SDS Mailbag: Heisman top 5, 2022 QB draft class and SEC coordinators with head coach potential
By Adam Spencer
Published:
The final regular-season game of the year will be played on Saturday – the annual Army-Navy game.
That’s always a fun game to watch, and it is truly incredible how many families have strong ties to 1 side or the other. For me, both of my grandpas were Navy veterans and my cousin is currently in the Navy, so I’ll be rooting for the Midshipmen to pull off the upset.
Navy is currently 3-8 and Army is 8-3, so I don’t have high hopes, but in this game, anything can happen. Though I prefer to watch this game when it’s snowing, it could still be messy. It’s supposed to be 66 degrees in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Saturday, with a big chance of rain.
Two triple-option teams playing in the mud would be fun! Plus, with my Missouri Tigers set to meet Army in the Armed Forces Bowl, I’ll be scouting the Black Knights a bit, too.
Hopefully it’s an exciting game, as it is sure to be an amazing environment!
Now, let’s dive into your questions for this week’s Mailbag:
Robert:
The Heisman Trophy will almost certainly be given to Bryce Young on Saturday night. What would your top 5 Heisman rankings look like?
You’re right. Bryce Young is almost a lock to win the Heisman at this point. And I agree with that. I am among those who think team success is important for a Heisman winner and I also believe that quarterback is the most important position in sports.
So, I’d also have Young atop my list. But, then, I’d have some disagreements with who got invited to New York City for the ceremony (Pitt QB Kenny Pickett, Ohio State QB CJ Stroud, Michigan DE Aidan Hutchinson).
I’d have Young and Pickett there, but after that, I’d make some different choices.
Here’s how my top 5 would look:
- Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
- Will Anderson Jr., Edge, Alabama
- Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt
- Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
- Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
Stroud had a fine season, but he struggled in his chance to win the award, playing his worst game of the year against Michigan. He also struggled earlier in the year. I think he’ll be a great player and will be one of my favorites to win the 2022 Heisman Trophy, but he doesn’t deserve an invite this year.
Will Anderson Jr. absolutely deserves to be in New York.
@SChinni12:
Which quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft class would you most want to have on your team if you were building an NFL franchise?
The draft class is still taking shape a bit, as guys like Sam Howell out of North Carolina and others have important decisions to make.
But, there are a few top prospects who have made their decisions known. The top quarterbacks will likely be Ole Miss’s Matt Corral, Pitt’s Kenny Pickett and Liberty’s Malik Willis. Willis is out for me because of his struggles against top opponents.
I’m going to go with Corral. His leadership is second to none, and he brings the added element of being able to run. He reminds me of Baker Mayfield, but a better runner. You can build a team around that.
In addition to the tangible qualities teams look for – arm strength, speed, IQ – in a quarterback, Corral also has the unteachable drive and desire to do whatever it takes to win. You need that in your leader. Put him on a team with weapons like the Atlanta Falcons or Minnesota Vikings and he could find immediate success in the NFL.
Mark:
Which current SEC coordinator is most ready to become a head coach?
The SEC is absolutely loaded with top coordinators, thanks to some deep pockets around the league. There is no shortage of guys who are ready to take that next step to become a head coach. An incomplete list of candidates would include Georgia DC Dan Lanning, Alabama OC Bill O’Brien, new Florida assistant Corey Raymond, Auburn DC Derek Mason, Arkansas DC Barry Odom and others.
But, I’m going to go with a guy who has been in the mix for jobs the past couple of offseasons but has yet to land a gig: Texas A&M DC Mike Elko.
Elko continues to do great work for the Aggies on defense. He has plenty of control over that side of the ball, as head coach Jimbo Fisher is an offensive mind. Elko was linked to the Kansas job last offseason and has been brought up in other rumors as recently as this coaching carousel cycle.
Wherever he ends up, he should end up doing a great job. If there’s one thing we’ve learned in recent seasons, it’s that there will be plenty of job openings every year.
@Dobbe8:
Where’s a place that doesn’t currently have a bowl game that you’d like to see have a bowl game?
Before I answer this question, can I just say that I’ve had enough of football being played in baseball stadiums? Wrigley Field should never host a football game again. I’m also not super interested in the Fenway Bowl or the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.
Now, let’s actually answer your question.
I want more cold-weather bowl games. And more foreign bowl games. Put one in Wembley Stadium in London. Put one in Alaska. Put one at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Those would be 3 places I’d love to see bowl games.
It’s only a matter of time until every city has its own bowl game at this rate, anyway. There are 42 bowl games this year. And, I plan on enjoying as many of them as I possibly can.
Have a question for next week’s Mailbag? Tweet at us using #SDSMailbag or email me at ASpencer@SaturdayDownSouth.com.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
