Heisman hot board after Week 7: 2 different quarterbacks at the top
Heisman voters Matt Zenitz and Mike Huguenin provide weekly updates on who leads the Heisman race for them. Here is how each has the field after Week Seven.
Matt Zenitz’s list
1. Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker: Before Saturday, 2012 Heisman winner Johnny Manziel was the only quarterback to throw five touchdown passes against a Nick Saban-led Alabama defense. Now he has company.
+ Season stats: 119-of-170 (70.0 percent), 1,817 yards, 18 TDs, 1 interception, 287 rushing yards, 3 TDs
+ Week 7 stats: 385 yards, 5 TDs, 56 rushing yards in 52-49 win over Alabama
2. Alabama QB Bryce Young: An NFL assistant who watched the Alabama-Tennessee game told On3 of Young, “He played his ass off.” He did, finishing with 455 passing yards and two touchdowns in his return from a shoulder injury that caused him to miss the Crimson Tide’s previous game.
+ Season stats: 125-of-186 (67.2 percent), 1,657 yards, 16 TDs, 3 interceptions, 150 rushing yards, 3 TDs
+ Week 7 stats: 455 yards, 2 TDs in 52-49 loss to Tennessee
3. Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud: Stroud’s passer rating (207.57) is nearly 20 points higher than any other FBS quarterback. The next best is Hooker’s (187.72).
+ Season stats: 113-of-160 (70.6 percent), 1,737 yards, 24 TDs, 3 interceptions
+ Week 7 stats: Idle
4. UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson: It’s a huge week for Thompson-Robinson’s Heisman campaign. No. 9 UCLA plays at No. 10 Oregon on Saturday.
+ Season stats: 122-of-163 (74.8 percent), 1,510 yards, 15 TDs, 2 interceptions, 231 rushing yards, 4 TDs
+ Week 7 stats: Idle
5. Michigan RB Blake Corum: Corum has run for an average of 166.5 yards with six rushing touchdowns through Michigan’s first four Big Ten games.
+ Season stats: 901 yards (6.2 yards per carry), 13 TDs
+ Week 7 stats: 166 yards (5.9 yards per carry), 2 TDs in 41-17 win over Penn State
6. USC QB Caleb Williams: Although USC suffered its first loss, Williams accounted for 438 yards of offense and five touchdowns.
+ Season stats: 147-of-230 (63.9 percent), 1,971 yards, 19 TDs, 1 interception, 235 rushing yards, 3 TDs
+ Week 7 stats: 381 yards, 5 TDs, 57 rushing yards in 43-42 loss to Utah
7. North Carolina QB Drake Maye: Maye had 450 total yards (380 passing and 70 rushing) with three passing touchdowns in North Carolina’s win over Duke. The victory improved the Tar Heels to 6-1.
+ Season stats: 162-of-231 (70.1 percent), 2,283 yards, 24 TDs, 3 interceptions, 378 rushing yards, 3 TDs
+ Week 7 stats: 380 yards, 3 TDs, 70 rushing yards in 38-35 win over Duke
Mike Huguenin’s list
1. C.J. Stroud: He is tied (with North Carolina’s Maye) for the national lead with 24 TD passes; he’s had three games with five TD passes and two with six.
2. Hendon Hooker: It was all about the pass for the Vols against Alabama.Hooker had five TD passes – all to Jalin Hyatt – in the win over the Tide. In every other game this season, he had thrown two.
3. Dorian Thompson-Robinson: How comfortable has DTR become in Chip Kelly’s offense? His 74.2 completion percentage is a staggering 12 points higher than it was last season.
4. Caleb Williams: He threw for 381 yards and five TDs – and the Trojans lost. His TD-to-INT ratio is a sterling 19-to-1 this season.
5. Bryce Young: He returned from a shoulder injury to throw for 455 yards. But as with Williams, his defense gave him zero help.
6. Drake Maye: Remember Sam Howell? Yeah, me neither. Maye leads the nation in total offense at 380.1 yards per game, almost 10 yards more than anyone else.
7. Illinois RB Chase Brown: Brown leads the nation in rushing yards with 1,059; he’s the only player with 1,000. Illinois is 6-1 and Brown is a major reason. He has provided 76 percent of the Illini’s rushing yards, and has had three 150-yard games and five with at least 146.
+ Season stats: 1,059 yards (5.5 yards per carry), 4 TDs, 107 receiving yards, 2 TDs
+ Week 7 stats: 180 yards (4.4 yards per carry), 1 TD reception in 26-14 win over Minnesota