranks first among ball-carriers with at least 50 rushing attempts. For further context, only two backs in the nation have averaged more than 7.5 yards per carry on a minimum of 40 carries: Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson (8.4) and Penn State’s Nicholas Singleton (7.7). Jeanty’s production has been otherworldly since the start of the fall.