1. Travis Hunter | DB/WR | Colorado
Final Stats: WR- 92 receptions, 1,152 yards, 14 touchdowns
DB- 32 tackles, four interceptions, 11 pass deflections
Hunter swipes the award away from his competitors in the last second to be the first defensive player to win the award since Charles Woodson in 1997. This comes on the heels of 116-yards, three touchdowns and an interception against Oklahoma State in the regular season finale. Hunter has been right behind Jeanty in the rankings all season, but it seems that the court of public opinion has decided the winner is Hunter. The narrative seems to have more and more of an effect on results year after year. Hunter has the momentum with the media, and I believe that pushes him over the finish line as the winner. Hunter finishes as a top three wide receiver and corner in the nation. He also finishes with the Heisman trophy in his hands in New York.
2. Ashton Jeanty | RB | Boise State
Final Stats: 312 carries, 2,288 yards, 28 touchdowns
If I was the singular decider of the Heisman winner, which I unfortunately am not, Ashton Jeanty would be taking a Heisman trophy back to Boise, Idaho later this year. Jeanty has done almost everything you could ask of a running back for the Broncos this season, but it seems to have not been enough. Jeanty seems to have fallen victim to a couple of different narratives this season. One, he plays running back and that position has been devalued in the public’s eyes over the past decade. Two, he plays in a non-power five conference that has been deemed lower competition. These two factors come together to almost form a tax on all of Jeanty’s achievements. It doesn’t matter that he has had the greatest running back season since Barry Sanders, and I believe that’s wrong.
3. Cam Ward | QB | Miami
Final Stats: 4,123 yards, 40 total touchdowns, seven interceptions
Ward’s been out of this contest for a couple of weeks now. However, no one does top two lists, so Ward still gets to sit here.
Ward has propelled the Miami Hurricanes into the college football playoffs. Ward has made the clutch plays in big moments, but his overall body of work has been slightly disappointing. Ward sits at third due to no fault of his own. Ward is here because the two guys ahead of him are doing things on the football field that haven’t been seen in this century.
