Can Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler be the third redshirt freshman to win the Heisman Trophy?

Let’s not overlook Spencer Rattler’s Heisman Trophy candidacy just yet.

Spencer Rattler is next up to lead Oklahoma football at the quarterback position.

Under head coach Lincoln Riley, the Oklahoma Sooners have been the gold standard for quarterbacking excellence in the last three seasons. Three different OU quarterbacks have made the trip to New York City to take part in the Heisman Trophy ceremony since 2017. Baker Mayfield won it in 2017, Kyler Murray did the same in 2018 and Jalen Hurts finished as runner-up last year.

While all three former Oklahoma quarterbacks are on their rookie contracts in the NFL, it is a new era in the ‘gun for Sooners football. Oklahoma has a top-tier redshirt freshman poised to take the college football world by storm in Rattler. FOX College Football believes he is the best redshirt freshman in the country. Could he be the third redshirt freshman to ever win the Heisman Trophy?

Will Spencer Rattler join the likes of Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston?

Not until the late 2000s was it even conceivable to give a Heisman Trophy to anyone who wasn’t an upperclassmen. Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow, Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford and Alabama Crimson Tide running back Mark Ingram Jr. proved sophomores could win the award in three straight years from 2007 to 2009. A few years later, it was about the redshirt freshman.

Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel became the first redshirt freshman to win the Heisman in 2012. Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston one-up Manziel in 2013 by winning the Heisman and going in a undefeated BCS National Championship season. However, the only underclassmen to win it since was Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson in 2016.

Though he’s not the favorite, nor should he be, what are the chances Rattler gives OU its third Heisman winner in four seasons? The good news is he plays the right position on the best team in the Big 12. He’ll put up stats in Riley’s offense, which should be good enough to get him at the very least an invitation to New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation.

Of course, he’ll probably only be the third-best quarterback in attendance, as he’ll have to compete with Justin Fields of the Ohio State Buckeyes and Trevor Lawrence of the Clemson Tigers for that top honor. Fields was a Heisman finalist last season under first-year head coach Ryan Day. It feels like either Fields or Lawrence will end up winning the award, assuming we have a season this fall.

However, if college football is played in the spring, Rattler stands an even better chance of winning the Heisman because Lawrence won’t play in the spring and neither should Fields. Both quarterbacks are top NFL Draft prospects and probably have no interest in playing games for free when they’ve got interviews and a scouting combine to get ready for. This would so serve Rattler.

While Rattler probably won’t win the Heisman, he can be the third redshirt freshman to do it.

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