The perhaps Heisman candidate for every AP Top 25 crew

The AP Top 25 faculty football poll is out. And there is no surprise that Alabama, defending nationwide champ and residential of the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, begins on top.

But who could perhaps follow DeVonta Smith in lifting the sport’s most iconic trophy? Let’s consume a in finding on the perhaps Heisman candidate for every crew within the AP’s preseason rankings.

Obviously, heaps of these names are for lunge prolonged shots. But, nonetheless, no person was anticipating Johnny Manziel, Lamar Jackson or even Smith to be serious contenders this time of year when they ended up taking house the Heisman.

1. Alabama Crimson Tide: QB Bryce Young

Typically first-year starters battle to generate the roughly title recognition to start the season as Heisman contenders, but that is not any longer the case with Tide quarterback Bryce Young. He’s change into one of many faces of avid gamers profiting off their title, image and likeness, and with perfect cause. The earlier five-big title recruit is a dynamic playmaker who’s fully overjoyed playing inside of and open air the pocket. Whereas it would had been good to come help a DeVonta Smith or a Jaylen Scamper, Young will accept as true with heaps to work with, whether or no longer it’s wideout John Metchie or tight discontinuance Jahleel Billingsley. — Alex Scarborough

2. Oklahoma Sooners: QB Spencer Rattler

Oklahoma quarterbacks are gradually a Heisman threat, and Spencer Rattler comes into his 2nd year as a starter as the Heisman common in step with Vegas odds. Excellent season, he overcame some early-season turnovers to lumber for 3,031 yards and 28 touchdowns and led the nation in touchdown passes of 25 yards or extra. The Sooners gave him even extra deep threats this season with the additions of Arkansas transfer Mike Woods, who averaged 19.3 yards per take care of shut closing year, and freshman Mario Williams. — Dave Wilson

3. Clemson Tigers: QB D.J. Uiagalelei

It is a skinny résumé for the unusual Clemson QB, D.J. Uiagalelei, who has appropriate two begins in his profession. But those two begins included a dramatic 2nd-half of comeback steal over BC and a stellar performance in a loss at Notre Dame in which Uiagalelei threw for added yards than any opponent in ancient past in opposition to the Struggling with Irish. Now the offense belongs to Uiagalelei, and he is surrounded by a deep receiving corps that ought to provide him heaps of alternatives to post some big numbers. Despite impressive stat strains, Tajh Boyd, Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence all did no longer land the Heisman hardware. Maybe Uiagalelei may also be the Clemson QB who finally breaks by. — David M. Hale

4. Ohio Dispute Buckeyes: WR Chris Olave

Receiver Garrett Wilson is nipping at Chris Olave‘s heels and perhaps can had been the different, however the nod goes to Olave, who will seemingly be in his closing season with the Buckeyes. Olave led the crew in receiving yards closing season with 729 and in receiving touchdowns with seven. The offense goes to interrupt in a weird quarterback, but Olave is as authentic as receivers come and ought to be one of many extra productive avid gamers within the convention. — Tom VanHaaren

5. Georgia Bulldogs: QB JT Daniels

JT Daniels goes to be in a immense set of residing to steal the Heisman if he is ready to take care of shut Georgia’s offense rolling the style it did on the discontinuance of 2020 and it lives as a lot as expectations and wins out. In four games closing season, Daniels performed 67.2% of his passes for 1,231 yards, 10 touchdowns and two interceptions. If he is ready to take care of shut that roughly tempo over a beefy season, he is contending for the Heisman with none doubt. — Harry Lyles Jr.

6. Texas A&M Aggies: RB Isaiah Spiller

In the course of closing year’s 9-1 season, the Aggies leaned on a stellar offensive line, main the SEC in yards per elevate and time of possession. Even when opponents could perhaps collect their hands on him, Isaiah Spiller was exhausting to elevate down, working for 651 yards after contact on the season, seventh ideal nationally. He broke out with 27 carries for 174 yards and two touchdowns in a steal over No. 4 Florida, one of his six 100-yard games. The Aggies are changing four starters on this year’s O-line, but they admire their suggestions, and Spiller will seemingly be a key resolve within the Aggies’ hopes of making a Faculty Football Playoff dash. — Wilson

7. Iowa Dispute Cyclones: RB Breece Hall

Breece Hall carried out within the top 10 in Heisman balloting closing season and positively could perhaps produce a soar in 2021 with Iowa Dispute returning most of its most winning crew ever from 2020. Hall ran for 1,572 yards on 279 makes an strive and 21 touchdowns. The most easy slightly about a working help to entire within the top 10 in Heisman balloting was Najee Harris, so from a working help standpoint, it’s doubtless you’ll maybe perhaps perhaps honest wish to admire his odds despite the Heisman light largely being a quarterback’s award within the stylish game. — Lyles

8. Cincinnati Bearcats: QB Desmond Ridder

As the 2020 season improved, Desmond Ridder saved making improvements to as Cincinnati improved to the Peach Bowl undefeated, sooner than shedding to a Georgia crew that had chanced on its rhythm with J.T. Daniels. Ridder performed 66.2% of his passes for 2,296 yards, 19 touchdowns and six picks. The Bearcats accept as true with two immense early nonconference avenue games at Indiana and Notre Dame, which could perhaps abet Ridder produce his case if he is ready to manual Cincinnati to wins with monster performances. — Lyles

9. Notre Dame Struggling with Irish: RB Kyren Williams

Charles Woodson was essentially the most efficient defensive player to steal the Heisman, so it doesn’t seem realistic to list Kyle Hamilton. Kyren Williams had the ninth most speeding yards of any FBS working help closing season with 1,125, and he moreover had 13 touchdowns. Notre Dame has a weird quarterback in Jack Coan, who transferred from Wisconsin, so the Irish are going to wish to rely on Williams to abet Coan decide in. That could perhaps mean extra alternatives and one other season with immense numbers. — VanHaaren

10. North Carolina Tar Heels: QB Sam Howell

You collect no longer wish to head off the board to search out a major Heisman candidate at North Carolina, where junior Sam Howell has established himself as arguably the appropriate QB within the nation throughout the last two seasons. He helms an explosive offense — UNC averaged on the subject of 42 aspects per game closing season — and as a sophomore, he showed he’ll even be a threat with his legs (five speeding TDs) to head with one of many ideal palms at school football. Howell needs 40 passing touchdowns to situation the ACC profession mark, and that could perhaps very successfully be sufficient to gather him his part of Heisman votes, too. — Hale

11. Oregon Geese: DE Kayvon Thibodeaux

Kayvon Thibodeaux is not any longer going to steal the Heisman. It could most likely maybe maybe consume the kind of well-known break from tradition to allow for that, whilst a game-altering lumber-rusher. He’s, however, the originate of player — former No. 1 total recruit and skill No. 1 total NFL draft consume — who could perhaps lastly discontinuance up in Original York as a finalist. If the Geese produce a dash on the playoff, Thibodeaux is in general the face of that push. — Kyle Bonagura

12. Wisconsin Badgers: RB Jalen Berger

Quarterback Graham Mertz started closing season sizzling, but he was up-and-down at some stage within the the relaxation of the season. Jalen Berger was a superb freshman, but he ran for 316 yards and two touchdowns on 60 carries. He was splitting tasks with Garrett Groshek, who had 67 carries, and Nakia Watson, who had 53 makes an strive. Groshek and Watson are both long gone, and Berger has a gamble to beef up his numbers from closing year and consume over as the lead help. — VanHaaren

13. Florida Gators: QB Emory Jones

The Gators had two Heisman candidates closing year in Kyle Trask and Kyle Pitts, but both of them are long gone. With the kind of young offense returning for this season, essentially the most logical candidate could perhaps be quarterback Emory Jones, who has waited three years for this different. He’s a particular quarterback than Trask on account of he is a superb dual threat. But Jones, who has seen situational work totally on quarterback runs, can collect bigger than that. Coach Dan Mullen has many occasions praised his arm strength. Mullen moreover recruited and signed Jones particularly for the offense he wants to dash. Attach a question to the Florida offense to take a examine slightly about a and the skill for Jones to consume off. — Andrea Adelson

14. Miami Hurricanes: QB D’Eriq King

Quarterback D’Eriq King is the easy different here. When King determined to come help for one extra season, it would had been easy to set him on any preseason Heisman list. But a week later, he hurt his honest knee within the bowl game in opposition to Oklahoma Dispute. King has spent the closing seven months aggressively rehabbing the damage and is poised to produce his return within the opener in opposition to Alabama. By every indication, King is ready to accept as true with a gigantic year, constructing off what he did in one year 1 with the Hurricanes in 2020, when he threw for 2,686 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions while along side 538 yards speeding and four touchdowns. — Adelson

15. USC Trojans: QB Kedon Slovis

Kedon Slovis assessments all of the Heisman candidate containers: quarterback, main label, big market, person title recognition, lumber-heavy offense. Winning is the largest variable for Slovis’ possibilities, and that will seemingly be impacted enormously by how he plays. It is exhausting to assume a narrate where USC wins the Pac-12 and Slovis is not, at minimal, a top-10 vote-getter. — Bonagura

16. LSU Tigers: DB Derek Stingley Jr.

Quarterback Max Johnson has promise. So does broad receiver Kayshon Boutte. But let’s deem a puny bit out of doors the field and accept as true with in thoughts Derek Stingley Jr. here. He’s been arguably essentially the most proficient cornerback at school football the past two years. And with Eli Ricks playing reverse him, opposing quarterbacks mustn’t be ready to merely discontinuance throwing in his route this season. But even within the occasion that they collect, Stingley has an ace up his sleeve in that he is moreover a proficient punt returner. What’s extra, there is been some command that he would at closing play both programs at receiver, as he did in high college. Whereas that hasn’t came about but, doing so could perhaps start Stingley into the stratosphere. — Scarborough

17. Indiana Hoosiers: QB Michael Penix Jr.

Indiana was one of many appropriate experiences at school football closing season, and it was partly because of the Michael Penix Jr.’s play. Earlier than tearing his ACL, Penix threw for 1,645 yards with 14 touchdowns and four interceptions. He’ll seemingly wish to gather his completion percentage up from 2020 (56.4%) to contend, but when he is ready to take care of wholesome and Indiana repeats considerable of its success from closing season, Penix can contend with his skills. — Lyles

18. Iowa Hawkeyes: RB Tyler Goodson

With Mekhi Sargent off to the NFL, Tyler Goodson goes to accept as true with every different to shine at Iowa. He led the crew in speeding yards closing season with 762 yards and moreover had seven speeding touchdowns. He has center Tyler Linderbaum blockading for him, he has quarterback Spencer Petras help, and there may be every cause to deem Goodson could perhaps honest light accept as true with an very perfect better season in 2021 than he did in 2020. — VanHaaren

19. Penn Dispute Nittany Lions: WR Jahan Dotson

Jahan Dotson has been a playmaker for Penn Dispute at broad receiver and has come up immense in occasions of need. He had 884 receiving yards closing season with eight touchdowns in 9 games. Dotson has a weird offensive coordinator in Mike Yurcich, who will elevate an air assault to the Nittany Lions. The unusual offense could perhaps honest light give Dotson even extra alternatives to produce aesthetic plays and set up immense numbers in his closing season. — VanHaaren

20. Washington Huskies: OL Jaxson Kirkland

Let’s, for a 2nd, pretend an offensive lineman can steal the Heisman Trophy, on account of or no longer it’s untimely to set Huskies quarterback Dylan Morris within the dialog. If that had been to regulate, he’ll seemingly accept as true with Jaxson Kirkland to thank. The gigantic left kind out is amongst the appropriate at his set of residing at school football and is in general headed to the NFL after this season. — Bonagura

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Strive highlights from Texas RB Bijan Robinson as he looks to accept as true with a valid sophomore marketing campaign with the Longhorns.

21. Texas Longhorns: RB Bijan Robinson

Bijan Robinson dazzled as a freshman, averaging a college-sage 8.2 yards per elevate … but to the terror of Texas followers, he bought appropriate 86 carries. With Steve Sarkisian’s arrival, Robinson takes center stage. Sarkisian has made it obvious that he expects his working help to be ready to take care of the weight this year, and Sarkisian’s success to in finding programs to gather the ball to his backs, along side within the passing game, will produce Robinson a part within the Heisman flee. He carried out closing season with 355 yards on appropriate 19 carries in wins at Kansas Dispute and within the Alamo Bowl steal over Colorado, a median of 18.7 yards per elevate. — Wilson

22. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers: QB Grayson McCall

It could most likely maybe maybe consume many extra games admire the prime-time steal over BYU closing season to start a Heisman marketing campaign for upstart Coastal Carolina. But if anyone can collect it, or no longer it’s quarterback Grayson McCall, who dazzled the college football world closing season, winning Sun Belt Player of the one year and Sun Belt Freshman of the one year after throwing for 26 touchdowns and appropriate three interceptions in 11 games. What’s extra, he rushed for 569 yards and seven ratings. If Coastal makes one other Original one year’s Six repeat, perhaps he can produce a dash at Original York. — Scarborough

23. Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns: QB Levi Lewis

If the Ragin’ Cajuns produce a dash on the Faculty Football Playoff — and that’s not any longer out of the query within the occasion that they will beat Texas within the season opener — then collect no longer be stunned if quarterback Levi Lewis turns into the face of the program and a prolonged shot Heisman contender. He’s the uncommon immense senior who took merit of the extra year of eligibility afforded to avid gamers because of the COVID-19. He’s already third in program ancient past in passing yards and 2nd in passing touchdowns. But bigger than profession numbers, he is a dynamic player who can rating appropriate as with out problems with his toes as with his arm. — Scarborough

24. Utah Utes: QB Charlie Brewer

The Heisman Trophy has been, oddly sufficient, an award for transfer quarterbacks in most traditional years. So while Charlie Brewer hasn’t even beaten out Cameron Rising to steal the initiating job but, he light feels admire the appropriate bet for Utah after getting again from Baylor, where he started for four years. Brewer needs appropriate 300 yards passing to prevail in 10,000 for his faculty profession. — Bonagura

25. Arizona Dispute Sun Devils: QB Jayden Daniels

Excellent season was supposed to be a nationwide coming-out birthday celebration for quarterback Jayden Daniels. After initiating as a superb freshman in 2019, Daniels was positioned to manual the Sun Devils to a immense season, easiest for COVID-19 to wreak havoc — even as compared to the the relaxation of the Pac-12 — on their season. This year, appropriate about each person appears to be help, and assuming the NCAA investigation doesn’t hamper the crew’s on-field performance, Daniels could perhaps change into a nationally identified title. — Bonagura