Heisman Hot Board after Week 10: Kenneth Walker III heads the lists

This week’s Heisman picks are in. Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III continues to lead the Heisman list for On3 college football writers Matt Zenitz and Charles Power.

Matt Zenitz’s list

RB Kenneth Walker, Michigan State
While Michigan State lost to Purdue, Walker ran for 146 yards and a touchdown. Walker has rushed for at least 125 yards in six of the Spartans’ eight games against FBS opponents.

QB Bryce Young, Alabama
During Alabama’s three-game winning streak, Young has thrown for 1,021 yards with 10 total touchdowns and no turnovers.

EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
In Alabama’s past three games, Anderson has 26 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. 

QB Kenny Pickett, Pitt
Pickett threw for 416 yards with four total touchdowns during a 54-29 win over Duke on Saturday. It was his fourth game this season with at least 380 passing yards and at least three touchdowns.

QB Matt Corral, Ole Miss
Corral’s numbers have been down because of injuries to his top three wide receivers, but he passed for 324 yards and a touchdown to lead Ole Miss to a win over Liberty that improved the Rebels to 7-2. 

QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
Stroud threw for 405 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in a 26-17 win over Nebraska on Saturday.

Charles Power’s list

RB Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State
The Heisman race typically becomes clearer once we get into November. But in what already is a strange season, things seem to be moving in the opposite direction. We have a number of legitimate candidates, but none did enough to separate himself Saturday. No. 3 Michigan State lost for the first time this season, but Walker was not to blame. He ran for 146 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries. This comes one week after a five-touchdown performance against Michigan. Walker is the nation’s rushing leader with 1,340 yards and 149.9 yards per game. The Spartans host Maryland this week before traveling to Ohio State in a game that could determine the Big Ten East.

QB Bryce Young, Alabama
Alabama eked out a closer-than-expected 20-14 win over LSU. The Crimson Tide offense struggled to run the ball, finishing with just 6 rushing yards. Young still managed to throw for 302 yards and two touchdowns. One of the game’s key plays came on Alabama’s first drive of the second half, when Young hit speedster Jameson Williams for a touchdown to increase the lead to 20-6. Young is second nationally in QBR and second among Power 5 quarterbacks with 28 touchdown passes (against three interceptions).

QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
Stroud and the Buckeyes got all they bargained for in a 26-17 road win over Nebraska. He was 36-of-54 for 405 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Ohio State was without star receiver Garrett Wilson, so Stroud leaned heavily on Jaxon Smith-Njigba, linking up with him for a school single-game-record 15 receptions. Stroud still leads the nation in QBR and has completed 67 percent of his passes for 25 touchdowns and five interceptions. This week, Ohio State has a tough matchup with Purdue, who has already knocked off two top five teams this season.

QB Kenny Pickett, Pitt
Pickett rebounded from the loss to Miami that saw him throw two interceptions by making easy work of a beleaguered Duke team. He was 28-of-43 for 416 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, and also ran for 57 yards and another score. Pickett looked like his typical self — unhurried in the pocket, with the ability to make throws to each level. Pickett is third nationally in QBR and leads all Power 5 quarterbacks with 29 touchdown passes. He takes on Sam Howell and North Carolina this week.

EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
Anderson is doing everything he can to be the rare defensive player to make the trip to New York for the Heisman ceremony. He has been on my list for a few weeks and continues to play at an extremely high level. Anderson had 12 tackles, four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks against LSU. His quickness, ability to turn speed to power and snap-to-snap effort is among the best in college football. Anderson continues to lead the nation in tackles for loss with 21 — three more than anyone else. He’s also second in sacks with 10.5. The scary thing for Alabama opponents is Anderson appears to be getting better on a weekly basis. He has 7.5 sacks in his past three games, all against SEC foes. Few, if any players are having a better season relative to their position than Anderson.

Will Anderson is the best linebacker in college football…convince me that I am wrong. Who wants to get hit like this? #rolltide pic.twitter.com/4y52MmBaTC

— Matt Goins (@matt_goins) November 7, 2021

QB Caleb Williams, Oklahoma
Williams and the No. 8 Sooners were idle and are preparing for a road test against Baylor. The game is the first in a string of contests that will see him face the three best defenses in the Big 12. While Anderson jumped Williams this week, that no quarterback has emerged as a clear leader only helps Williams’ candidacy. Could Williams further benefit from a bye week? We’ll see this week. He enters the game with the highest passer rating among Power 5 quarterbacks.