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After taking home the 2022 Heisman Trophy, Southern California’s Caleb Williams will take aim at college football history as the latest to challenge former Ohio State running back Archie Griffin’s status as the only two-time winner in the award’s history.
He’ll have company from some of the most productive passers and runners in the Bowl Subdivision. As of now, Williams’ biggest threat is North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, who surged into the Heisman picture as a redshirt freshman before sputtering during the Tar Heels’ three-game losing streak to end the regular season.
But with nine months until the 2023 season kicks off, the most overlooked Heisman contenders are the unknown starters at Alabama, Ohio State, Tennessee, Georgia and elsewhere.
Alabama and Ohio State will be in the market for new quarterbacks with Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud expected to land among the top picks in next year’s NFL draft. Tennessee will be looking for a replacement for Hendon Hooker and Georgia for Stetson Bennett. All four new starters will put up good-to-great numbers for some of the nation’s best teams.
TCU should lose Max Duggan, the second-place finisher in Saturday’s voting, who has one more year of eligibility but could opt for the NFL with his stock at an all-time high.
2022 Heisman Trophy:USC quarterback Caleb Williams wins Heisman, capping electric sophomore season
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This 2023 Heisman watchlist removes additional players expected to strike out for the NFL — including Texas running back Bijan Robinson, Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn and Alabama linebacker Will Anderson — and focuses on established starters or players widely expected to move into starting roles.
Until proven otherwise, next year’s Heisman is Williams’ to lose.
The Trojans need to tap back into the transfer portal for help at the offensive skill positions with running back Travis Dye and star receiver Jordan Addison unlikely to return.
