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Heisman watch 2018: 10 dark horse Heisman Trophy candidates

By Brad Berreman

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 01: McKenzie Milton #10 of the UCF Knights looks to pass in the first half against the Auburn Tigers during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 01: McKenzie Milton #10 of the UCF Knights looks to pass in the first half against the Auburn Tigers during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images /

8. Brandon Wimbush, QB, Notre Dame

After a 4-8 season in 2016, the Fighting Irish rebounded to 10-3 last year capped by a win over LSU in the Citrus Bowl. Wimbush started 12 games, including the bowl game, but he was benched in the second quarter against LSU and backup Ian Book threw the game-winning touchdown pass.

Wimbush went into the bowl game on a downturn, completing 30 of 67 passes over the previous three games, and a 3-for-8 start against LSU got him benched. But he’s considered the starter after an offseason of working on his passing mechanics, and a strong spring, though Book will be joined by top recruit true freshman Phil Jurkovec on the depth chart to put a little extra heat on.

Wimbush clearly has the raw talent to be a Heisman candidate. He accounted for 30 touchdowns last year (16 passing, 14 rushing) with just six interceptions in 275 pass attempts, and he rushed for 804 yards (5.7 yards per carry) as well. A glance at the schedule puts the Fighting Irish in line for nine or 10 wins, or even an outside shot at a spot in the playoff if they can start with a win over Michigan on Sept. 1.

Wimbush completed more than 52 percent of his passes in a game just three times last year, and just once when he put the ball in the air more than 20 times (17-for-30 in the season opener against Temple). That kind of completion rate (49.5 percent for the season last year) simply won’t cut it.

Even with some loss of experience from last year, the Notre Dame offense may only be held back by lackluster or inconsistent quarterback play. So Wimbush has to maintain whatever mechanical fixes he has found, avoid inconsistency and keep Book and Jurkovec on the bench for any meaningful snaps during his senior season.

The lingering mystique of the Golden Dome would advance Wimbush as a potential Heisman candidate, along with the team winning a lot of games again. So it’s up to him to hold up his end of the bargain, and ideally complete north of 60 percent of his passes while maintaining his high level of production as a runner.