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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: Kevin Abele-Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Kevin Abele-Getty Images /

5. Jake Browning, QB, Washington

Someone who has registered votes in a Heisman race before would not ordinarily be a dark horse to win the award at any point. But that’s where Browning is right now, after a significant drop-off in 2017.

After topping 3,400 passing yards with 43 touchdowns (second in the country) in 2016, as he won Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year and led the Huskies to the College Football Playoff, Browning fell to 2,719 yards through the air with just 19 touchdowns last season.

Shoulder surgery in January of 2017 limited Browning during spring practice last year, and that surely threw off his entire season as he may never have quite been 100 percent. All was not completely lost though, as he completed a sparkling 68.5 percent of his passes (second in the country), threw just five interceptions and led the Pac-12 in passer rating for the second straight year.

Browning’s 2018 Heisman Trophy resume, and by connection Washington’s case to be a national title contender, will get an immediate mark in the Sept. 1 opener against Auburn in Atlanta. A win at a neutral site (in what will surely feel more like a true road game), with a good performance from Browning against a top defense, should set both things on a good track that won’t be derailed easily.