Five Heisman Trophy candidates to keep an eye on

Quarterbacks have dominated the Heisman Trophy race in recent years years, winning the award 17 times since 2000. 

There are longshots in the field to consider, but it’s not a surprise that the five candidates with the best odds to win the award for the 2020 college football season are quarterbacks. 

The list of candidates includes two frontrunners, Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence, as well as a couple transfers looking to make the most of their final year of eligibility. 

Here is the list of the top five candidates to keep an eye on for the Heisman Trophy.

Justin Fields (QB, Ohio State)

Fields is the favorite to take the Heisman Trophy next season, with odds of +200 at BetAmerica. 

The Ohio State quarterback had an outstanding sophomore season, with 3,273 passing yards, 41 touchdowns passes, and only three interceptions. Two of those interceptions came in the College Football Playoff semifinal against the Clemson. 

Originally a member of the Georgia Bulldogs before he transferred to Ohio State, Fields also rushed for 484 yards and 10 touchdowns with the Buckeyes last season.

His outstanding production earned him a trip to the Heisman Trophy ceremony, although it was going to be incredibly difficult to knock off Joe Burrow after his season with LSU.

Expectations are high for Fields this season. Not only is he the Heisman favorite, but the Buckeyes currently have the second-lowest odds to win a national title. 

Trevor Lawrence (QB, Clemson)

After he led Clemson to a national championship as a freshman, Lawrence is about to enter his junior year with the second-lowest odds to win the Heisman. 

It is likely that Lawrence and Fields are in a match race for the Heisman, and they could also be the top two picks in next year’s NFL Draft. 

Expectations on Lawrence grew to exceptional heights, following his first year at Clemson, and he had another strong sophomore year, with 3,665 passing yards, 36 touchdown passes, and eight interceptions. 

His last game, however, wasn’t his best. He was held without a touchdown pass and had 234 yards passing in the College Football Playoff National Championship against LSU. 

Jamie Newman (QB, Georgia)

Newman has joined the Bulldogs for his final year of eligibility and has the third-lowest odds to win the Heisman. 

He had a breakout 2019 season with Wake Forest, where he completed 61% of his passes, with 2,868 passing yards, 26 passing touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He also ran for 574 yards and six scores. 

Newman will take over an offense that was previously led by Jake Fromm, who has moved on to the NFL. There might be added difficulty for Newman — or any other transfers — getting adjusted to a new system, as the SEC has suspended all team activities and spring football because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

D’Eriq King (QB, Miami)

After four years with Houston, King will play his final year of college football for the Hurricanes.

King put together a solid season in 2018, with 2,982 yards passing, 36 touchdown passes, and only six interceptions, and added 674 rushing yards and 14 scores on the ground. 

He is capable of putting up big numbers, but also plays an exciting brand of football that could put him into the Heisman conversation.

Spencer Rattler (QB, Oklahoma)

Rattler is expected to take over the Sooners offense next season, after he spent last year as a freshman backup to Jalen Hurts. 

A five-star recruit out of high school, Rattler completed seven passes last year, with one touchdown toss. 

The Sooners have done a great job to produce elite quarterbacks in recent years, as Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray earned Heisman honors in back-to-back seasons. Both went first overall in the NFL Draft.

Rattler is about to take a major step in his development next year. The Heisman may ultimately be out of reach in 2020, given the frontrunners, but it could set him up to be the favorite in his third year. 

Find 2020 Heisman odds and more college football futures at BetAmerica!