Heisman rankings - Week 1: Rodney Anderson a sleeping giant

Heisman rankings – Week 1: Rodney Anderson a sleeping giant

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 01: Oklahoma Sooners running back Rodney Anderson (24) runs past Florida Atlantic Owls defensive end Damian Horton (55) during the Florida Atlantic Owls game versus the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, OK.(Photo by Alonzo Adams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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HOUSTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 01: Ed Oliver #10 of the Houston Cougars pressures Shawn Stankavage #3 of the Rice Owls in the second half at Rice Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

8. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston

Everything that was just said about Bosa in regards to defensive players and the Heisman Trophy undoubtedly applies to Ed Oliver out of Houston as well. The junior defensive tackle is unquestionably one of the best players in college football (that’s why he gets to do thing like declare for the 2019 NFL Draft after last season). However, he must simply put up gaudy numbers to make a case to be in this conversation.

While Oliver didn’t register a sack against the Rice Owls in the Cougars’ season-opener, he certainly made his presence felt. He finished the outing with 13 total tackles, but the most impressive number was undoubtedly the 3.5 tackles for loss he wound up with. He lived penetrating into the backfield and making plays, which is going to be the norm this season.

7. McKenzie Milton, QB, UCF

There may have been some quiet concerns about what the UCF Knights would look like this season with the departure of former head coach Scott Frost. After all, his designs helped the Knights go unbeaten last season, so it stood to reason that they might lose some of their luster without him. As it turns out, as long as UCF has quarterback McKenzie Milton running the show, they appear like they’ll be just fine.

In the season-opener on Thursday night against the UConn Huskies, Milton did essentially whatever he felt like to the opposing defense. While his seven rushes for 50 yards were relatively pedestrian, his 24-of-32 for 346 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions were anything but that. He continued to look like a star in college football and, if he can led UCF to another remarkable season, he’s going to make himself impossible to overlook.

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