The Heisman Memorial Trophy.

Created by the Downtown Athletic Club in 1935. It was created to recognize “the most valuable football player east of the Mississippi”. After the death of the club’s athletic director John Heisman on October 3rd, 1936, it was expanded to include players west of the Mississippi as well.

University of Chicago halfback Jay Berwanger was the first college football player to win the award in 1935.

As time has gone on, the Heisman Trophy criteria has changed.

More and more, we are seeing the most prestigious individual award in all of college sports, be awarded to the most popular player, on one of the best teams.

The best player in the country, regardless of team standing, or position, is supposed to lift this beautiful piece of hardware.

The spirit of the award is gone. It doesn’t carry the same weight that it used to. Fans of the game and even players, don’t view it with the prestige that it once demanded.

I’ve spoken to former college and NFL players about it, and they’ve all said the same thing.

One retired NFL player told me “In my 14 years playing college and pro ball, less than a handful of the winners, actually deserved it.”

I’m here to remedy that.
I’m going to keep the spirit alive.

This is the REAL Top 5 Heisman Trophy front runners.

1) Michael Penix Jr

The 6’3″, 213 lbs, quarterback IS the Washington Huskies offense. Without him they are a two or three win team this season.

The senior has completed 133 of 178 passes, for 1,999 yards, with 16 TDs to only 2 INTs.

That’s a 74.7% completion percentage, which is fifth best in the nation, and has a QBR (quarterback rating) of 196.5 this season.

He is probably going to be a first round pick, in next year’s NFL Draft.

2) Caleb Williams

The reigning Heisman Trophy winner from last season, is the reason that the USC Trojans are undefeated. Without him, they would be 2-4 or 3-3 this season.

Williams has completed 119 out of 166 pass attempts, for 1,822 yards, with 22 TDs and only 1 INT.

That’s a 71.7% completion percentage, which is sixteenth in the nation, and has a QBR of 206.4, which is the best in the country.

He is almost guaranteed to be the number 1 pick in next year’s NFL Draft.

3) Ismail Mahdi

If you read that name, and said, out loud or to yourself, who the H-E-double hockey sticks is that, just know that you are not alone.

Ismail Mahdi is the star of the Texas State Bobcats 4-2 team.

The 5’9″, 180 lbs, sophomore, leads the country in all-purpose yards, with 1,131 and yards per game, averaging 188.5 this season.

He’s carried the ball 84 times for 676 yards, and 8 TDs. That’s 8.0 YPC. He has 175 yards and 1 TD, through the air. He also has 260 yards on kickoff returns. He has 10 total TDs this season.

He can do it all. He encompasses what the Heisman Trophy is supposed to stand for.

4) Mohamed Kamara

The 6’1″, 250 lbs, senior defensive lineman, is another name that you’ve probably never heard of.

The Colorado State Rams defensive captain has 9.5 sacks already this season. That leads the country. He has 22 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 pass defended.

If he were putting these numbers up at Ohio State, Alabama, Texas, or any of the “blue bloods”, everyone and their grandmother at the hair salon, would be talking about him.

Teams have to account for him on every play, yet he still makes the big plays.

5) Shedeur Sanders

I think that his stupid little “watch pose” makes him look like an idiot and immature, but he’s easily one of the best players in all of college football.

Without him at quarterback, the Colorado Buffaloes, have a big fat 0 in the win column.

The 6’2″, 215 lbs, junior, leads the country in passing yards with 2,020 so far this season. He’s third in the country in passing TDs, with 16. He’s completed 186 out of 256 pass attempts, which is 72.7%. That is eleventh in the country. He has a QBR of 158.0 so far this season.

With the season now halfway over, it’s going to be interesting to see how things shake out the rest of the way.

I’m sure that y’all are just as excited as I am, to watch it all play out.

– by Sean McKenzie

Photos courtesy of USA Today, SI, kxan, and csurams.

Stats courtesy of ESPN and NCAA.