FILE – Alabama quarterback Bryce Young (9) throws a pass against Auburn during the first half of an … [+]
As a freshman quarterback at Alabama in 2020, Bryce Young attempted only 22 passes and served as the backup to Mac Jones, a first-team All-American and first round pick in the 2021 NFL draft.
Young was the nation’s top high school prospect in his class, according to 247Sports, so most observers thought he could step in last year as a worthy replacement for Jones and continue Alabama’s winning tradition. Still, Young surpassed even the most optimistic projections, as he became the first Alabama quarterback to win the Heisman trophy as college football’s best player.
Now, Young could become only the second player to win two Heismans, joining former Ohio State running back Archie Griffin, who won the award in 1974 and 1975. But as of now, Young is listed as second on the Heisman betting odds on DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and PointsBet, according to Rotowire. Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, who like Young is entering his third year in college and second year as a starter, is the betting favorite.
While Young would seem to be the logical Heisman favorite, considering he won the award last year and Alabama is ranked first in the preseason polls, history is not on his side to repeat.
During the past 20 years, eight other Heisman winners have returned to school: Oklahoma quarterback Jason White (the 2003 winner), USC
Six of those players finished in the top-six of the Heisman voting in the year after they won the award, but none placed higher than third. And yet, if Young can approach what he accomplished last year, he should buck the trend and become a two-time winner.
Young set Alabama records last year with 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns, completed 66.9% of his attempts and only threw seven interceptions. He also led the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff title game, where they lost, 33-18, to Georgia.
Alabama enters this season ranked first in the Associated Press and AFCA Coaches polls and faces just three teams in the top 25 of the preseason polls: Arkansas, Texas A&M and Ole Miss. However, four of their opponents received votes in those rankings: Tennessee, LSU, Mississippi State and Auburn.
Stroud’s place atop the preseason Heisman betting odds centers around his success from last season as well as Ohio State’s No. 2 ranking in the AP and AFCA Coaches polls and the talent on the Buckeyes’ offense.
Stroud finished fourth in last year’s Heisman race, completing 71.9% of his passes for 4,435 yards, 44 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He will have a chance to make an early Heisman case when the Buckeyes open their season at home on Sept. 3 against No. 5 Notre Dame.
Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, two top receivers from the 2021 team, are no longer at Ohio State, having been selected 10th and 11th overall, respectively, in April’s NFL draft. But Stroud has plenty of players to throw to, led by receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was first on the Buckeyes last year with 95 catches and 1,606 receiving yards. The Buckeyes are also expecting breakout years from receivers Julian Fleming, Marvin Harrison, Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, who were big-time recruits in the classes of 2020 and 2021.
Ohio State returns its two top running backs from last year’s team, as well: Treveyon Henderson, who ran for 1,248 yards and 15 touchdowns, and Miyan Williams, who gained 508 rushing yards and scored three rushing touchdowns.
Stroud and Young are not only the two leading Heisman favorites, but they are also the top quarterback prospects for the 2023 NFL draft, according to ESPN’s Todd McShay, who has Stroud ranked as the No. 3 overall prospect and Young as the No. 4 prospect.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/timcasey/2022/08/26/can-alabama-quarterback-bryce-young-become-the-second-2-time-heisman-trophy-winner/