We’re months away from the beginning of the 2025 school soccer season and Travis Hunter’s Heisman trophy was solely handed out weeks in the past, but it surely’s by no means too early to have a look at what’s forward. Right here’s a way-too-early take a look at the potential Heisman contenders in 2025.
The potential returnees
As of the pre-Christmas writing of this text, we’re nonetheless ready on some NFL draft declarations forward of the January 6 deadline. Which means quarterbacks with School Soccer Playoff expertise like Cade Klubnik (Clemson), Quinn Ewers (Texas) and Jalen Milroe (Alabama) all may return to highschool.
One other quarterback to regulate is Syracuse’s Kyle McCord. Per reviews, the signal-caller who completed tenth in Heisman voting in 2025 is making an attempt to get an extra 12 months of eligibility.
Past the quarterback place, Tennessee working again Dylan Sampson is one other prime Heisman candidate, if he returns to varsity. Any of the 5 would make this listing if they’re again in school in 2025.
MORE: Travis Hunter wins 2024 Heisman Trophy
Protection
In 2024, we noticed Travis Hunter develop into the primary defensive participant to win the Heisman since Charles Woodson, albeit with loads of assistance on his resume from Hunter’s time as a beginning broad receiver. Are there any defensive gamers that may very well be the following to elevate the {hardware}?
I believe so. The highest defensive Heisman candidate is Ohio State security Caleb Downs. Downs has been arguably the most effective security in school soccer since he first laced up his cleats for Alabama as a real freshman in 2023. In 2025, he’s the one returning finalist for the Bednarik Award (School Soccer Defensive Participant of the Yr) and the Thorpe Award (School Soccer Defensive Again of the Yr).
Downs is elite on the defensive aspect of the soccer. He additionally has an X-factor that would launch him into the Heisman race — his capacity to return punts. Downs took a punt again to the top zone towards Indiana. Extra of the identical in 2025 may convey him in New York.
HEISMAN HISTORY: High three finishers all-time | Closest voting finishes | Groups with most winners
Offensive talent positions
A number of elite gamers on offense enter 2025 with a official shot to stop quarterbacks from successful the Heisman. Notre Dame working again Jeremiyah Love is the highest candidate from the backfield. Love rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2024 and gained 100 yards in Notre Dame’s first spherical School Soccer Playoff sport. His hurdle towards USC drew nationwide consideration and may very well be an indication of Heisman-worthy moments to return sooner or later.
At broad receiver, we will take a look at a pair of elite freshmen seeking to make a sophomore leap. Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith is the one returning semifinalist for the Walter Camp Award. Smith rewrote Ohio State’s freshman receiving document e-book and may get extra targets now that Emeka Egbuka is gone to the NFL.
Alabama broad receiver Ryan Williams additionally had a unbelievable freshman season. He joined Smith as a Bilitnekoff semifinalist — an award going to the highest broad receiver in school soccer. Williams was solely 17 when he began the 2024 season, and as he matures and fills out his body he’ll solely get higher.
The quarterbacks
No listing taking a look at Heisman trophy contenders can be full with out quarterbacks. 20 of the final 25 Heisman winners have performed the place, which means 80 p.c of Twenty first-century Heisman winners have been quarterbacks. Right here’s a take a look at the highest quarterback candidates.
The transfers
The switch portal is much from settled because it’s earlier than Christmas, however as of now, two quarterbacks may carry the most recent December custom.
What custom do you ask? The switch and win the Heisman custom in fact! Six of the final eight years a former switch has received the Heisman trophy.
The highest switch candidate to maintain the custom going is John Mateer, the most recent quarterback at Oklahoma. Mateer performed for Washington State in 2024 the place he threw for over 3000 yards and 29 touchdowns. But, Mateer isn’t your regular quarterback switch. He’s transferring to Oklahoma the place he received’t should study a brand new offense for the reason that Sooners employed 29-year-old offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle from Washington State. That may very well be the right recipe for immediate success in Norman, the place 4 quarterbacks have received the Heisman and eight quarterbacks have completed as finalists within the Twenty first century.
Past Mateer, hold an eye fixed out for Zach Calzada at Kentucky. Calzada transferred to the Wildcats after throwing for 3,791 yards and 35 touchdowns at UIW within the FCS. Calzada completed fourth in voting for the Walter Payton Award in 2024 — the Heisman trophy of the FCS. Whereas Calzada hasn’t performed on the FBS stage in a number of years, do not forget that in 2024 Travis Hunter, Cam Ward, Cam Skattebo and Shedeur Sanders all completed within the prime eight of Heisman voting after taking part in within the FCS.
MORE HEISMAN: Lively NFL Heisman winners | Heisman CFP performances | Heisman prime draft picks
The wildcards
Two ACC quarterbacks stand out as wildcards or darkish horses on this way-too-early 2025 Heisman preview. SMU’s Kevin Jennings is the primary to return to thoughts right here. All of us noticed how Jennings appeared flustered like a child taking part in towards EA School Soccer’s stadium pulse on a online game when the Mustang signal-caller performed Penn State within the School Soccer Playoff. Nonetheless, Jennings nonetheless acquired SMU to the postseason. If Jennings can study from the CFP sport and construct off of a 12 months the place SMU solely misplaced one regular-season sport, then he may very well be in Heisman talks.
Georgia Tech’s Haynes King can be a wildcard. King upset Florida State in Eire to open the season and drew nationwide consideration earlier than we knew the Seminoles can be one of many worst ACC groups. He additionally led an upset of then-No. 6 Miami and pushed SEC Champion Georgia to eight overtimes. King has what it takes to ship in massive moments. The important thing for him in 2025 is to remain wholesome sufficient to guide Georgia Tech to wins.
The unknowns
There are a number of unknowns on the quarterback place in 2025 that would have breakout campaigns. Earlier than you assume, “somebody received’t come out of nowhere to win the Heisman,” let me remind you of redshirt freshman Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston.
That mentioned, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin is one to observe. Sayin was the No. 3 quarterback recruit within the class of 2024, initially enrolling at Alabama earlier than transferring to Ohio State. Sayin has sat and watched for a 12 months and may very well be prepared for a terrific 12 months if he performs with a gifted Buckeye roster.
Two quarterbacks who transferred however sat behind veterans in 2024 are Oregon’s Dante Moore and Georgia’s Jaden Rashada. Moore is in a terrific program for quarterbacks at Oregon because the final two starters have completed third in Heisman voting. Rashada was a highly-touted quarterback who went from Florida to Arizona State to now the Bulldogs.
Lastly there’s the lone true freshman on the listing — Michigan’s Bryce Underwood. Underwood is the highest quarterback recruit within the nation and he’s headed to a qb-needy Wolverine crew that completed second-to-last within the Massive Ten for passing. Michigan will solely be two years faraway from a nationwide championship and if the hometown child can proper the ship in 12 months one, he may very well be within the Heisman race.
For all the quarterbacks above, they should be the place their toes are first and win the beginning job within the offseason. But when they’re the starters, they’ve sufficient expertise to be within the Heisman dialog.
The 6 closest Heisman Trophy voting races in school soccer historical past
The sophomores
This subsequent set of quarterbacks may take the following step with a 12 months of taking part in expertise below their belts.
Beginning within the SEC, Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava led the Vols to the School Soccer Playoff in his first full season as a starter as a redshirt freshman. A lot shall be fabricated from Iamaleava’s numbers this offseason, most notably who his passing stats got here towards. Iamaleave completed with 19 touchdowns to 5 interceptions, however threw for zero touchdowns towards Ohio State, Georgia, Florida and Arkansas, with only one landing towards Alabama. Nonetheless, the potential is there if Iamaleave can carry out higher in big-time video games.
LaNorris Sellers helped lead South Carolina to the sting of the School Soccer Playoff bubble in his first 12 months as a starter as a redshirt freshman. The dynamic quarterback accounted for 17 passing touchdowns and 7 dashing touchdowns. If the Gamecocks are competing for an SEC title, he’ll be a Heisman contender.
We’ll transfer on to the true sophomores in 2025 however keep within the SEC. That’s the place Florida’s DJ Lagway stands out. Lagway went 5-0 as a starter in video games he completed, along with his solely loss as a starter coming towards Georgia the place he had the Gators main the eventual SEC champs 10-3 earlier than leaving with an damage within the second quarter. Lagway must navigate a treacherous schedule subsequent 12 months, but when he comes out on prime, it may very well be Heisman worthy.
Nebraska’s Child Mahomes, higher generally known as Dylan Raiola, confirmed flashes of why he was one of many prime quarterback recruits as a real freshman. If Raiola’s expertise can translate to successful — the Cornhuskers misplaced 5 of their final six video games in 2024 — he may put up nice numbers.
Closing out the true freshman who may take the following step is NC State’s CJ Bailey. Bailey accounted for 19 touchdowns after taking on as NC State’s starter in Week 4. He may very well be a darkish horse contender out of the ACC.
How every Heisman winner has carried out within the School Soccer Playoff
The highest contenders
Now it’s time for the highest Heisman contenders on the quarterback place coming into 2025. Three quarterbacks stand out above the remainder: Penn State’s Drew Allar, Texas’ Arch Manning and LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier.
Drew Allar led Penn State to the School Soccer Playoff in 2024. The Nittany Lions must be a playoff contender once more in 2025, and if Allar can proceed his growth as a passer, he may very well be one of many prime quarterbacks within the nation.
Arch Manning will draw loads of headlines from his identify alone subsequent 12 months. He’s additionally earned them based mostly on his efficiency in restricted begins in 2024. Manning went undefeated as a starter through the common season. He’ll attempt to surpass his grandfather Archie (third, 1970), his uncle Peyton (2nd, 1997) and uncle Eli (third, 2003) to develop into the primary Manning to win the Heisman.
Closing out the listing is Garrett Nussmeier. He’s arguably the front-runner for the Heisman in 2025. Nussmeir completed second within the SEC in passing yards and touchdowns final season. The Tigers misplaced 4 video games in 2024, but when Nussmeier and crew can win extra video games down the stretch, he may be part of Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels as latest Heisman winners within the Bayou.