Choosing a quarterback to elevate the Heisman Trophy is all the time a secure wager: 17 have received the award since 2000. And selecting a participant from Alabama can be good: three have finished so since 2009.

Each indication heading into Saturday evening’s ceremony is that Alabama sophomore Bryce Younger would be the newest quarterback and the newest star from the Crimson Tide to take residence the Heisman.

After a powerful near the common season, Younger distanced himself from the competitors and took maintain of an unpredictable and largely uneventful Heisman race that appeared open to as many as 5 or 6 contenders deep into November.

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The checklist of finalists contains three quarterbacks and one outlier: Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson is the second defender to be voted a Heisman finalist in three years, following Ohio State defensive finish Chase Younger in 2019.

Michigan cornerback and returner Charles Woodson is the one major defender to win the Heisman. In 2016, Michigan security Jabril Peppers was a finalist after additionally enjoying smaller roles on offense and particular groups.

The Heisman comes down to those 4 standouts:

Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan

Hutchinson has set the varsity’s single-season file for sacks with 14, together with three to go together with greater than a dozen quarterback pressures in a legendary efficiency that paced the Wolverines previous rival Ohio State late final month. That recreation gave him the increase his candidacy wanted to vault forward of one other two defenders into consideration (Georgia defensive deal with Jordan Davis and Alabama linebacker Will Anderson).

This type of robust end has lifted gamers to the Heisman within the current previous. For instance, Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray wrestled the award away from Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa late within the 2018 season after Tagovailoa had spent nearly all the 12 months as the favourite. However Hutchinson wasn’t actually on the map earlier than the ultimate two weeks of the common season; his torrid end could get him into second place nevertheless it’s unlikely that he is available in forward of Younger.

Story continues

Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh

Pickett embodies the type of success story that may typically be a straightforward Heisman promote. He spent the earlier three years as Pittsburgh’s starter however was too inconsistent to elevate the Panthers to the highest of the ACC Coastal. He broke by way of as a senior, tossing 42 touchdowns and setting a slew of profession and single-season program information because the Panthers received the convention to succeed in the New 12 months’s Six.

That has made him this system’s first Heisman finalist since vast receiver Larry Fitzgerald in 2003. With a win, Pickett can be the fourth ACC quarterback to take the Heisman since 2000, becoming a member of Florida State’s Chris Weinke (2000), FSU’s Jameis Winston (2013) and Louisville’s Lamar Jackson (2016).

C.J. Stroud, Ohio State

Stroud was the Heisman frontrunner for 2 weeks in November after tossing a mixed 11 touchdowns in runaway wins towards Purdue and Michigan State. The loss to Michigan — and Hutchinson’s dominant show in that recreation — ended Stroud’s probabilities. However is that basically truthful? Stroud nonetheless accomplished 69.4% of his throws for 394 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions within the loss. In the long run, Stroud might’ve used a stronger begin to the 12 months: OSU struggled out of the gate and the redshirt freshman did not hit his stride till the beginning of Large Ten play in October.

Bryce Younger, Alabama

Younger can be the fourth Heisman winner in program historical past however the first quarterback, after operating backs Mark Ingram (2009) and Derrick Henry (2015) and final 12 months’s winner, vast receiver DeVonta Smith. Stroud could have quickly held the lead in November, however Younger took again the Heisman by throwing for 559 yards towards Arkansas, main the Crimson Tide previous Auburn within the Iron Bowl and going for 421 yards within the SEC championship recreation towards Georgia.

With Younger a potential runaway winner, the most important query heading into Saturday is by simply how a lot he’ll lap the sector.

Projected order of end

With Younger a secure wager to win, the wild card is Hutchinson, who might land as excessive as second place. If Hutchinson and Stroud cut up votes amongst selectors within the Large Ten footprint, Pickett might are available in second behind Younger.

1. Younger

2. Hutchinson

3. Pickett

4. Stroud

This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Heisman Trophy 2021: Will anybody overtake Alabama’s Bryce Younger