NCAA: Diving Into the 2021-22 Heisman Finalists
With the regular season of college football now over, the bowl games and playoff seedings are now set. With that, the Heisman Trophy finalists were also named, which includes four immensely talented football players. What makes this class great is that only two of them are draft-eligible, showing how college football is dominated by all classes. Let’s meet the Heisman Finalist and analyze my prediction on who takes home the trophy in 2021-22.
Kenny Pickett: QB, Pittsburgh
With his best Joe Burrow impression, Pittsburgh QB Kenny Pickett burst onto the scene as a Senior in college, winning the 2021 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award while leading Pittsburgh to their first ACC title, beating Wake Forest 45-21. While Pickett’s “fake slide” is headlining the news right now, do not let it distract you from the fact that he threw for 42 TD and 7 INT on 67.2% CMP and 4,319 passing yards, which are all career highs. He also complimented that with five rushing touchdowns, showing versatility. Because of Pickett’s play, the Panthers will face off against (10) Michigan State in the Peach Bowl on December 30th at 7:00 P.M. He may not be the favorite to win it, but Pickett still put together a senior season to remember, while vastly improving his draft stock as well.
Aidan Hutchinson: EDGE, Michigan
Kayvon Thibodeaux got all the love coming into this season, but that did not stop Aidan Hutchison from wrecking defenses for the Michigan Wolverines. If Thibodeaux is the consensus number one overall pick, Hutchinson should be second, or even argue for the top spot in this year’s draft. Hutchinson had 13 sacks and a whopping 15.5 tackles for loss through 13 games this season, helping the Wolverines to a Big Ten title and a dominant win over Ohio State, their longtime rival. In that game against Ohio State, Hutchinson had three tackles for loss and three sacks in the victory. Quarterbacks usually dominate this award, but I would pin Hutchinson as a dark horse to win the award because of how he shined in big games against Ohio State and Penn State when everybody was watching. Hutchinson will now look to bring home a national championship to Michigan starting on December 31st at 7:00 P.M., where they take on (3) Georgia in the Orange Bowl.
Bryce Young: QB , Alabama
If he was draft-eligible this year, QB Bryce Young would for sure be the first quarterback taken off the board, if not the first player. Young helped Alabama continue their dominance of college football, winning the SEC and claiming the number one spot in the college football playoff, where they will take on (4) Cincinnati in the semifinals. Young has continued the sudden dominance from the quarterback position at Alabama which started with Jalen Hurts, who passed it to Tua Tagovailoa, followed by Mac Jones, and now to Young, who may be better than all of them. Young had 43 passing TD’s to just four interceptions in 13 games this season, throwing for 4,322 passing yards on 68% CMP in his sophomore campaign, but first-year starting. In the SEC championship game, Young shredded top-ranked Georgia by scoring four total touchdowns on the way to a victory. In Georgia’s first 12 games, they gave up seven touchdowns. Young scored four himself. There is a reason why he is the favorite to win the award and I do not see a way where he does not win it either.
C.J. Stroud: QB, Ohio State
While his name became less popular after Ohio State’s loss to Michigan, QB C.J. Stroud should still be regarded as one of the top quarterbacks in college football and this Heisman finalist nod proves it. In his first year starting for the Buckeyes, Stroud had 38 TD’s and five interceptions, completing near 71% of his passes in only 11 games played. Despite not making the playoff, Stroud led the Buckeyes to the sixth-ranked spot in the country and a spot in the Rose Bowl against (11) Utah. The game will be played on New Years Day at 5:00 P.M. Expect Stroud to be right back in the Heisman conversation next year as he attempts to lead Ohio State to a national title.
My Prediction
While all candidates are worthy, Bryce Young’s performance against Georgia all but sealed the deal for him to be this year’s Heisman Trophy winner. He would be the second straight Alabama player to win the award, following Eagles WR DeVonta Smith. Young was head over heels the best player in college football and I fully expect him to take home the trophy.
Stats and award info from profootballreference.com
Writer
-By: Richie Dordas