Joel Klatt ranks Top 5 Heisman Trophy contenders after Week 2
Through two weeks of the season, college football’s top players have already started creating some positive buzz and making their case to take home the Heisman Trophy, the most coveted individual award in the sport.
It’s still very early, but multiple players have already gotten off to hot starts and appears to be leading the way to make a December appearance in New York in early September.
With that in mind, college football analyst Joel Klatt put together his top-five list of Heisman Trophy candidates two weeks into the season.
1. Quinn Ewers
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers leads the pack in Klatt’s Heisman rankings following an impressive performance in the Longhorns’ 31-12 win against Michigan over the weekend. Ewers has put together two straight elite games and a signature performance that puts him out front early.
“Quinn Ewers, two of his three touchdowns were on third down where he was masterful in the game. Over 250 yards per game with six touchdowns on the season so far and what I would categorize as one of the bigger wins going on the road and beating Michigan,” Klatt said.
2. Cam Ward
Cam Ward made a strong statement to start the season after throwing for 385 yards and three touchdowns in his Miami debut on the road against Florida. Ward then followed with yet another three-touchdown performance last weekend versus Florida A&M.
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“Cam was terrific during the first couple of games of the season,” Klatt said. “He’s been everything Miami could have hoped for, this is what they paid for … Hey Miami fans, aren’t you you happy he ended up a Hurricane?”
3. Ashton Jeanty
Not many players in the country have the stats to compare with Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. The Broncos ‘back leads the country with 459 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns between his performances against Georgia Southern and Oregon.
“He has three 70-yard touchdowns this year. This guy is a legit NFL back, he’s got great vision, he’s got great burst, he’s got tremendous balance,” Klatt said. “He’s one of, if not the, best running back in all of college football and he’s number three on my Heisman list.”
4. Miller Moss
Miller Moss burst onto the scene with an impressive Week 1 performance in Las Vegas. Caleb Williams’ replacement threw for 378 yards and a touchdown in a down-to-the-wire win against LSU. Moss then followed with another strong showing last weekend, completing an impressive 72.7% of his passes so far this season.
“Now last week against Utah State, he made a lot of the same throws, it just wasn’t the pressure-packed environment that it was against LSU,” Klatt said. “This offense is going to be just fine … In large part due to the fact that this guy, he can play.”
5. Carson Beck
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck rounds out Klatt’s top five after entering the college football season regarded by most as the favorite to become the No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick next April. Beck has only strengthened that case leading Georgia to two straight dominant wins to start the season with plenty of room to shine brighter when the Bulldogs start their SEC schedule this weekend.
“It’s a nice and easy start for Carson averaging nine yards per attempt and has seven touchdowns, no interceptions. So he’s on the list in the preseason, he’s done nothing to take himself off the list, so he’s easily right there at number five,” Klatt said.