Brian Kelly makes Heisman argument for Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr.

With one week left in the college football regular season, the Heisman race is starting to near the finish line, as the college football world will know their next Heisman Trophy winner in less than three weeks.

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels has put his foot on the gas during the home stretch, building on one of the most impressive dual-threat quarterback seasons college football has seen with his second straight week of posting more than 500 total yards and five touchdowns. Daniels earned himself the top spot in On3’s latest Week 13 Heisman Trophy Top-10 Poll, but his top wide receiver Malik Nabers has made some noise this year too as one of the nation’s top wideouts ranking No. 8 in the Top-10.

Nabers stats were recently shared with LSU head coach Brian Kelly at a press conference, with him being asked if Nabers deserves an invitation to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. But Kelly believes that Daniels and Nabers aren’t the only Tigers that belong in that conversation.

“Yeah those are pretty lofty numbers, but I think you have to include Brian Thomas‘ numbers and Brian I think rivals Marvin Harrison‘s numbers right now and he’s in conversation for the Heisman,” Kelly said. “I think if you take both my receivers, those two and what they have done could easily be in that conversation.”

Nabers’ stats and production this season have been undeniable with 80 catches for 1,424 yards and 12 touchdowns, leading the nation in receiving yards and yards per game and ranking top six in the nation in the three aforementioned stat categories.

But Thomas has been stellar this season too, leading the nation in receiving touchdowns this year with 14 and adding 1,021 yards to his stat line. Which is just 72 yards shy of Harrison’s yard total this season, who ranks No. 3 in On3’s Heisman Poll and has been looked at as the most likely wideout to take home the award for a majority of the season.

“So if Marvin Harrison is in that conversation, I don’t know why both Brian and Malik wouldn’t be in that conversation,” Kelly said. “Again, all you have to do is look at the numbers.”

Thomas has been able to make the most of his opportunities this season, as he’s one of 12 1,000-yard receivers in college football so far this season but only one of two who’s done so on less than 60 receptions.

But when it comes to the numbers game, it’s still hard to deny Daniels, his teammate who’s eclipsed over 4,500 yards of total offense and 40 touchdowns with one week remaining in the season.

“But I think that that’s probably why if you want to look at numbers Daniels’ numbers are starting to pull away from everybody. He’s nearly 1,000 yards of total offense ahead of the next candidate. So if we want to look at numbers this race is starting to distance itself,” Kelly concluded.