Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava is poised to do what no Vol has ever done. Yes, Iamaleava can win the Heisman Trophy. However, he has some stiff competition, mostly in his backyard.
The quarterback play in the SEC is insanely good. While a player at another position could win the Heisman, that’s most likely not going to happen. The award was once a running-back award, but now it’s clear that the Heisman Trophy is awarded to the best quarterback that is, often times, on the best team.
Look at the last seven winners of the award. Six have been quarterbacks. That gives Iamaleava an advantage over any other skill-position player. Here are my three top candidates based on what they’ve done so far and projecting what they’ll do this season. To be clear, this is not how I would cast my vote if it were due today. This is combination of now and what can happen the rest of the season.
No. 1 – Texas QB Quinn Ewers
After beating Michigan on the road, no Heisman Trophy contender has a better win on their resume. Therefore, the Texas quarterback takes my top spot. Texas also appears to be elite and a national championship contender so he’ll get plenty of pub.
No. 2 – Georgia QB Carson Beck
Until I’m proven wrong, which just might be this season, Georgia is the top of the SEC and, maybe, the best team in the nation. Beck doesn’t blow you away with his athleticism, but he might be the starting quarterback for the national champions. That’s tough to beat.
No. 3 – Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava
Tennessee’s superstar is just a redshirt freshman, but he’s already a media darling. He’s already shed his pajama pants that he sported as a recruit. Evening wear hasn’t worked for anyone except for Hugh Hefner, so that was a good move and a sign that he wants to make a real run at the award. While Iamaleava is the sixth-highest passer in the SEC, I’m placing him on my ranking by what I expect him to do in the coming weeks. Iamaleava could throw for 1,000 yards against Kent State if he and Tennessee’s coaches wanted him too. Then, it’s on to Oklahoma.
How about a curve ball? What if Tennessee’s defense and running game is go good that Iamaleava doesn’t have the numbers to win the Heisman. Doubtful, but worth a thought.
No. 4 – Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart
There’s a lot to like about Dart, but he just hasn’t played anyone else. I’m not sure a defender touched him in the first two blowout games that Ole Miss played against Middle Tennessee State and Wake Forest. Dart won’t play a ranked team until mid-October so he could move up in the Heisman race based on statistics alone.
X – Factor – Miami QB Cam Ward and Alabama QB Jalen Milroe
Like Dart, I don’t think Ward has played anyone significant and, yes, I’m excluding the Florida Gators from the realm of significance. Plus, as athletic as he is, Dart prefers to win in the pocket and might have the most accurate arm of any quarterback in the nation.
We still don’t know how Milroe is going to fit into first-year Alabama head coach Kalen Deboer’s system after two blowout wins against Western Kentucky and South Florida. It’s worth noting that the Bulls were still in the game midway through the fourth quarter against the Crimson Tide. Milroe was sacked three times. If his pass protection from a banged-up offensive line doesn’t get better, he won’t even get a sniff of New York City.
The Default – Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel
I feel like most of the other quarterbacks on this list are more talented than Gabriel. However, he’ll continue to put up good numbers that will likely improve as he feels more comfortable in the Duck’s offensive system, which is different that what Gabriel excelled in when he was in Oklahoma. It’s not his fault, but being 5-foot-11 and playing on the west coast probably doesn’t help his chances.
