Heisman watch 2020: Kyle Trask makes huge move on idle Justin Fields, Mac Jones

Kyle Trask turned heads in the Heisman watch rankings as other leaders in the Heisman race like Justin Fields, Mac Jones and more were off for the week. 

College football Week 11 offered fans a selection of highly entertaining games but it was also a week in which there was a bit of a void. With the likes of Alabama and Ohio State having their games canceled due to COVID-19 while Clemson had a scheduled open week, not only were some of the best college football teams in the country not in action but many of the top candidates in the Heisman Trophy race weren’t on the field.

Of the players on the Heisman watch that were in action this week, however, they all delivered massive performances. Florida quarterback Kyle Trask and North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell combined for 13 total touchdowns in wins for their respective teams while several other players made their presence known in matchups of their own.

So despite not having Mac Jones, Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence, among others, on the field this week, we’re still diving into the Heisman watch once again. We’ll run through the top 10 rankings for the year as we exit the Week 11 slate.

Heisman watch candidate No. 10: Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina

Given that the North Carolina Tar Heels entered this week with two losses, they hadn’t totally lived up to expectations coming into Week 11. Part of that was undoubtedly the fact that quarterback Sam Howell had been good but not as good as some people expected him to be. Locked in a shootout with Wake Forest on Saturday, though, Howell had his Heisman moment with a record-breaking performance.

Throwing for a UNC record 550 yards on the day, Howell tossed six touchdown passes with only one pick on the day and also rushed for what was ultimately the game-clinching touchdown. Howell now has over 2,600 yards passing with 23 passing touchdowns, only six interceptions and three rushing scores. It may be too late for him to crack the top five in these rankings but performances like these get him some well-deserved love.

Heisman watch candidate No. 9: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama

Perhaps it’s unfair that Najee Harris is only at No. 9 in these rankings given the numbers that the Crimson Tider running back has put up this season. After all, he’s rushed for 714 yards on 124 carries with 14 touchdowns while also adding 183 receiving yards. And he’s doing this all for an Alabama team that has looked like the best in the country to this point in the year.

While that’s all true, there’s no denying that the Heisman Trophy is a somewhat narrative-driven award and the narrative in Tuscaloosa isn’t centered on Harris. For as good as he’s been, the passing attack has been at the forefront of their success and, as such, he has two teammates who come in higher in this race. Despite all of that, Harris still deserves his due credit.