WATCH: Desmond Howard names his Heisman favorite following Rivalry Week
This year has been a very strange year for the Heisman Trophy, with no clear cut front-runner separating themselves from the pack. There’s a number of very good candidates and certainly deserving, but nobody has created separation between themselves and the rest of the candidates. After the Michigan’s 42-27 victory over Ohio State, ESPN’s Desmond Howard let everyone know his front-runner for the coveted award, Michigan running back Hassan Haskins.
“All I know is when Kenneth Walker III scored five touchdowns against Michigan, everybody said he’s the Heisman front-runner. Hassan Haskins just scored five touchdowns against the No. 2 team in the country. Hassan Haskins for Heisman. He’s a front-runner,” Howard said.
Haskins shredded the Buckeyes’ defense to the tune of 169 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 28 carries. He was one of the biggest reason the Michigan Wolverines won the game.
Haskins likely won’t win the Heisman
Haskins has posted great numbers this year, 244 carries for 1,232 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. It’s still likely a long shot that he’s going to be considered for the Heisman Trophy this season, simply because he had to split carries with Blake Corum in Michigan’s backfield all season long.
According to Vegas Insider, it appears to be a two-man race at this point, with Alabama quarterback Bryce Young and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud being top two Heisman candidates. The next closest in the odds is Michigan’s freak of a defensive end, Aidan Hutchinson, at 16 to 1.
Hutchinson is a legitimate freak of nature at the defensive end position and he had three sacks in the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes. He’ll be one of the top draft picks in the 2022 NFL Draft and with good reason, nobody can block him. If any Michigan player is going to win the Heisman, it’s Hutchinson.
Haskins has had an incredible campaign, but he hasn’t put up the numbers of Kenneth Walker III. Thus far in 2021, Walker has rushed for 1,636 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns on 263 carries.
Either way, it’s going to be really interesting to see who wins the award this season, as there are a number of incredible players across the college football landscape.