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Heisman rankings after Week 7: Kenny Pickett can’t be ignored, Bryce Young alive and well

By Cody Williams

Oct 16, 2021; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) drops to throw a pass during the first quarter against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2021; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) drops to throw a pass during the first quarter against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Heisman rankings
Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State Spartans (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Kenny Pickett is surging up the Heisman rankings while Bryce Young further solidified his spot and others remain in the mix after Week 7.

It’s hard to recall a Heisman Trophy race quite like the one we have in the 2021 season. No one seems to be separating themselves fully, the favorites entering the season have flamed out spectacularly and it feels like we still don’t know all that much about the race in Week 7.

What’s interesting is that two potential candidates out of the Big 12, Texas running back Bijan Robinson and Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams, are likely disqualified for factors outside of their control. The Longhorns’ faltering too often likely takes Robinson out of the Heisman race while Williams just took over as the starter for the Sooners, so he probably won’t have a long enough résumé to get into the mix.

So where does that leave our Heisman rankings after Week 7? Let’s check in on the top five.

Heisman Trophy candidate No. 5 after Week 7: Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State

In a game that wasn’t pretty for Michigan State as a whole, Kenneth Walker III had one of his worst games of the season. He carried the ball 23 times but managed only 84 yards on those touches and failed to find the end zone. But playing for a 7-0 Spartans team and with his total body of work, he remains in the race.

For the year, Walker has 997 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 152 carries. He’s been one of the most prolific running backs on one of the best stories in college football. And with a bunch of these quarterbacks failing to fully take the lead in the race, Walker is still a prime candidate.

Heisman Trophy candidate No. 4 after Week 7: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

Because of the Oregon loss, it feels as if C.J. Stroud and the Ohio State Buckeyes are now just getting overlooked. But the quarterback has found something of late and is now putting up jaw-dropping numbers, even if he and the team were off in Week 7.

After throwing for 736 yards and 10 touchdowns over the last two games, Stroud now has 1,699 yards with 18 touchdowns and three interceptions. If he continues on his current pace, though, he’s going to better those numbers in a hurry and really make some noise in the Heisman rankings.

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