Chasing Glory: Meet the Heisman Finalists Shaping College Football’s Legacy
A Record-Breaking RB, a Highlight-Reel Dual Threat Star, and Two Stud Qbs Are the 2024 Heisman Trophy Finalists
Ladies and Gentlemen, Your 2024 Heisman Trophy Finalists
Following last weekend’s conference title games and its subsequent final CFP rankings and brackets hitting the scene, NCAAF news today is all about the four finalists for the 2024 Heisman Trophy.
THE FOUR HEISMAN FINALISTS HAVE OFFICIALLY BEEN ANNOUNCED 🔥🍿
▪️ Dillon Gabriel (Oregon)
▪️ Travis Hunter (Colorado)
▪️ Ashton Jeanty (Boise State)
▪️ Cam Ward (Miami) pic.twitter.com/vOlhxRM0qD— ESPN (@espn) December 9, 2024
Unlike other years in which the race for college football’s biggest personal player award has been a quarterback-centric affair, this season, two non-QBs are leading the Heisman finalists list, showing a clear shift in how the sport was played this year.
But enough with the pleasantries; let’s get to what really matters here: talking about the four potential 2024 Heisman winners.
He Can Do Everything!
It’s not every day you run into a player who you can shape an entire football program around. Come to think of it, the last name I can think of when wanting to find a player like that just happens to be the head coach of the team in which this year’s Heisman Trophy betting odds favorite plays, Deion ‘Prime Time’ Sanders.
But we’re not here to talk about Coach Prime. We’re here to talk about the slickest dual-threat football star to ever play for the Colorado Buffaloes and the first defensive player since Charles Woodson (a personal favorite of mine) to potentially win the Heisman, Travis Hunter.
Four minutes and 36 seconds of Travis Hunter highlights… for no particular reason at all.#Big12FB | @CUBuffsFootball pic.twitter.com/Va6AmjHD5Z
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) December 7, 2024
Following a season with a Big 12 leading 92 receptions and 14 scores on offense, alongside four interceptions and 11 passes defended, if Prime’s coaching ideology ever needed somebody to embody it truly, Hunter took on said task and ran with it with ease.
Afterward, it’s on to the NFL, where Hunter could quickly become an immediate dual-threat impact.
Let’s Talk About Ashton Jeanty’s Heisman Season
If you haven’t been keeping up with NCAAF games much this season, first of all, shame on you. Second, do you have a moment to talk about Boise State bulldozer RB Ashton Jeanty?
Boasting a mind-boggling, and FBS leading 2,497 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns alongside 116 receiving yards and one receiving TD, if Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry have put it upon themselves to remind everybody in the pros that the running back position still matters greatly in modern football, Jeanty did the same thing for college football this season.
Ashton Jeanty was 131 rushing yards away from the ALL TIME FBS rushing record set by Barry Sanders.
Reminder that Ashton Jeanty was benched 8 full quarters because Boise State was dominating their opponents.
Y’all better believe he would’ve shattered that record man.. pic.twitter.com/gYL2bEkSg7
— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) December 9, 2024
Currently riding second in BetUS’ Heisman Winner odds behind Hunter, just knowing Jeanty was a mere 131 yards away from breaking the all-time FBS rushing yard record, all while playing for a school like Boise State, he will leave college with one of the biggest “what if’s” in recent times.
Give It up for This Season’s QB Heisman Finalists Too!
Yes, don’t get your panties in a bunch; as previously mentioned, there are also two QBs in the running for this year’s Heisman. This is football we’re talking about here. Can you imagine a world in which passers weren’t still in part the center of attention of everything?
First up on the list, one of the main reasons Oregon has been the most dominant football program this season, there’s Dillon Gabriel. With 3558 passing yards and 28 touchdowns, two Big 10 leading stats, Gabriel has been a pivotal part of Oregon’s first season in its new conference feeling like a walk in the park.
Next stop: NYC 🎱
Dillon Gabriel is officially a Heisman Trophy finalist. #GoDucks @_dillongabriel_ x @HeismanTrophy pic.twitter.com/qWthnepmx7
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) December 9, 2024
Last but certainly not least, a passer who, according to NCAAF rumors, could be on the New York Jets’ draft radar alongside Alabama stud Jalen Milroe, Miami’s biggest star in quite some time, Cam Ward.
Passing for an FBS-leading 36 touchdowns to seven INTs with 4123 passing yards, 196 rushing yards, and four rushing TDs, Ward feels like one of the most pro-ready prospects to come out of Miami’s program in some time.
CAM WARD IS A HEISMAN FINALIST 🙌 @CanesFootball pic.twitter.com/OPkmaz8qHB
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) December 9, 2024
So, who’s taking it? Will the NCAA pull the plug and make Hunter the first defensive player since Woodson to win it? Will Jeanty rush to the podium to snag up the award? Or will another passer take the trophy? It will all be decided on December 14, so pay attention.
