Heisman rankings – Week 4: Race of the quarterbacks
2. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
One of the biggest reasons why I have been tepid about supporting Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in regards to his Heisman Trophy candidacy has been because he simply hadn’t been asked to do much. His team had been winning so emphatically that, while his numbers and performances were impressive, there just wasn’t a large body of work. As the competition ramps up, however, he’s showing that he’s here to stay.
In Bama’s Week 4 matchup against Texas A&M, the closest that the Tide have been tested to this point, Tua was absolutely masterful. He finished the game going 22-of-30 for 387 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. For good measure, the sophomore gunslinger added a rushing touchdown. If he can continue this level of productivity and mistake-free play, he may well do enough to take over the top spot.
1. Will Grier, QB, West Virginia
As I’ve said in previous weeks, the 2018 Heisman Trophy is Will Grier’s to lose at this point. Having said that, there are obviously more players nipping closely at his heels after four weeks of play than there were initially, which means that the West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback has to keep performing at an extremely high level for him to maintain his hold on the award.
Next. Helmet Stickers: Best players of Week 4. dark
Though Grier threw two interceptions on Saturday in a win over Kansas State, the positives for the senior quarterback far outweighed the negatives. He finished the afternoon going 25-of-35 for 356 yards and five touchdowns. Just as important, he did so while making overall light work of a Power 5 opponent, leading the Mountaineers to a 35-6 victory. He needs to ease up on the turnovers, but Grier is still putting forth Heisman caliber numbers thus far.