2023 Heisman Candidates and Heisman Chase Updates

Week 1 Top Performances

The 2023 Heisman race is off to a fast start with the emergence of Colorado QB Sheduer Sanders in the race. Coach Prime’s son threw for a Colorado school-record 510 yards and four TD’s while directing CU to a thrilling 45-42 win over No. 17 TCU.

2022 Heisman winner Caleb Williams began his quest for another stiff-armed trophy with a strong performance against San Jose State. Williams completed 18 of 25 passes for 278 yards and four scores in USC’s 56-28 victory.

FSU QB Jordan Travis directed the ‘Noles to a 45-24 win over #5 LSU. Travis completed 23 of 31 passes for 342 yards and 4 TDs.

Texas QB Quinn Ewers

Pros – The Longhorns QB is listed in many Heisman Candidate odds as a favorite to win the award. Ewers missed a month of action in the 2022 campaign after suffering being injured in the early-season Alabama game. Ewers returned to action with 4 TDs passing in a 49-0 victory over Oklahoma.

Cons – Despite the triumphant return against OU, Ewers tasted defeat in three Longhorns losses. Ewers finished the season with 15 TD passes vs 6 interceptions. Despite Ewers post-injury struggles last year and with Arch Manning on his heels, Ewers was listed as a favorite in many posted Heisman Trophy odds

LSU QB Jayden Daniels

Pros – Daniels emerged as a top Heisman favorite after a 2022 campaign that saw him lead the Tigers to an SEC West crown. When Daniels was at his best, he was passing for a combined 5 TDs and and 6 rushing scores in back-to-back wins over Ole Miss and Florida.

Cons – Daniels’ performance cooled off as the season ended. In his final 5 games, Daniels was limited to just 3 passing TDs vs 2 Interceptions.

North Carolina QB Drake Maye

Pros – Maye is right in the middle of the 2023 race with the second-best odds to become a Heisman finalist and take home the coveted Heisman Trophy, Maye is making a name for himself on the field. In 2022, he led the Tar Heels to their first ACC Coastal title since 2015, passing for an impressive 4,321 yards and 38 touchdowns.

Cons – While Maye’s candidature is impressive, there are some concerns worth mentioning. North Carolina is a fringe top 25 team, and the offensive line must patch things up after allowing 40 sacks. Regardless, Maye is a force to be reckoned with and one to watch closely as the college football season progresses.

Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

Pros – Harrison has tremendous name recognition thanks to being the son of former NFL great, Marvin Harrison Sr. Playing for Ohio State adds additional national exposure. In 2022 he had 77 catches for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Harrison set the tone for a 2023 Heisman run with his standout play against Georgia in the College Football Playoffs where he caught 5 passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns in three quarters before being knocked out of the game with an injury.

Cons – Harrison is a wide receiver and the Heisman has evolved to be a quarterback’s trophy. Only Desmond Howard, Tim Brown and and DeVonta Smith have raised the award as a wide receiver in modern times. This Ohio State standout will need high-profile impacting plays that help the Buckeyes quest for College Football Playoff berth.

FSU QB Jordan Travis

Pros – Jordan Travis had a standout season as the Florida State quarterback, racking up 3,214 yards with 24 touchdowns and only five interceptions through the air, while also adding 417 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. His impressive performance earned him a spot among FSU’s elite quarterbacks, joining the ranks of Heisman Trophy winners Charlie Ward, Chris Weinke, and Jameis Winston, as one of only four to produce at least 3,000 total yards and 30 touchdowns in a season. Travis’ status as a dual-treat QB will catch the attention of Heisman voters.

With Jordan Travis leading the way in 2022, Florida State ‘chopped’ their way back to top-tier status. If Travis can help the Seminoles advance towards a College Football Playoff appearance, Travis would certainly gain Heisman voter’s attention.

Cons – Despite his achievements, Travis fell short of a top 10 Heisman finish in 2022.

Michigan RB Blake Corum

Pros – The Wolverines’ All-American, Blake Corum, was a crucial piece in their stellar Big Ten performances for two consecutive years. He was well on his way to becoming a Heisman Trophy finalist when a season-ending knee injury halted his progress. Despite this setback, Corum still managed to earn First Team All-American accolades after tallying 1,463 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns last season.

Cons – However, it’s important to note that Corum is recovering from his injury and doesn’t have a major presence in the passing game. It’s also worth mentioning that the last running back to claim college football’s top individual award was none other than Derrick Henry in 2015.