Only one Heisman Trophy finalist remains from last year’s race, though Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s path to the esteemed college football award is no easier.
With 2018 winner Kyler Murray (Arizona Cardinals) and Dwayne Haskins (Washington Redskins) off to the NFL, Clemson star Trevor Lawrence, who led the Tigers to a national title as a true freshman last year, will give Tagovailoa his greatest competition.
Lawrence is the early favorite to take the award, but don’t be surprised if a sleeper emerges. Here are some players who are on our Heisman watch during the 2019 season.
Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
Justin Herbert likely would have been a high draft pick as a quarterback this past April, but made a surprising decision to come back for another season at Oregon. His odds to win the Heisman, according to many sportsbooks, seem lower than they should be. He threw for 29 touchdowns with the Ducks in 2018, and will lead a likely College Football Playoff contender.
Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
Jonathan Taylor has been dominant in his two seasons at Wisconsin, and likely would have been a Heisman Finalist in 2018 if the field hadn’t been so strong. He has tallied a whopping 4,171 rushing yards through his two years in Madison, and is far and away the best back in the nation. He lost a few blockers in front of him to the NFL, but he should be in for another busy season in a run-heavy Badgers system.
Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
Rondale Moore has a legitimate shot at becoming the first receiver to win the award since Desmond Howard in 1991, and Howard, now an ESPN analyst, recently picked the Purdue standout to win the award this season. Moore was among the most lethal playmakers in the Big Ten last year, leading the conference with 1,258 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. He played his best in the biggest games, recording 170 yards and two touchdowns in the Boilermakers’ shocking 49-20 win over Ohio State. He was only a freshman last year, and should have plenty more in store in 2019.
Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
Now in his third season at Georgia, Jake Fromm has solidified himself as one of the most efficient passers in the country. He threw for 2,749 yards last year, adding 30 touchdowns to just six interceptions. If Fromm can lead the Bulldogs to an SEC title or National Championship, he has as good of a shot as anyone.
Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Jerry Jeudy is perhaps the most electric wideout in the nation, and should be as prolific as ever catching passes from Tagovailoa at Alabama. An early favorite for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, given to college football’s top receiver, Jeudy tallied 68 receptions, 1,315 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns last season. No receiver has won the Heisman in nearly 30 years, but Jeudy has as good a chance as any before he becomes one of the top picks in the 2020 NFL draft.