The Heisman Trophy started in 1935 by the Downtown Athletic Club in New Your City. The Heisman is awarded each year to the most outstanding college football player. The winner will be announced Saturday, December 14, and 2019 will represent the 85th year.
The Heisman finalists were announced on Monday and this will be the first time since 2016 that 4 players were selected and a defensive player included on the ballot.
The 4 finalists are Joe Burrow from LSU, Justin Fields from Ohio State, Jalen Hurts from Oklahoma, and Chase Young from Ohio State.
JOE BURROW, LSU
Joe Burrow has led his LSU Tigers to an undefeated season and #1 national ranking this year. He has dominated the SEC Conference and has put up some impressive numbers. In 13 games, he has completed 77.9% of his passes and threw for 4,715 yards. He has a 48-6 touchdown to interception ratio. He has been the difference-maker in all of LSU’s toughest games this season and is the favorite to win on Saturday.
JUSTIN FIELDS, OHIO STATE
Justin Fields just earned Big 10 Offensive Player of the Year honors and has been outstanding in his first year as the Buckeye’s starting quarterback. He has picked up right where Dwayne Haskins left off last year. His team is undefeated after winning the Big 10 Championship. Fields made clutch plays down the stretch of the season against Wisconsin, Michigan, and Penn State. In 13 games, he completed 67.5% of his passes and threw for 2,953 yards. He had an amazing 40-1 touchdown to interception ratio. He also rushed for 471 yards and 10 touchdowns.
JALEN HURTS, OKLAHOMA
Jalen Hurts from Oklahoma is one of the best stories in college football this season. After losing his starting quarterback job at Alabama, he transferred to Oklahoma and proved this season that he is one of the best players in the country. Hurts has led his team to a 12-1 overall record, a Big 12 Championship, and a chance to play for a national championship. Jalen completed 71.8% of his passes and threw for 3,634 yards. He had a 32-7 touchdown to interception ratio. He also dominated on the ground, rushing for 1,277 yards and 18 touchdowns.
CHASE YOUNG, OHIO STATE
Chase Young from Ohio State is the wild card finalist out of this group of 4. Young was college football’s National and Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year. He is considered to be the #1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Chase is the first defensive player nominated since Jabril Peppers in 2016 and Ndamukong Suh in 2009. In 11 games, Young had 44 total tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, and forced 7 fumbles.
In 1997, Charles Woodson was the only defensive player to ever win the Heisman Trophy. Joe Burrow is the favorite this year, but do the voters select the best defensive player over the best offensive player? Can Chase Young become the second defensive player to win the award?
OUR HEISMAN PREDICTION
- Joe Burrow
- Chase Young
- Jalen Hurts
- Justin Fields
