(Clockwise from top left) 2021 Heisman finalists Aidan Hutchinson, Kenny Pickett, C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young.
Heisman Notes On The 2021 Finalists
The 87th Heisman Trophy winner is just four days away from being named. Depending on who wins, here is what it will mean (listed alphabetically).
Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
If he wins the Heisman …
• If Hutchinson were to win the Heisman, he would be Michigan’s fourth winner following Charles Woodson (1997), Desmond Howard (1991) and Tom Harmon (1940).
• He would be the first Big Ten player to win since Ohio State’s Troy Smith.
• It would be the 16th Heisman won by a player on a current Big Ten school.
• He would be the eighth Heisman winner to take part in the College Football Playoff, joining Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, Derrick Henry, Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Joe Burrow and DeVonta Smith.
• He would be only the third senior to win the Heisman since 2006, all in the past three years. That would be the longest Heisman senior streak since six seniors in a row between 1998-2003.
• He would be the first Heisman winner wearing No. 97.
• He would be the first defensive player to win the Heisman who did not play snaps on offense.
If he finishes second…
• It would be the highest finish by a defensive player since Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o finished second in 2012.
If he finishes third or fourth.
… it would be the highest finish by a defensive lineman since Chase Young was fourth in 2019.
Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
If he wins the Heisman …
• Pickett would be Pittsburgh’s second winner and first since Tony Dorsett (1976).
• He would be the 18th quarterback in the last 21 years to win the Heisman and the 37th overall.
• He would be only the third senior to win the Heisman since 2006, all in the past three years. That would be the longest Heisman senior streak since six seniors in a row between 1998-2003.
• He would be the fourth Heisman winner to wear No. 8, joining Davey O’Brien, QB, TCU, 1938, Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon, 2014, Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville, 2016.
• His 4,319 passing yards would be sixth most by a Heisman winner.
If he finishes second…
• He would be the highest Pitt finisher since Larry Fitzgerald was second in 2003 (he is Pitt’s first finalist since Fitzgerald as well) and it would mark the second straight year the runner-up came from the ACC (Trevor Lawrence, Clemson, 2020).
C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
If he wins the Heisman …
• Stroud would win Ohio State’s eighth Heisman Trophy, be its seventh Heisman winner overall and its first winner since Troy Smith (2006). He would join Buckeye winners Les Horvath (1944), Vic Janowicz (1950), Howard Cassady (1955), Archie Griffin (1974-75), Eddie George (1995) and Smith.
• He would be the first Big Ten player to win since Smith.
• It would be the 16th Heisman won by a player on a current Big Ten school.
• He would be the third freshman to win the award following Johnny Manziel (2012) and Jamies Winston (2013).
• He would be the 18th quarterback in the last 21 years to win the Heisman and the 37th overall.
• He would be the fifth Heisman winner to wear No. 7, joining John Huarte, QB, Notre Dame, 1964, Pat Sullivan, QB, Auburn, 1971, Danny Wuerffel, QB, Florida, 1996, Eric Crouch, QB, Nebraska, 2001.
• His 182.24 passer rating would be ninth best by a Heisman winner.
If he finishes second…
• He would be the fourth Ohio State player to finish as runner-up and the first runner-up from the Big Ten since Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon (2014).
If he finishes third or fourth …
• He would be the highest Ohio State finisher since Justin Fields was third in 2019.
Bryce Young (Alabama)
If he wins the Heisman …
• Young would be Alabama’s fourth Heisman winner and the second in a row following DeVonta Smith in 2020. Derrick Henry (2015) and Mark Ingram (2009) are the other winners.
• Alabama would win back-to-back Heisman Trophies, marking the second time in five years a school produced back-to-back winners, following Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield (2017) and Kyler Murray (2018) and the fifth time overall (Yale 1936-37, Army 1945-46, Ohio State 1974-75, Oklahoma 2017-18, Alabama 2020-21).
• It would give Alabama three Heisman Trophies in seven years (including Henry), tying Notre Dame’s Heisman-best stretch, done twice (1943-49 and 1947-53).
• It would give Alabama four Heisman winners in 13 years (including Ingram), surpassed only by Notre Dame’s four Heismans in 11 years (1943-53).
• He would be the fifth sophomore to win and the first since Lamar Jackson in 2016.
• He would be the 33rd Heisman winner from the Southeastern Conference and the third in a row following Smith in 2020 and Joe Burrow (LSU) in 2019.
• He would be the 18th quarterback in the last 21 years to win the Heisman and the 37th overall.
• He would be the eighth Heisman winner to take part in the College Football Playoff, joining Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, Derrick Henry, Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Joe Burrow and DeVonta Smith.
• He would be the second Heisman winner wearing No. 9, joining Burrow.
• He would become the Heisman-best third winner from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif., joining Matt Leinart (2004) and John Huarte (1964).
• Alabama Coach Nick Saban would join Frank Leahy for the most Heisman winners coached (four).
• His 4,322 passing yards would be sixth most by a Heisman winner.
If he finishes second…
… He would be Alabama’s first runner-up since Tua Tagovailoa in 2018 and the third overall, including AJ McCarron, who was second in 2013.
If he finishes third…
… He would be Alabama’s first third-place finisher since Amari Cooper in 2014 and ninth top 3 finish since Mark Ingram won the award in 2009.