Top 10 Heisman Trophy candidates and 5 dark horse picks for 2021

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 19: Spencer Rattler #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks for an open receiver against the Iowa State Cyclones in the second quarter of the 2020 Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship football game at AT&T Stadium on December 19, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

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Despite two historically good quarterback seasons from Mac Jones and Kyle Trask a year ago, DeVonta Smith made some history by capturing the Heisman Trophy. Becoming the first wide receiver to win the award since Desmond Howard in 1991, the Alabama pass-catcher was more than deserving as he put up truly inconceivable numbers for the Crimson Tide.

Smith, of course, is now a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. Jones, Trask and Trevor Lawrence, the other three finalists, are also in the NFL ranks now. In fact, only one player of the top-10 in voting is back this season. That essentially means we’re looking at a clean slate for the 2021 Heisman Trophy race. The most prestigious individual award in college football is there for the taking, but who are the favorites to make a run for this season?

Before we rank the top 10 Heisman Trophy candidates for the 2021 season, though, we’re going to look at some dark horses that, given the right circumstances, could swoop in and make a run at the award.

Heisman Trophy dark horse No. 5: McKenzie Milton, QB, Florida State

One of the biggest mysteries of the 2021 college football season is what exactly we’re going to see from McKenzie Milton with Florida State. We know how prolific he was as a quarterback for UCF but, after not playing a game since 2018 and returning to the field from a horrific leg injury that yielded a miles-long recovery, it’s anyone’s guess.

But again, this is a player who was lighting up the box score routinely for the Knights when he was healthy. Over 33 games with UCF, Milton put up 8,683 passing yards with 72 touchdowns and only 22 interceptions while also rushing for 1,078 yards and 20 touchdowns as well. Seriously, the guy couldn’t be stopped.

While the Seminoles have a long rebuild ahead, they aren’t completely devoid of talent. Furthermore, head coach Mike Norvell is a proven offensive mind. So if Milton were to come back to the game at 100 percent health and as even 90 percent of the player he used to be, he could put up some big-time stats.

Outside of the uncertainty, the fact that Florida State likely isn’t going to be very good in 2021 makes Milton a longshot. Having said that, if the quarterback shows up and shines, that might turn the team’s fortunes around quite a bit.