Heisman Futures: Quarterbacks Leading the Charge Early

As the 2018-19 season finishes, we could quickly turn our focus to the 2019-20 year and take a look at Heisman Trophy odds. Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence got the best of Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship Game and for this reason, he’s a +300 favorite to win the 2019 Heisman Trophy with Tagovailoa directly behind at +350.

BetOnline has Lawrence in +300 followed by Tagovailoa at +350, Georgia QB Jake Fromm at +850, Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor at +900 and Georgia RB D’Andre Swift and Clemson RB Travis Etienne in +950 to round out the top contenders on the oddsboard.

Can Tagovailoa get over the hump in 2019?
Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had a monster year in his first season as the starter, resulting in him being the runner-up at the 2018 Heisman Trophy voting. Personally, I thought Tagovailoa must have won the award as he set up very impressive numbers and just played one fourth quarter annually, excluding the College Football Playoff.

The Hawaii native led a Crimson Tide offense that was third-best from the country at 45.6 points per game and included the sixth-best pass attack with 323.6 passing yards per game. In general, Tagovailoa threw for 3,966 yards to rank fifth in school football while incorporating 43 touchdown passes, the second-most, against only six interceptions. Start looking for the junior to take a step ahead in what could be his final year before he plays on Sundays, and when he can find another gear, +350 is an absolute steal.

Lawrence has reason
Heading into Week 5 of the 2018-19 college football season, I stated that futures bettors should watch on Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence for a possible Heisman winner but maybe not becoming the starter for the first four weeks buried his chances and that I was potentially a year off. Lawrence knocked off senior QB Kelly Bryant in his true freshman season and that choice by Dabo Swinney was the right one as the Georgia native carried the Tigers to a national tournament.

Clemson averaged 44.3 points per game this season, but that climbed to 47.44 ppg in the nine games which Lawrence had been the starting QB, excluding playoffs. Over the year, he pitched 3,280 yards (ranked 21st) with 30 TDs (10th) and just four interceptions and, once more, he didn’t come to be the starter until Week 5. What would his figures have been had he been at the helm all year old? Coming off an impressive national championship match and with another year to grow and develop, Lawrence is unquestionably worthy enough to be the first favorite for the Heisman.