The Heisman Trophy has been dominated by quarterbacks overall, but wide receiver DeVonta Smith was able to win the award in 2020. A non-quarterback can win the award even if they are long shots. Here are the non-quarterbacks who can compete for the 2024 Heisman Trophy.
Note: Odds found here.
Luther Burden, WR, Missouri Tigers (65/1)
Burden took a huge jump last season to really put him on the map after he was a highly-rated recruit. As a freshman, he had 45 catches for 375 yards and six touchdowns. In his second season with Missouri, he hauled in 86 passes for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns. During his breakout season, he helped Missouri win 11 games.
There are a few things going for Burden that can help him get noticed for the Heisman. His quarterback, Brady Cook, and six other starters rejoin him on offense, which means there is a good chance for improvement. Burden also has the chance to get a lot of key games played in order to garner national attention. The Tigers square off with Texas A&M, Alabama and Oklahoma. With a decently manageable SEC schedule, at least compared to others, Missouri can win a lot of games. If Burden can show up in some of the key games, he could end up being a Heisman finalist.
Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado Buffaloes (65/1)
Two-way players have a good shot of getting attention, but it is still hard to win the Heisman. Hunter started his college career at Jackson State for one season before transferring to Colorado last season. On offense, he had 57 receptions for 721 yards and five touchdowns. Defensively, he had 30 total tackles, five passes defended and three interceptions. He helped Colorado go from one win to five last season.
Colorado needs to take another big jump to give Hunter a chance to win the Heisman. They will likely have to win at least nine games, something that is possible, but maybe not probable given that their over/under win total for the season is 5.5. Hunter’s ability on both sides of the ball gives him a chance, but so too does the attention that Colorado gets throughout a college football season.
Ollie Gordon, RB, Oklahoma State Cowboys (75/1)
Gordon led the FBS in rushing yards last season and is looking to keep that momentum going. He rushed for just 308 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman. In 2023, he broke out with 1,732 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. His play led the Cowboys to a 10-win season.
Oklahoma State is one of the favorites in the new Big 12 and if they play like that, Gordon will get a lot of attention. The Cowboys will only have a few games against marquee games, so Gordon will have to hope his team winning and his stats can push him forward. The Cowboys return nine starters on offense in total, so there is hope he can match his numbers from last season.
Donovan Edwards, RB, Michigan Wolverines (75/1)
Edwards has been backing up Blake Corum the last few years, but has had his chance to shine. He rushed for just 174 yards in 2021. For the 2022 season, he rushed for 991 yards, showing a late surge after Corum went down with an injury. His game against Ohio State in 2022 was huge, but his efficiency went down in 2023, as he rushed for just 497 yards and five touchdowns.
Now that Corum is in the NFL, it is time for Edwards to get the full workload. Michigan doesn’t return many starters, but they have built an identity off running the football. Edwards can put up stats with the extra workload. Michigan will also have plenty of big games for him to get attention if he is performing well. The Wolverines play Texas, USC, Washington, Oregon and Ohio State, which will be games that will draw some national attention.
Evan Stewart, WR, Oregon Ducks (120/1)
Stewart was a highly-touted recruit who originally played for Texas A&M. In 10 games as a freshman, Stewart had 53 receptions for 649 yards and two touchdowns. He was only able to play in eight games during the 2023 season, registering 38 catches for 514 yards and four touchdowns. Stewart decided to transfer to Oregon for his junior year of eligibility.
The Ducks are projected to be one of the best teams in the country. This will give Stewart the chance to be on a winning team and have plenty of chances for Heisman moments. The Ducks will play Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin and Washington this season. Stewart has Oklahoma and UCF transfer Dillon Gabriel taking over on offense, who could also put himself in good position to win the award. There will be plenty of talent on the field for Oregon, but Stewart has shown flashes of his potential already and could be in store for a big season in this offense.
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