By: Joe Delaney

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Heisman hopefuls for 2024. As we move forward with the 2024 season let’s look at the early hopefuls for the coveted Heisman Trophy as College Football’s Most Outstanding Player.

A month into the season; let’s look at who’s hot and who’s not.

We lead off with Quinn Ewers of the now #1 ranked Texas Longhorns. The 6’ 2” 210 QB has thrown for around 700 yards. Great numbers but where we go from here remains to be seen.

Ewers sustained an oblique strain in the second quarter of the UTSA game and is now week to week. He better get ready pretty quick for two reasons.

First the meat of the schedule is coming up with Oklahoma and Georgia back-to-back.

Secondly, Ewers has the highest rated backup in football in Arch Manning. If Manning takes off Ewers may have a hard time getting back on the field much less win the Heisman.

I’m thinking Ewers is a lukewarm candidate as of now.  And those games with Oklahoma and Georgia will tell us where Ewers and the Longhorns are going.

Next up is Carson Beck of the now #2 Georgia Bulldogs. Both Beck and the Dawgs looked very beatable and average against the Kentucky Wildcats. The good thing is that they still won the game.

The 6’4” 220lb Beck has thrown for 680 yards and 7 TDS and 0 INTs. Beck may be hampered in that he won’t lead the nation in passing yards and TDs. But he might lead the Dawgs to the National Championship.

We will see how the next few weeks play out as the Dawgs have to travel to both Alabama and Texas. Get HOT in those two games and Beck has a good shot.

Jalen Milroe of the Alabama Crimson Tide is HOT.  That’s capital letter HOT. The 6’2” 225 LB QB has thrown for 590 yards in 3 games with 8 TDs and 0 INTs. But wait, Mr. Dual Threat has also rushed for 156 Yds and 6 more TDs.

The guy has a great deep ball and can pull it and make defenses pay when he runs out of the pocket. He is a true Dual Threat QB and is leading an Alabama offense that has scored 63, 42, and 42 points in the first 3 games of the season.

If he leads the Elephants to a win over Georgia on September 28^th, he will be your front runner.

Well did you notice the top three? Sure, you did. All high profile SEC guys. Let them take away votes from here and there and you might just have Cam Ward of the Miami Hurricanes hoisting the trophy in New York.

Ward has led the Hurricanes to a top 10 ranking, all the while putting up Heisman type numbers. Try throwing for over 1035 yards and almost 15 TD’. This guy is a real threat. Ward is HOT and if he stays that way he has both the schedule and the team to move his Heisman hopes forward. He’s my dark horse of the top 4.

And yes, it’s so early in the season that other players may step up. Don’t count out Dillon Gabriel of Oregon or Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss. Great players with very good teams behind them.

Add in Shedeur Sanders of Colorado and Nico Iamaleava of Tennessee for a couple of longshots and there you go.

And notice that I haven’t had a position player other than QB. Stranger things have happened but I just don’t see a running back or receiver stepping up. But it’s early.

My way too early pick is Jalen Milroe. This guy is coming into his own and he has a new coach that is going to turn him loose.

Remember, Kalen DeBoer is considered a QB guru. Last year he had Michel Penix Jr. with the Washington Huskies.  This year It’s Jalen Milroe.

I think Milroe will put up unbelievable numbers that will vault him into the Heisman discussion. And if the Tide play up to their capabilities. He’s who I think will be on the podium come December.