Heisman Trophy Watch: On3 expert analysis after Week 5

We’re officially five weeks into the college football season and the Heisman Trophy race is starting to heat up in earnest as more breakout performances litter college football.

As we continue through the season, our experts at On3 will continue to evaluate and discuss which players deserve mention for college football’s most prestigious award. There are still dozens right now, even this far into the season.

Let’s take a look at the top selections from our On3 national experts, with their top three in the Heisman Trophy running listed below.

Andy Staples

1. CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
2. QB Cam Ward, Miami
3. RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

Travis Hunter: Hunter caught a touchdown pass and made an interception in Colorado’s win at UCF. If you’re under 70, you’ve never seen anyone play the way Hunter plays. Let’s savor it.

Cam Ward: The improv skills late in Miami’s (controversial) win against Virginia Tech were more impressive than the raw numbers he put up, which were huge.

Ashton Jeanty: He averages a first down every time he touches the ball. It’s astounding.

Ari Wasserman

1. CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
2. RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
3. QB Cam Ward, Miami

Travis Hunter: He’s the best player in college football and Colorado is in this position because he exists.

Ashton Jeanty: Every time he touches the ball Boise State gets a first down or scores. He’s simply electric.

Cam Ward: He didn’t have the best game against Virginia Tech, but he helped Miami find a way to win and had a circus play in the fourth quarter.

Jesse Simonton

1. RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
2. CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
3. QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama

Ashton Jeanty: Boise State’s speedy bruiser is the best running back since Derrick Henry, who happened to be the last running back to win the Heisman Trophy. He had another 250-yard game with four more touchdowns. He’s basically a one-man band for the Broncos — accounting for over 40% of their team’s total offense this season and 50% of their touchdowns.

Travis Hunter: The two-way superstar has recorded at least 122 snaps in every game this season. In an emphatic upset over UCF, he played five different positions (per PFF, slot, X, nickel, wide corner and free safety) and had nine catches for 75 yards with an interception, a PBU and just two receptions allowed on five targets. Absurd.

Jalen Milroe: Milroe was a maestro conducting Kalen DeBoer’s offense in the first half against Georgia. And then when the Tide needed their QB1 most, he delivered a bomb to Ryan Williams for the game-winning score.

Charles Power

1. QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama
2. RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
3. CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado

Jalen Milroe: Accounting for 491 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns against Georgia is enough to vault Jalen Milroe into my top spot. Milroe is the most dynamic dual threat signal caller in college football and is on a crash course for an invite to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony at this rate.

Ashton Jeanty: He might be the best college running back since the last time a back won the Heisman (2015). Jeanty is averaging over 10 yards per carry and 211 yards per game (30 more than the next RB). He forced a ridiculous 17 missed tackles against Washington State per PFF.

Travis Hunter: Hunter is a unique player in college football, given he’s simultaneously one of the best receivers and best cornerbacks. He’s easily one of the most valuable players in the sport.

JD PicKell

1. CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
2. QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama
3. QB Cam Ward, Miami

Travis Hunter: We may not see another player like Travis Hunter ever again. The best player on offense and defense for Colorado. Tallied an interception and a receiving touchdown in huge road win over UCF.

Jalen Milroe: The catalyst to Alabama’s MASSIVE win over Georgia with two rushing touchdowns, two passing touchdowns and nearly 500 yards of total offense.

Cam Ward: Week 5 was not pretty for Ward by any stretch, with 3 turnovers, but turned he turned it on in the second half to propel his team to a Freaky Friday win over Virginia Tech with five total touchdowns.