Heisman Trophy Futures: Can Caleb Williams Repeat?

The Heisman Trophy is the epitome of greatness if you’re a college football player. This award is given to the best player in the nation each and every year and more often than not, typically a quarterback. For example, USC Trojans signal-caller Caleb Williams took home the prize last season after his breathtaking campaign, and with a lot of the big guns making the jump to the NFL level, he’s a favorite to win the Heisman again. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the contenders, which include almost exclusively QBs.

Caleb Williams

While the Trojans did miss out on the College Football Playoff and lost in the Pac-12 title game, Caleb Williams was nothing short of spectacular. The projected top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft put up ridiculous numbers, throwing for 4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. Williams also completed 66.6% of his passes and ran for another 10 scores on the ground. He is truly the real deal. More likely than not, Williams will declare for the draft early next year and will be as motivated as can be to take USC to the Promised Land. He just beat out the likes of Bryce Young and Max Duggan for the Heisman last year. Who says he can’t edge guys such as Quinn Ewers or JJ McCarthy? The +500 odds at Bodog are deserved.

Update: USC QB Caleb Williams claims he hasn’t decided if he will enter to the 2024 draft, via @PeteThamel

Williams will likely be the #1 pick but maybe he wants to hold on to leverage in case he doesn't want to go to the team that ends up picking first next year.

Caleb:… pic.twitter.com/15dXTrtTRI

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 23, 2023

Quinn Ewers

Ewers is heading into his second year as the Texas Longhorns’ QB1 and will have no shortage of pressure on him to perform just considering how absolutely loaded this quarterback room is. Maalik Murphy and Arch Manning are ready for an opportunity at any given moment, but for now, it’s Ewers’ job. The sophomore has a respectable season in 22’, completing 58.1% of his passes for 2,177 yards, 15 touchdowns, and six picks. Not great numbers, but Ewers is expected to make a jump. Will it be a big enough jump to win a Heisman? Only time will tell.

Marvin Harrison Jr

This is probably the only wideout worth mentioning in the Heisman Trophy race. Marvin Harrison Jr. has football running through his blood and will be a first-round pick next April. He’s Ohio State’s best player and a true game-changer every time he steps on the field. Last year, Harrison Jr finished with 77 receptions for 1,263 yards and 16 touchdowns, proving to be CJ Stroud’s No. 1 target with Jaxon Smith-Njigba missing so much time through injury. DeVonta Smith is the only notable WR to win this award in recent memory back in 2020 with nearly 2,000 yards receiving at Bama. Harrison Jr.’s odds are a steep +1800 at most NCAA betting sites. 

Marvin Harrison Jr is back in action in 1️⃣0️⃣ days 👀 pic.twitter.com/hRt0KEgFrZ

— College Football Report (@CFBRep) August 23, 2023

Jordan Travis

Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis was fantastic last year in his fourth season in Tallahassee after transferring from Louisville in 2019. 2022 was definitely his breakout campaign, starting all 13 contests and completing 64% of his passes for a whopping 3,214 yards and 24 touchdowns against only 13 interceptions. We also can’t forget that he ran for over 400 yards, too. Travis is dynamic and has earned himself a name. He has top-six odds to win the Heisman. There is a good chance he’s a finalist, but actually winning it is another story. It’ll depend on how the other candidates do around him. 

Sleepers

Bo Nix, Cade Klubnik, JJ McCarthy, and Drake Maye, among others, will all have an opportunity to win the Heisman if they can ball out in 23’. But, there is no question Caleb Williams is the one with the target on his back. It’ll be interesting to see if he can live up to the hype this season and maybe even post better numbers.