Tag: heisman

Dec 11, 2021; New York, NY, USA; 2021 Heisman winner Alabama quarterback Bryce Young poses for pictures with the trophy during a press conference at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York City. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Bryce Young early favorite to repeat as Heisman winner

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Bryce Young collected the first Heisman Trophy for an Alabama quarterback on Saturday night and is already favored to add a second one next year.

Young opened as the +200 favorite at FoxBet to win the 2022 Heisman Trophy ahead of Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud (+400), who finished fourth in Saturday’s Heisman results.

Both quarterbacks hail from Southern California and will resume their on-field competition next year that dates back to middle school. Young is only the sixth sophomore to win the award and will attempt to join Archie Griffin (1974-75) as the only players to win two Heismans.

Spencer Rattler hasn’t announced which school he will transfer to yet, but the former Oklahoma quarterback still has the third-shortest odds at +700 by FoxBet to win next year’s Heisman. That’s ahead of Caleb Williams (+1000), who replaced him with the Sooners this season.

Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III opened at +1200, although he is widely expected to enter the 2022 NFL Draft. He’s followed by Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson (+1500) and Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei (+1600).

Texas running back Bijan Robinson is +1800, with the list rounding out with Georgia quarterback JT Daniels (+2000) and Oklahoma running back Kennedy Brooks (+4000).

Alabama has produced three of the past seven Heisman winners, including the only two since 2010 who weren’t quarterbacks: running back Derrick Henry in 2015 and wide receiver DeVonta Smith in 2020.

Young received 2,311 points Saturday night, easily outdistancing Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (954), Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett (631) and Stroud (399).

“This is amazing,” said Young, who thanked everyone from his offensive linemen and receivers to the Crimson Tide defense for helping him get the ball back. “… Whenever you can win an award like this, it goes as an individual award, but it’s a team award.”

Young threw for 4,322 yards and 43 touchdowns with just four interceptions. That includes throwing for 421 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-24 win over then-No. 1 Georgia in the SEC title game to help Alabama secure the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.

“For me, I’ve always been someone who has been labeled as not the prototype — being an African-American quarterback, being quote-unquote undersized and not being that prototype, I’ve always been ruled out,” Young said. “People a lot of times have told me that I wasn’t going to be able to make it.

“For me, it has always been about, not proving them wrong, but proving to myself what I can accomplish.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 27, 2021; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young (9) throws against the Auburn Tigers during the first half at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

Heisman Trophy Odds: Bryce Young back in front of C.J. Stroud

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young has leaped back in front of Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud in the race for the Heisman Trophy after leading the Crimson Tide to a four-overtime victory over Auburn in the Iron Bowl.

Young’s Heisman odds shortened to -200 at BetRivers, where the freshman has been backed by 9.84 percent of the Heisman bets and 16.5 percent of the handle. It has been a rapid ascent for Young, who opened the season as a +800 longshot at the book.

He has drawn 32.43 percent of the wagers and 41.95 percent of the handle at BetRivers since the start of November.

Young was being offered at +190 on Oct. 31 by BetMGM, where his odds are also now -200.

Stroud opened the season at +1000 and his odds lengthened to +2500 following a home loss to Oregon. However, the redshirt freshman steadily passed his way up to favorite status before last week’s loss to Michigan.

Stroud is now being offered at +400 at BetRivers, where he has been backed by 8.51 percent of the bets and 15.05 percent of the handle. That includes 22.30 and 33.61 percent, respectively, since the start of November.

The Heisman Trophy is considered a two-horse race at this stage.

The next-shortest odds at BetRivers belong to Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett (+1100) and Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III (+1400). Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral, one of the favorites early in the season, has seen his odds drift to +2500.

BetMGM is offering Stroud at +450, followed by Michigan pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson (+1400) and Pickett (+1800). Corral and Walker III are both at +2000.

The Heisman Trophy will be awarded Dec. 11.

–Field Level Media

Sep 4, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young (9) passes against the Miami Hurricanes during the first high at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Bryce Young leaps Spencer Rattler as Heisman Trophy favorite

Posted on | by Field Level Media

It only took one week — and four touchdown passes in a rout of a seeded opponent — for Bryce Young to upend the Heisman Trophy race.

Alabama’s sophomore quarterback led a 44-13 win over Miami in the Crimson Tide’s season opener, completing 27 of 38 passes for 344 yards to go with the four scores. That was enough for Young to vault to Heisman frontrunner status at numerous sportsbooks, including PointsBet and BetMGM (+425).

Preseason Heisman favorite Spencer Rattler threw for 304 yards and a touchdown in Oklahoma’s opener but wasn’t nearly as consistent as the Sooners held off Tulane, 40-35, at home.

Rattler completed 30 of 39 passes but also threw a pair of interceptions to help keep the Green Wave in the game. The consensus favorite from the time 2021 Heisman odds were installed all the way through last week, Rattler is still the second favorite but saw his odds lengthen from +550 to +700 at PointsBet and from +650 to +900 at BetMGM.

That put him on par at BetMGM with Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral, who jumped up Heisman lists with 423 total yards in the Rebels’ opening blowout of Louisville. Corral is being offered at +1000 at PointsBet, where he is the third favorite tied with Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud (+1000).

Young clearly benefitted from the relative struggles of his two closest competitors entering the season in Rattler and Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei. The Tigers’ sophomore struggled in a loss to Georgia, failing to lead Clemson to a touchdown and seeing his Heisman odds lengthen to +1100 at PointsBet and +1200 at BetMGM.

While the Bulldogs won the game to move to No. 2 in the AP Top 25 poll, JT Daniels failed to lead Georgia to a single offensive touchdown himself. His Heisman odds slipped to +1200 at PointsBet and +1500 at BetMGM.

Other preseason Heisman candidates who struggled in season-opening losses included Miami’s D’Eriq King and North Carolina’s Sam Howell. Both ACC quarterbacks are now being offered at +2500 by PointsBet. Howell is also +2500 at BetMGM, while King’s odds lengthened to +4000.

Texas running back Bijan Robinson retained the top odds outside of quarterbacks, holding steady at PointsBet while seeing his odds shorten from +3000 at BetMGM.

–Field Level Media

OU quarterback Spencer Rattler (7) enters the 2021 season as the Heisman Trophy favorite on a Sooners team eyeing their first national title since the 2000 season. main

Oklahoma QB Spencer Rattler unanimous favorite for Heisman

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler is the universal favorite to win the 2021 Heisman Trophy based on season-opening odds at regulated sportsbooks.

Rattler is +650 at BetMGM, ahead of Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, Alabama quarterback Bryce Young and Georgia quarterback JT Daniels. North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud are +1600 at BetMGM.

Rattler is +550 at PointsBet after tossing 28 touchdowns and completing 67.5 percent of his passes as a redshirt freshman in 2020. In 11 games, Rattler went 9-2 and rolled up 3,031 passing yards.

He’s vying to be the fifth Oklahoma quarterback since 2000 to win the award.

Uiagalelei is +800 at PointsBet and No. 2 in the Heisman odds entering the 2021 season. Uiagalelei is +1100 at BetMGM.

He’s taking the reins at Clemson for No. 1 draft pick Trevor Lawrence after getting his feet wet in two starts last season as Lawrence battled COVID-19.

Young, even with Uiagalelei at +900 at FanDuel, is +900 at PointsBet and +1100 at BetMGM.

He’s next in line for the Crimson Tide and takes over for Mac Jones, who won the national title and let Alabama to an undefeated season before moving on to become the starter for the New England Patriots.

Quarterback Matt Corral of Ole Miss is +1400 at FanDuel, behind only Rattler, Uigalelei and Young. Corral had 3,337 yards and 29 touchdown passes, rushed for 506 and four touchdowns and completed 70.9 percent of his passes in 2020.

Texas running back Bijan Robinson has the top odds outside of quarterbacks at +2500 (PointsBet). He’s +3000 at BetMGM.

–Field Level Media

Oct 6, 2018; Dallas, TX, USA; Former Texas quarterback Vince Young enters the stadium before an NCAA college football game between Texas and Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wagner-USA TODAY NETWORK

Vince Young returns to Texas as special assistant

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Vince Young is headed back to work for the Texas Longhorns athletic department program, less than two years after the school fired the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback who led the school to its last national title.

Young, who is in the College Football Hall of Fame, announced on social media that he was hired by new coach Steve Sarkisian to work as a special assistant to athletic director Chris Del Conte. Young’s responsibilities and compensation haven’t been made public, per reports.

Young led the Longhorns to the national championship in 2006 when he rushed for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter against Southern California, where Sarkisian was an assistant under Pete Carroll.

Young, 37, was an All-American at Texas, where he went 30-2, throwing for 6,040 yards and 44 touchdowns and rushing for 3,127 yards and 37 scores in three seasons. He’s one of six players in school history to have his number retired.

He was taken third overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2006 draft. He threw for 8,964 yards and 46 touchdowns and 51 interceptions and rushed for 1,459 yards and 12 touchdowns over six seasons — five with the Titans and a final one with Philadelphia.

However, he filed for bankruptcy in 2013, despite signing a five-year deal worth $58 million — including more than $25 million guaranteed — as a rookie for the Titans.

Upon retiring, Young returned to Texas to work as a development officer in the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement and as a contributor for the Longhorn Network. But he was fired in 2019 for not doing his job well and being arrested multiple time on drunken-driving charges.

Sarkisian, who had spent the past two years at Alabama as the offensive coordinator under coach Nick Saban, was hired by Texas last month to replace Tom Herman, who was dismissed after going 32-18 in four seasons.

–Field Level Media

Dec 30, 2020; Arlington, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Spencer Rattler (7) warms up before the game against the Florida Gators at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Sooners QB Spencer Rattler early 2021 Heisman Trophy favorite

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Spencer Rattler has been installed as the initial Heisman Trophy favorite for next season.

The freshman signal-caller was listed as the +500 opening favorite by PointsBet ahead of Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei.

Rattler, a five-star recruit out of Phoenix, took over the starting job this season and threw for 3,031 yards, 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 11 games. He led the Sooners to a win in the Cotton Bowl, throwing for 247 yards and three touchdowns in the 55-20 victory over Florida.

Uiagalelei is a freshman out of Bellflower, Calif., who saw action in nine games this season, including a pair of starts when Trevor Lawrence was sidelined following a positive COVID-19 test. Uiagalelei completed 66.7 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and no interceptions, and is poised to take over the Tigers’ starting job from Lawrence.

North Carolina junior quarterback Sam Howell is the third betting favorite at +850, followed by Alabama freshman quarterback Bryce Young, who threw just 13 passes this season.

Three veteran quarterbacks follow that pair with +1200 odds each: Miami’s D’Eriq King, Georgia’s J.T. Daniels and Southern California’s Kedon Slovis.

King suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the Hurricanes’ bowl game loss but Miami said he is expected to be ready for the start of next season.

Daniels transferred from USC to Georgia earlier this year after tearing knee ligaments in the fall of 2019 and watching Slovis take command of the job. Daniels went on to throw for 1,231 yards and 10 touchdowns and a pair of interceptions in four games for the Bulldogs, while Slovis threw for 1,921 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven picks in six games.

The top non-quarterback on the early 2021-22 Heisman Trophy odds market by PointsBet is Alabama running back Brian Robinson Jr. He has rushed for 1,292 yards on 4.9 yards per carry with 15 touchdowns entering the College Football Playoff title game.

2021 Heisman Trophy Odds (PointsBet)
Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma (+500)
D.J. Uiagalelei, Clemson (+675)
Sam Howell, UNC (+850)
Bryce Young, Alabama (+1000)
D’Eriq King, Miami (+1200)
J.T. Daniels, Georgia (+1200)
Kedon Slovis, USC (+1200)
Brian Robinson Jr., Alabama (+1200)
Emory Jones, Florida (+1200)
Breece Hall, Iowa State (+1500)
Jayden Daniels, Arizona State (+1500)
Michael Penix Jr., Indiana (+1500)
Tyler Shough, Oregon (+1500)
Bijan Robinson, Texas (+1500)
Kyren Williams, Notre Dame (+1500)
Brock Purdy, Iowa State (+1800)
Graham Mertz, Wisconsin (+1800)
Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State (+2000)
Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M (+2000)
Matt Corral, Ole Miss (+2000)
Kevin Harris, South Carolina (+2000)
Dillon Gabriel, UCF (+2500)
Carson Strong, Nevada (+2500)
Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina (+2500)
John Metchie III, Alabama (+2500)
Jordan Addison, Pitt (+2500)
Zay Flowers, Boston College (+2500)

–Field Level Media

Jan 1, 2021; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) in action during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Alabama’s DeVonta Smith wins Heisman Trophy

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DeVonta Smith of Alabama became arguably the first pure first wide receiver ever to win the Heisman Trophy on Tuesday, when he outpolled three quarterbacks.

The senior from Amite, La., outdistancing Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, and Florida quarterback Kyle Trask, who were also finalists.

Not since Michigan multipurpose cornerback/receiver/returner Charles Woodson in 1997 — in a shocking announcement over Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning — has anyone other than a quarterback or running back received the honor.

Smith becomes the third Alabama player to win college football’s top individual award, joining running backs Mark Ingram (2009) and Derrick Henry (2015).

The trophy has been awarded annually since 1936, and almost always has gone to a passer or runner.

Previously, Michigan’s Desmond Howard (1991), Notre Dame’s Tim Brown (1987), and Nebraska’s Johnny Rodgers (1972) were wide receivers, but they also gained much of their acclaim as return specialists.

This season, for the first time, Smith returned punts for Alabama, but he returned only nine punts. He averaged 24.3 yards on those returns, with one touchdown. He also had one rushing score.

It was his receiving that earned Smith the Heisman. He has 105 receptions for 1,641 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, with one game remaining — the national championship against Ohio State.

–Field Level Media

Dec 30, 2020; Arlington, TX, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Kyle Trask (11) throws a pass against the Oklahoma Sooners in the second quarter at ATT Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Florida record-setting QB Trask declares for NFL draft

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Florida quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist Kyle Trask announced Thursday that he is entering the NFL draft.

Trask made his announcement in a video posted to various social media sites.

“I feel that it’s best to chase my dreams of playing in the NFL,” Trask said. “I’ve had dreams of playing in the NFL ever since I was a kid. Just to have this opportunity to play at the next level, it’s crazy and I’m going to try and go and make the most of it.”

Trask enjoyed a stellar 2020 season in which he set school records of 4,283 passing yards and 43 touchdowns passes. He topped 400 yards five times and twice threw six scoring passes.

Trask was intercepted eight times, three of them coming in a 55-20 loss to Oklahoma in Wednesday’s Cotton Bowl. He passed for a season-low 158 yards.

But the poor showing against the Sooners wasn’t diminishing Trask’s enthusiasm about his time with the Gators. He grew up near Houston and never imagined that playing in the Sunshine State would be such a life-changing experience.

“I will definitely always remember the memories we made and the big-time wins we had over the past couple years,” Trask said. “I will always be a Gator. I will always bleed Orange and Blue.”

Trask wasn’t a big-time recruit — his first start didn’t occur until Game 3 of the 2019 season — nor was he considered a high NFL draft pick prior to the season.

But the strong campaign improved his stock. He now rates as a one of the top half-dozen available quarterbacks and his name will surely be called within the first two rounds.

Gators coach Dan Mullen has enjoyed watching Trask’s rise.

“I couldn’t be prouder of him and the season that he had with our team this year. A special, special year for him,” Mullen said. “I’m really happy for him. I mean, you’re talking about a young guy that came in, I think only played a couple plays in his career before he even graduated college. Didn’t play much in high school. And now he’s a Heisman Trophy finalist and he’s going to be an NFL draft pick. So that says a lot about him.”

Trask said he has always drawn motivation from the doubters.

“When I think about it, just being counted out so many times,” Trask said of his career. “When people doubt me, it’s nothing new to me. It doesn’t hold me down. I don’t dwell on it. I just try to prove them wrong. I think that’s ultimately what’s gotten me here today.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 19, 2020; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Florida Gators in the SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Alabama’s Smith could be first WR to win Heisman in 29 years

Posted on | by Field Level Media

DeVonta Smith’s career-best game on a prime-time stage is likely to earn the Alabama star a piece of history.

Smith caught 15 passes for 184 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Saturday’s 52-46 victory over Florida in the SEC Championship Game. Crimson Tide quarterback Mac Smith threw five touchdown passes, but that wasn’t enough to hold off his teammate as the new favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.

Smith is now being offered at -200 by SportsBetting.com and -170 by FanDuel to win the Heisman. That is ahead of Jones, who is +150 and +170, respectfully.

It has been a meteoric rise for Smith, who wasn’t even on the Heisman prop board at most sportsbooks just two weeks ago.

ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit endorsed Smith as his Heisman pick on “College Gameday,” hours before the senior returned a punt 84 yards for a touchdown in Alabama’s 52-3 rout of Arkansas on Dec.12. That helped vault Smith to second favorite status behind Jones at several sportsbooks, and that momentum continued with his massive game against the Gators.

Smith has double-digit receptions in four games this season and a total of 98 catches for 1,511 yards and 17 touchdowns. He has another score on three carries to go with the punt-return touchdown.

If Smith wins the Heisman, he will become the first non-quarterback to do so since Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry in 2015, and the first wide receiver since Michigan’s Desmond Howard in 1991.

Smith has also benefitted from the lack of a runaway quarterback candidate.

Jones took over as the favorite just last week after Florida’s Kyle Trask suffered his second loss of the season.

Preseason favorite Trevor Lawrence saw his Heisman Trophy hopes scuttled by a positive COVID-19 test that forced him to sit out two games. Lawrence led Clemson to the ACC title and the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff, but he is a distant third in the Heisman odds at +1000 by SportsBetting.com and +1500 by FanDuel.

Heisman Trophy odds (SportsBetting.com)
DeVonta Smith -200 (1/2)
Mac Jones +150 (3/2)
Trevor Lawrence +1000 (10/1)
Najee Harris +1600 (16/1)
Kyle Trask +2500 (25/1)

The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Smith has also elevated himself into consideration to be the first wide receiver selected in the 2021 NFL Draft. He is expected to compete for that honor with injured teammate Jaylen Waddle and LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase.

–Field Level Media

Oct 31, 2020; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) and Alabama quarterback Mac Jones (10) celebrate a touchdown pass from Jones to Smith at Bryant-Denny Stadium during the second half of Alabama's 41-0 win over Mississippi State. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr/The Tuscaloosa News via USA TODAY Sports

Alabama WR DeVonta Smith vaults into Heisman contention

Posted on | by Field Level Media

DeVonta Smith wasn’t even on the board of players being offered Heisman Trophy odds at most sportsbooks a week ago.

Another dynamic outing later — along with some national publicity love from Kirk Herbstreit — and Alabama’s senior receiver is suddenly one of the Heisman favorites.

Florida quarterback Kyle Trask has been the betting favorite by most sportsbooks for the past several weeks, but his hopes took a serious hit with the Gators losing their second game of the season last Saturday.

Meanwhile, Alabama improved to 10-0 with a 52-3 rout of Arkansas.

Quarterback Mac Jones threw for 208 yards on 24 of 29 passing. Three of those completions went to Smith, who scored the Crimson Tide’s first touchdown on an 84-yard punt return.

Jones is now widely considered the Heisman Trophy favorite. He’s being offered at -160 by FanDuel, -200 by DraftKings and -210 by William Hill. Several other regulated sportsbooks have taken Heisman odds off their markets.

Those who are still offering them now have Smith as the second favorite.

Smith’s sudden rise also followed an endorsement from ESPN’s Herbstreit on “College Gameday” before the Arkansas rout.

“I think DeVonta Smith right now, I don’t know if he’s (No. 1 or 2) but he’s right there,” Herbstreit said. “I want to see how things go next weekend in Atlanta (in the SEC Championship Game).

“This is an offense that lost (Jerry) Jeudy and (Henry) Ruggs a year ago (and) (Jaylen) Waddle during the Tennessee game, and he just keeps getting better and better. (Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian) and Mac Jones get all the recognition, but my man DeVonta Smith is having the best year in the country as far as I’m concerned.”

Smith now has 83 receptions for 1,327 yards and 15 touchdowns this season, all career highs.

He is being offered at +200 by DraftKings and FanDuel and +250 by William Hill. That’s ahead of Trask at all three – +350 by DraftKings and William Hill and +800 by FanDuel.

Preseason Heisman favorite Trevor Lawrence is fourth at each of the three sportsbooks, with his hopes largely dashed after missing two games following a positive COVID-19 test.

–Field Level Media