Heisman watch: Mac Jones closing on Kyle Trask but Trevor Lawrence lurks

Heisman watch candidate No. 6: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

Trevor Lawrence had been sidelined due to COVID-19 and then a postponement since Oct. 24 prior to making the start for the Clemson Tigers on Saturday as they hosted the Pitt Panthers for the final home game in Death Valley this season. But watching the eventual No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft play, you wouldn’t be able to tell that he hadn’t seen the field in more than a month.

In a dominant 52-17 win for the Tigers, Lawrence was back to his old habits as he completed 26-of-37 passes for 403 yards with two touchdowns on the day. For a game in which Clemson converted in the red zone on the ground time and again, the quarterback still got his. With his long layoff, though, Lawrence may simply have too much ground to make up in the Heisman race at this point in the year.

Heisman watch candidate No. 5: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

College football fans might as well concede the fact that there isn’t a defensive back in the country that’s going to be able to stop wide receiver DeVonta Smith right now. He was already enjoying a monster season prior to Jaylen Waddle’s injury but, since the other star wideout went out, Smith has been on another level, a trend that continued in the Iron Bowl.

Smith consistently found himself behind the Auburn defense to break off huge chunks of yards on Saturday in Tuscaloosa, ending the big win for the Crimson Tide with seven receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns. This game not only pushes his season touchdown total to 12 and SEC record career mark for scores to 35 but he also has 72 grabs for 1,074 yards as well. With two games left, he’s showing now signs of slowing up.