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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Kedon Slovis, USC Trojans (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) /

9. Kedon Slovis, QB, USC

Once Sam Darnold left USC, it was a bit odd that the Trojans had to take a number of dart throws to try and find their next answer. And it’s even odder that the answer to their relatively brief conundrum wasn’t a 5-star prospect but, rather, a lower-rated recruit who stepped up and starred when given the chance. That player, of course, was Kedon Slovis.

Slovis stepped into the starting role due to injuries on the roster as a true freshman in 2019 and firmly took hold of the job with a phenomenal season. He racked up 3,502 yards and 30 touchdowns to only nine interceptions in 12 games that season, raising expectations for the 2020 campaign.

In the shortened six-game season, it was really just more of the same for Slovis, though. He played through some injuries that limited him seemingly and still put up numbers that were solid with 1,921 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven picks. However, he didn’t take the next step many people expected him to.

Whether or not he makes that leap ever remains to be seen. That being said, Slovis has a loaded supporting cast at USC and the offense lends itself to top-end production in the box score. If he can parlay that into success for the Trojans as a team, then it’ll be hard to ignore him as a viable Heisman candidate.