Heisman Trophy Watch 2016: Top 5 candidates after Week 7

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Week 7 is in the books and here is who stands out as top Heisman Trophy candidates heading into Week 8.

It was another eventful week of college football as some top teams dominated while a couple of others fell. Some players boosted their Heisman Trophy resume after strong showings this past week while a few premier players had a bye and are gearing up for a strong second half of the year.

Usual Heisman candidates such as Christian McCaffrey, Leonard Fournette, Baker Mayfield and Royce Freeman were absent from the watch list once again, proving that the field of talent in college football is vast.

Stanford’s McCaffrey may have taken a step back a bit this season as the Cardinal have lost 2-of-3 games. Fournette is still Fournette, but the LSU Tigers have suffered two losses this year already and the loss of a head coach, essentially eliminating him from contention. Mayfield could get back into the conversation if the Sooners keep winning and Freeman’s Ducks have been major disappointments.

With the elimination of a few prominent names, that must mean that a few underdogs are standing out in the Heisman race. Who will be on the watch list this week?

A lot of recent Heisman Trophy hype lately has been for Michigan linebacker/defensive back/do-it-all player Jabrill Peppers, but I’m not ready to jump on the train. He is an elite athlete, but he hasn’t shown that he is great enough to be Michigan’s second defensive Heisman winner. Charles Woodson was the best collegiate defensive back ever, and Peppers is not on that level.

With that being said, here are our top five Heisman Trophy contenders after the seventh week of the regular season.

Oct 15, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) rushes with the football as Wisconsin Badgers linebacker T.J. Watt (42) dives from behind during the fourth quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Ohio State won 30-23. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

J.T. Barrett

QB, Ohio State

You could look at J.T. Barrett’s numbers on the season thus far and argue to the contrary when speaking of Heisman Trophy candidates, but there’s no way you can leave him off the list. If he’s not top-five in some people’s eyes, he has to be at least a top-10 contender.

Considering what he’s had to do this season for the Buckeyes, it’s pretty incredible that his numbers are this solid. He has basically been forced to conjure up new favorite targets after Braxton Miller, Mike Thomas and Jalin Marshall all departed, along with a starting tight end, from last year’s 12-1 squad.

Ohio State is coming off its biggest win of the season, a 30-23 overtime victory against No. 8 Wisconsin on the road. That win might have given this team the confidence it needs to get to the Big Ten title game under Urban Meyer yet again and take the conference crown away from Michigan State.

Barrett is the superstar of the Buckeyes and he had a solid game against a tough Wisconsin defense in one of the top-three most hostile environments in the Big Ten. He was 17-for-29 with 226 yards and a touchdown while rushing for another 92 yards and two scores.

Oct 8, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Trayveon Williams (5) in action during the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Kyle Field. The Aggies defeat the Volunteers 45-38 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Trayveon Williams

RB, Texas A&M

I’m sticking with Trayveon Williams once again in my top five this week after a bye. Although San Diego State’s Donnel Pumphrey was an attractive choice for this spot, the Aztecs’ senior running back has had more of a chance to put up numbers. He does, however, have 1,111 rushing yards and 6.7 yards per touch this season. Shout out to him.

What do I mean when I say Pumphrey has had more opportunities as a rusher? Well, Williams didn’t necessarily take over as Texas A&M’s lead back until a few weeks ago, starting the season as an unknown freshman who was just a three-star high school prospect.

Williams has grown into an absolute monster, though. Through six games, he has 704 yards and five touchdowns. This is impressive because he’s averaging 8.6 yards per carry and has just one contest with over 15 carries this season.

If Williams had as many carries as Pumphrey this season, which is about double, he’d have 1,436 yards and about 10 rushing scores. This kid is just a freshman and he’s going to get even better throughout his career.

Don’t worry, if Williams doesn’t win the Heisman this season, he will be a top-five candidate in 2017.

Sep 30, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Jake Browning (3) avoids the rush by Stanford Cardinal linebacker Joey Alfieri (32) during the second half at Husky Stadium. Washington won 44-6. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

Jake Browning

QB, Washington

Another guy who moved up on my Heisman Trophy watch list from a week ago after a bye, Jake Browning has been phenomenal this season. Not many quarterbacks have really stood out to me outside of Lamar Jackson, but the sophomore quarterback is looking like a true star.

If there’s one quarterback in the country who is likely considered the best pro prospect this season, it would have to be either UCLA’s Josh Rosen or Jake Browning of Washington — or Jackson if he can become more of a passer and not a run-first quarterback.

There’s a reason for all the hype surrounding Browning. The second-year starter for the Huskies has matured quickly and he’s on pace to put up better numbers than he did as a freshman. Heck, he already has more passing touchdowns, 23, than he had all of last season, 16.

Not only has he reached the end zone through the air more frequently, but Browning has also improved his completion percentage by a good margin. Last year, he completed about 63 percent of his throws, but this season, he’s up to 72 percent. Oh yeah, and he has just two interceptions all year.

Washington will face a hapless Oregon State team in Week 8, so expect another huge game out of the gunslinger.

Oct 15, 2016; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) carries the ball while being defended by DNorth Carolina State Wolfpack defensive back Niles Clark (6) during the second half at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Tigers won 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

Deshaun Watson

QB, Clemson

People have knocked Deshaun Watson’s performance over the past couple of games, saying he looks ‘off’ but I’d disagree with that assessment. The Clemson quarterback has been solid and is showing just why he’s an elite Heisman contender, fighting through the adversity of close-calls to lead his team to victory.

No one would have guessed that N.C. State would bring Clemson to overtime on the road, but the Tigers allowed the Wolfpack to stay in the game and give them a major scare. Clemson’s College Football Playoff lives flashed in front of its very eyes as the Wolfpack nearly handed the Tigers their first loss of the year.

Although the loss wouldn’t have cost them the playoff, per say, but it would be tough to rebound with another tough game on the schedule in two weeks. Watson kept his team grounded as it seemed like the Tigers were looking past the Wolfpack to the Florida State game in two weeks after a bye in Week 8.

Watson completed 39-of-52 passes for 378 yards, two touchdowns and an interception and rushed for another 35 yards and a score. He accounted for all three touchdowns for Clemson and was clutch when he needed to be.

Oct 14, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) warms up before the first quarter against the Duke Blue Devils at Papa John

Lamar Jackson

QB, Louisville

Don’t believe in the Lamar Jackson hype train? Watch about 30 seconds of his next game against N.C. State and you’ll see just why he’s going to remain the top Heisman candidate after seven weeks.

Jackson may have had a tough week against Duke in a slim 24-14 victory, but he still managed 181 passing yards and a touchdown and 144 rushing yards and another score. On the year, he has 1,806 yards and 15 touchdowns through the air and another 832 yards and 15 scores on the ground.

It’s tough to find many flaws in Jackson’s game seeing as he has a knack for putting points on the boars, but he, like Deshaun Watson, also nearly suffered an upset loss in Week 7.

If there’s one knock that I have against Jackson this year is that he hasn’t been consistent when it comes to throwing touchdown passes. In fact, he has recorded more than one touchdown pass in just two games this year, but in those two contests, he has a combined 11 passing scores.

Like it or not, Jackson is going to be the top Heisman Trophy candidate until someone finally steps up and assumes the position of college football’s most exciting, dominant and dynamic player.