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Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior Author
Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter captured the ninetieth Heisman Trophy in a decisive vote Saturday night time.
Hunter beat out operating again Ashton Jeanty (Boise State) and quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel (Oregon) and Cam Ward (Miami) for probably the most coveted particular person award in school soccer.
Hunter, a uncommon two-way participant who stars at cornerback and receiver for the Buffaloes, was offered the stiff-armed trophy throughout a ceremony in New York.
Hunter is the primary defensive participant to win the Heisman since Michigan’s Charles Woodson in 1997; he is the primary receiver to win it since Alabama’s DeVonta Smith in 2020.
With Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, Hunter, Ward and Jeanty anticipated to maneuver on to the NFL, who’re the highest candidates for the Heisman Trophy in 2025?
Here’s a have a look at among the high potential contenders (in no explicit order):
Kevin Jennings, QB, SMU
The Mustangs grew to become a special group after Jennings took over the offense from former starter Preston Stone throughout their third sport of the season. The sophomore led the Mustangs to a nine-game successful streak of their first season within the ACC. That streak ended with a 34-31 loss to Clemson within the ACC title sport. Jennings accomplished 66% of his passes for 3,050 yards with 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He ran for 379 yards with 5 scores, and his capacity to increase performs outdoors the pocket perplexed defenses all season.
There’s lots to like in regards to the sophomore from St. Louis, who ran 134 occasions for 949 yards with 15 touchdowns this season. Love is the one FBS participant who ran for not less than one landing in all 12 video games this season, which set a Notre Dame report. Within the Preventing Irish’s 49-14 win over No. 18 Military, Love had 136 all-purpose yards with three touchdowns. He’ll most likely be sharing carries once more with Jadarian Price in 2025, however quarterback Riley Leonard is shifting on.
Nussmeier had the unenviable process of changing Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels as LSU’s beginning quarterback, however he excelled in his first season. Nussmeier threw for 3,739 yards with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He threw for not less than 300 yards in seven contests and not less than 400 in a pair of video games. Nussmeier was thought of a possible first-round decide in subsequent yr’s NFL draft, however he introduced Wednesday that he is returning to LSU, saying in a press release that he was “absolutely dedicated to bringing this college a championship.”
Smith was ranked the No. 2 receiver prospect within the nation within the class of 2024 by ESPN Recruiting, and he greater than lived as much as that lofty billing in his first season with the Buckeyes. He had 57 catches for 934 yards with 10 touchdowns. He already has a spotlight reel of spectacular one-handed catches, and he dropped solely two passes this season. Final week, Smith was named the Huge Ten Freshman of the 12 months and Huge Receiver of the 12 months.
It is a good factor for the Solar Devils that Michigan State employed former Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith to switch Mel Tucker final yr. Leavitt grew up in West Linn, Oregon, and wasn’t completely satisfied that Smith did not supply him a scholarship when he was teaching the Beavers. So Leavitt transferred from Michigan State to ASU, the place he guided the Solar Devils to an 11-2 report and unlikely Huge 12 title of their first season within the convention. Leavitt handed for two,663 yards with 24 touchdowns and ran for 383 yards with 5 scores. ASU coach Kenny Dillingham says Leavitt will play on Sundays.
Nittany Lions coach James Franklin was greater than happy with Allar’s progress from 12 months 1 to 12 months 2 because the starter, and the junior could possibly be even higher in 2025 if he returns for one more season. Allar accomplished 69.1% of his passes for two,894 yards with 21 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He additionally ran for six scores. Allar has elite arm expertise, and the Nittany Lions began utilizing it beneath offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. Allar needs to be excited that Kotelnicki stayed at Penn State after interviewing for West Virginia’s head teaching job.
After Sellers had 350 yards of offense (244 passing and 106 speeding) with three touchdowns in a 44-20 upset of Texas A&M on Nov. 2, one other SEC coach known as him “Superman” in a textual content to Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer. Sellers was Superman and extra for South Carolina this season, passing for two,274 yards with 17 touchdowns and operating for 655 yards with seven scores. He led South Carolina to a stunning 9-3 report and a six-game successful streak to shut the common season.
The freshman from Saraland, Alabama, burst onto the scene by hauling in a 75-yard landing catch from Jalen Milroe with 2:18 left in a 41-34 victory towards Georgia on Sept. 28. He had six catches for 177 yards within the sport. Williams completed the season with 45 receptions for 857 yards with eight scores, however he cooled off late. He did not have greater than 73 receiving yards in every of the previous seven video games. If Bama’s passing sport is best in 2025, and Williams cuts down on his drops (eight), he might turn out to be the most effective receivers to play for the Tide.
Geese coach Dan Lanning as soon as joked that James runs like an “indignant outdated man,” however the 20-year-old junior cannot even purchase a drink but. Lanning is completely satisfied that James flipped his dedication from Georgia to Oregon on nationwide signing day in February 2022. James picked up 1,253 yards with 15 touchdowns this season. He had 115 yards with one landing in a 32-31 win over Ohio State, then gained 87 yards and scored twice in a 45-37 victory towards Penn State within the Huge Ten championship sport. James hasn’t but indicated whether or not he plans to return to Oregon in 2025 or flip professional.
With junior Quinn Ewers anticipated to maneuver on to the NFL (and even simply to a different FBS group), the Manning period at Texas ought to lastly kick off in 2025. A nephew of former NFL quarterbacks Eli and Peyton and son of Cooper, Arch Manning wasn’t rushed into the beginning function, which might be an important factor for his improvement. At 6-foot-4 and 225 kilos, he has the instruments and pedigree to be a star. He accomplished 61 of 90 passes for 939 yards with 9 touchdowns and two interceptions in eight video games this season.
Tennessee followers received a glimpse of Iamaleava when he accounted for 4 touchdowns in final season’s 35-0 victory over Iowa within the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. He was the primary Vols freshman quarterback to win a bowl sport since Peyton Manning within the 1994 Gator Bowl. This season, Iamaleava accomplished 65.7% of his makes an attempt for two,512 yards with 19 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. He is 11-2 as a starter. If Iamaleava progresses as anticipated, the previous five-star recruit could possibly be a Heisman contender in 2025.
Lagway did not turn out to be the Gators’ full-time starter till senior Graham Mertz tore an ACL in a 23-17 time beyond regulation loss to Tennessee within the sixth sport of the season. Lagway gave Florida followers a sneak peek of what was coming when he began towards FCS program Samford whereas Mertz was out with a concussion. Lagway broke a UF freshman report with 456 passing yards and three touchdowns in a 45-7 victory. In 11 video games, Lagway threw for 1,610 yards with 11 touchdowns. It was sufficient to provide the struggling program hope and hold coach Billy Napier round for one more season.
If junior tailback Trevor Etienne declares for the NFL draft, Frazier ought to enter the 2025 season because the Bulldogs’ major again. He confirmed loads of promise as a freshman, operating 129 occasions for 634 yards with eight scores. Frazier, from Compton, California, improved tremendously as a go blocker and caught 10 passes out of the backfield. He misplaced a few premature fumbles, although, so ball safety will proceed to be a spotlight going ahead.
Clemson followers may need laughed on the notion of Klubnik being a Heisman Trophy contender after he struggled within the Tigers’ 34-3 loss to Georgia within the opener in Atlanta. He threw for 142 yards with no touchdowns, leaving many followers questioning whether or not Clemson can be shifting on. However Klubnik was one of many sport’s most improved passers this season, finishing 63.7% of his makes an attempt for 3,303 yards with 33 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. He handed for 262 yards with 4 scores in a 34-31 win towards SMU within the ACC championship sport.
