Heisman rankings - Week 8: Kyler Murray remains in the hunt

Heisman rankings – Week 8: Kyler Murray remains in the hunt

FORT WORTH, TX - OCTOBER 20: Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Kyler Murray (1) runs with the ball during the game between the Oklahoma Sooners and TCU Horned Frogs on October 20, 2018 at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, TX. (Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 04: Ed Oliver #10 of the Houston Cougars celebrates after a tackle in the first half against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at TDECU Stadium on October 4, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

8. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston

The only defensive player remaining even close to the 2018 Heisman Trophy mix is Houston Cougars defensive tackle and likely top-five pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Ed Oliver. The big man up front for Houston’s defense is showing every reason why many have pegged him as one of the best NFL prospects in the outgoing class after this season, and continued to do just that on Saturday in a win over Navy.

Oliver finished the day with five total tackles that included a sack and two tackles for loss. That’s actually a slow day for the big man, who now has three sacks, an absurd 13.5 tackles for loss and 51 total tackles on the year. To be in this conversation as a defensive player, you have to put up ridiculous numbers, and Oliver is doing exactly that thus far.

7. Trace McSorley, QB, Penn State

Things almost went from bad to worse for Trace McSorley and the Penn State Nittany Lions. After losing to Ohio State three weeks ago, then coming off the bye and getting upset by Michigan State, the 18th-ranked team in the country found themselves in danger of getting knocked off by the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday. And if it wasn’t for their Heisman candidate quarterback, that may very well have been the case.

McSorley was pedestrian throwing the ball, going 19-of-36 for 220 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. However, he more than made up for that with his legs, taking 19 carries for 107 yards and two touchdowns, which happened to be the go-ahead score and the dagger in the fourth quarter. He remains a clutch player capable of simply making things happen and he showed that again on Saturday.

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