Heisman Nuggets Entering A Big NCAA, NFL Weekend Of Action

Heisman winners in the NFL have been center stage as of late while the race to become the newest member of the Heisman fraternity heats up this weekend with some collegiate big matchups and big opportunities.

We feel compelled to start with the fast start of Washington Commanders quarterback, 2024 NFL rookie and 2023 Heisman winner Jayden Daniels.

Expectations were high for the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. And Daniels, through three weeks at least, has far exceeded them.

He is coming off of winning a dual with fellow LSU Heisman winner Joe Burrow after leading Washington to a win over Cincinnati in record-breaking fashion. 

What record, you may ask? Merely setting the mark for the highest completion percentage in a game by a rookie (as well as in Washington franchise history), an amazing 91.3% on 21-of-23 passing for 254 yards and two scores, complemented by 39 yards rushing and another score.

The two TD passes were the first two of his career and he has three rushing scores in three games. He has completed 80.3% of his passes for 664 yards overall.

Next up for Daniels is another Heisman dual, this time against Arizona’s Kyler Murray. Murray is off to a solid 2024 with 635 passing yards and five TDs while averaging 54 rushing yards per game.

Baker Mayfield’s Tampa Bay goes up against DeVonta Smith’s Philadelphia Eagles in another week 4 Heisman match-up while Burrow and the Bengals will go up against Carolina, although Heisman winner Bryce Young is currently the backup at QB for the Panthers.

Smith has had seven receptions in each of his first three games and if he were playing slots, that’s a jackpot. As it is, his 21 grabs are tied for fourth in the league through three weeks. He has 239 receiving yards and one score and is on early pace for career numbers. Mayfield, meanwhile, has completed almost 75% of his passes for 637 yards and six scores.

Derrick Henry registered his first 100-yard effort as a Raven last week with 151 yards and two TDs and has moved into 34th on the NFL’s all-time leading rusher chart with 9,783 yards.

Heisman-winning teammate Lamar Jackson has thrown for 702 yards and rushed for 254 yards with a combined four TDs. Caleb Williams has thrown for 630 yards and two scores in three games, still awaiting his first breakout performance.

In the college game, there is no bigger match-up this weekend than Georgia at Alabama, where Heisman hopefuls Carson Beck of the Bulldogs and Jalen Milroe of the Crimson Tide will put their 3-0 records on the line, in search of a 4-0 start and some Heisman momentum in a matchup of top 4 teams.

Other undefeated Heisman hopefuls include Miami QB Cam Ward, who will lead the 4-0 Hurricanes against visiting 2-2 Virginia Tech tonight while Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart will lead the Rebels against 2-2 Kentucky on Saturday, 

You could also include Texas QB Arch Manning, who will start again in place of Quinn Ewers as the 4-0 Longhorns host 1-3 Mississippi State. Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel and the 3-0 Ducks travel to UCLA this week. Penn State QB Drew Allar is inching himself into the conversation with 729 passing yards and eight TDs. His 3-0 Nittany Lions host 4-0 Illinois Saturday. 

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty gets a chance at another statement game as his Broncos host 4-0 Washington State on Saturday night.

Colorado’s Heisman hopeful duo Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders lead the Buffaloes in a game at 3-0 Central Florida on Saturday afternoon.

And let’s not forget 3-0 James Madison and QB Alonza Barnett III. Coming off of his epic seven-TD showing last week at North Carolina, his 3-0 Dukes look to keep the momentum going by hosting Ball State.