Teammates from Alabama, Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith, along with Trevor Lawrence of Clemson and Kyle Trask of Florida were named finalists for the Heisman Trophy. The Heisman will be awarded on January 5 during a virtual ceremony. coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of the regular trip to New York for the presentation of the trophy that usually comes with completion.
Jones and Smith are the eighth set of teammates to be finalists together since the tradition began in 1982. Smith is trying to become the first recipient to win Heisman from Desmond Howard of Michigan in 1991.
If Smith is not the leader of the nation in receptions (98) and in welcoming courts (1,511), the winner will be a defender for the 13th time in 15 years.
Jones leads the country in terms of efficiency rating (202.34), completion rate (76.5) and yards per pass (11.4), with 32 landing passes.
Crimson Tide, the best ranked, will play Notre Dame no. 4 in the semifinals of the college football playoff on January 1.
Jones or Smith would become the third winner of Heisman in Alabama, but first he is not a runner. Mark Ingram (2009) and Derrick Henry (2015) were the first winners of Heisman ai Tide.
Lawrence was the pre-season favorite to win the award, but the lack of two games after contracting COVID-19 slowed down his campaign. The junior defender and the first presumed selection in the next NFL draft did not play against Boston College and Notre Dame.
He played in the rematch of the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship against Irish Fighting last weekend and led the Tigers to an explosive victory. In the season, Lawrence threw for 2,753 yards and 22 touchdowns in nine games, helping Clemson reach the playoffs for the third time in his career.
Clemson no. 2 plays Ohio State no. 3 in the semifinals of the Sugar Bowl on January 1. Lawrence would be the first winner of the Tigers’ Heisman.
Trask leads the country with 43 touchdown passes and 4,125 meters. The senior is trying to join Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel and Tim Tebow as the winning defender of Heisman in Florida.
The rest of the top 10 were revealed in order, starting with Alabama runner Najee Harris.
Breece Hall, behind Iowa State, was sixth, followed by Ohio State defender Justin Fields, BYU defender Zach Wilson, Notre Dame defender Ian Book, and Kyle Pitts.