Jalen Milroe
There was a time when Jalen Milroe was simply known as Bryce Young’s backup. That changed in 2023 as the signal-caller took over the QB1 job and led Bama to an 11-2 record and showcased what he could do. In ‘24 however, we’ve truly seen the absolute best from the junior. Milroe has the Tide sitting at 4-0 and continues to do it all. The Katy, Texas native has completed 72.9% of his passes for 964 yards and 10 touchdowns. That’s just the damage he’s done with his arm.
On the ground, Milroe is a menace, already rushing for 273 yards and eight TDs. He absolutely dominated Georgia, throwing for 374 yards and two TDs while taking it to the house twice with his legs, too. You can see why Milroe is now a favorite to win the Heisman. He was sixth in the voting a year ago.
Cam Ward
Ward is one to watch as well. The Miami QB has the Hurricanes sitting at 5-0 and played hero on Friday night in a wild 38-34 victory over Virginia Tech on Friday evening. While Ward was picked off twice, he also threw for four touchdowns and 343 yards, even catching the attention of Patrick Mahomes. On the season, the former Washington State standout has completed 70.2% of his passes for 1,782 yards and 18 touchdowns against four interceptions. Ward is also dangerous with his legs, making him a dual-threat QB. He is proving to be a special talent who could very well win the Heisman. Ward has the second-best odds at most online betting sites.
Travis Hunter
Hunter made a name for himself last year at Deion Sanders’ Colorado, putting his two-way talents on full display, which is rare to see at the college level. He’s a stud on defense and a serious threat at wide receiver. Hunter has 46 catches for 561 yards and six touchdowns already. On the opposite side of the ball, the junior has 16 total tackles, three passes defensed, and two interceptions. Hunter is a massive piece for this Buffaloes team and definitely cannot be overlooked in the Heisman conversation because he can truly make an impact in all areas. The last WR to win it was in 2020 and that was DeVonta Smith.
Ashton Jeanty
Ashton Jeanty might not be the most well-known name but what he’s doing at Boise State is special. The running back leads the entire nation with 845 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in just four games. Yes, that is not a typo. He even ran for three TDs in a heartbreaking loss to Oregon and single-handedly kept the Broncos in the game. Jeanty is averaging a mind-boggling 10.3 yards per carry. Video game numbers. It’s hard to ignore the statistics, but Boise State doesn’t face many difficult opponents moving forward. That could hurt his Heisman case compared to the other three names above who play in more competitive conferences.
