Current and former Alabama quarterbacks in the mix of ESPN’s first ‘Heisman Watch’
By Keith Farner
Published:
Heisman Trophy voters put plenty of stock in Week 1 in the early voting results released by ESPN.
As Jalen Hurts of Oklahoma and Tua Tagovailoa of Alabama both had banner starts to the season, they were among a host of high-profile players mentioned in ESPN’s first “Heisman Watch” of the season. Hurts topped the voting by ESPN.com writers Andrea Adelson, Edward Aschoff, Kyle Bonagura, Bill Connelly, Heather Dinich, David M. Hale, Chris Low, Ivan Maisel, Adam Rittenberg and Mark Schlabach who weighed in on their picks.
“It’s too early to say whether Hurts will be the third straight transfer QB to win the Heisman for Oklahoma, but so far, so good,” the site wrote.
Clemson RB Travis Etienne was second, followed by Tagovailoa, Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor, Ohio State QB Justin Fields, Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence, LSU QB Joe Burrow, Georgia RB D’Andre Swift, Alabama WR Jerry Jeudy and North Dakota State QB Trey Lance.
Lawrence may be a bit more high profile than Etienne, at least nationally, but this breakdown points out that, “Per ESPN Stats & Info, since the start of last season, Clemson has averaged more yards per play on Etienne runs (8.6) than Lawrence throws (8.2).”
Burrow is likely the biggest beneficiary of a newly-designed offense, something that could help LSU spring an upset and garner more national attention. It’s something that was quickly apparent in the blowout of Georgia Southern.
“I wanted 60 tonight,” Burrow said. “We’ve definitely come out of the stone age.”
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
