Heisman Watch 2024: Prime Contenders in Race for Faculty Soccer’s Largest Honor

A transparent favourite has emerged in school soccer’s 2024 Heisman Trophy race.

Nevertheless, that participant nonetheless faces moderately stiff competitors heading into the marketing campaign’s remaining stretch.

From a two-way star to a seasoned signal-caller and a working again posting mind-boggling numbers practically each day trip, let’s spotlight the three main candidates for faculty soccer’s high particular person prize.

Dillon Gabriel’s sixth journey across the school soccer world has been a superb one—or a freakin’ nice one, actually.

Throughout his first season at Oregon—he break up the earlier 5 seasons between UCF and Oklahoma—he has steered the Geese to an ideal 10-0 begin and a spot atop all related rankings. Alongside the best way, he has imprinted his title into the historical past books.

No FBS participant has ever tallied extra profession touchdowns than his 180. That is an achievement that not solely speaks for itself, however may probably sway some voters his course.

He’s a top-10 performer nationally in completion share (74.1, second), passing yards (2,848, eighth) and quarterback score (168.4, tenth). He has additionally added to his output with 43 carries for 148 yards and 6 extra scores.

A real two-way star like his Colorado coach, Deion Sanders, as soon as was, Travis Hunter has electrified the faculty soccer world since kicking off his profession—with Sanders—at Jackson State.

Hunter’s dazzling, jaw-dropping expertise is nothing new, however its significance feels contemporary. His Buffaloes are a powerful 7-2 on the season and have an actual shot at securing a seat within the Massive 12 championship sport. That success might not all be on his shoulders, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a testomony to his two-way brilliance that is been unequalled in fashionable school soccer.

He earns stellar marks as each a large receiver and a cornerback. His 69 receptions have yielded 856 yards and 9 touchdowns. On protection, he has tallied two interceptions, a compelled fumble, seven passes defended and 21 tackles. As PFF’s Trevor Sikkema famous, Hunter’s “1,044 offensive and defensive snaps are 251 greater than the following most-worked participant within the FBS.”

Hunter is a real one-of-one sort of star, and in a season the place quarterbacks have not been fairly as statistically dominant as different years, this looks like his award to lose.

Given their ridiculous nature, it is tempting to take a look at Ashton Jeanty’s statistics and label them as video-game numbers.

There’s only one downside with that evaluation—avid gamers wrestle to even match this stage of dominance.

He’s, statistically talking, unstoppable. His 224 carries (second-most within the nation) have spanned 1,734 yards and produced 23 touchdowns. Regardless of the huge quantity, his common run has gone for 7.7 yards. And whereas he does not get too concerned as a pass-catcher, it is nonetheless value mentioning his 16 receptions for one more 93 yards and a rating.

He hasn’t rushed for fewer than 127 yards in a sport, has produced 200-plus dashing yards 4 totally different occasions and did every part he may to assist his Broncos practically knock off Gabriel’s Geese (27 touches for 200 scrimmage yards and three scores again in September). Jeanty has given himself an opportunity to develop into the primary non-Energy 5 participant to win the Heisman since BYU quarterback Ty Detmer in 1990.