Every SEC College Football Team's Top Heisman Trophy Candidate for 2022 Season
By Reed Wallach
The most talented conference in college football has future NFL prospects everywhere, but who is the most valuable player on each team.
To get you ready for the SEC season, here is each team's most likely Heisman Trophy winner and most impactful player.
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
1. Alabama: Bryce Young (+350)
The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner is the second choice to in 2022 and be the first player to win back-to-back awards. Young was sensational for the Crimson Tide last season, passing for 4,872 yards and tossing 47 touchdowns through the air.
Expect more of the same from Young, who is expected to be a top five pick in the NFL Draft for the National Championship favorite Alabama (+180).
2. Arkansas: KJ Jefferson (+6000)
Jefferson had more than 3,200 all-purpose yards last season for a resurgent Razorbacks team that went 9-4 under Sam Pittman.
Arkansas is a team on the rise and Jefferson had a fantastic 27-4 TD:INT ratio.
The team hosts Alabama in conference play in addition to LSU, but will travel to BYU in non conference play.
3. Auburn: Tank Bigsby (N/A)
The Tigers will have to choose between T.J. Finley and Texas A&M transfer Zach Calzada, but the team will have to lean on their run game in any scenario.
Enter Bigsby, who rushed for 1,099 yards last season, including a 164 performance against South Carolina. After a 3rd Team-All SEC performance, can Bigsby make a leap and get Auburn over .500?
4. Florida: Anthony Richardson (+5000)
In Year One of the Billy Napier era, he will turn to one of the most dynamic threats in the country in Richardson. While he saw limited time last season in the final year under Dan Mullen, Richardson is a dual-threat talent with a big arm.
Richardson is a trendy dark horse pick considering the set up for the Gators. The team has a win total of 7, mediocre for SEC standards, but hosts PAC-12 stalwart Utah in Week 1, a perfect springboard for the Richardson Heisman campaign.
5. Georgia: Stetson Bennett (+10000)
Quarterback of the reigning National Champions at 100-1? Weird, I know, but this is a Georgia team that is built around their defense and a cohesive offense that controls the clock on the ground.
With that being said, Bennett showed flashes of greatness in the team's run to the National Championship and had a fantastic 29:7 TD:INT ratio. He may not receiver Heisman Trophy love, but he is the most important player on the team.
6. Kentucky: Will Levis (+5000)
Kentucky is coming off a 10-win campaign with Will Levis under center and the team will hope he can take a step forward with some key skill positions departing.
Running back Christopher Rodriguez is back, but wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson is gone and Levis is going to need to limit his turnovers (13 interceptions) if the Wildcats want to win double digit games again.
7. LSU: Kayden Boutte (N/A)
Considering there are several contenders for the LSU quarterback job: Myles Brennan, Garrett Nussmeier and Arizona State transfer Jayden Daniels; making it difficult to handicap who will be the most valuable player.
However, Boutte is the most impactful offensive player and will be the No. 1 target on the team. In six games last season he hauled in 38 passes for a team higher 509 yards and nine touchdowns.
8. Mississippi State: Will Rogers (+7500)
In Mike Leach's air raid offense, Rogers has the ability to put up gaudy numbers, but can he improve on his deep ball?
He had the lowest completion percentage of passes over 20+ yards, but most of the offense will involve plays underneath. Road games at LSU, Kentucky and Alabama make it tough, but if Rogers makes a step forward this team could push closer to nine wins.
9. Missouri: Luther Burden (N/A)
Missouri is a transition phase in year three under Eliah Drinkwitz, and is looking for answers at quarterback and running back.
The team may have found their long term answer at receiver though, bringing in No. 3 recruit in the country Burden. If Burden can have an instant impact, Missouri can go over .500 for the first time since 2018.
10. Ole Miss: Jaxson Dart (+4000)
Dart transferred from USC and will look to fill in for star Matt Corral. He started only three games last season, but proved capable with 1,353 yards and nine touchdown passes. He must limit his interceptions, five in limited action, but Dart will be working with one of the brightest offensive minds in Lane Kiffin at the helm.
Ole Miss won 10 games in 2021, if they reach the same numbers in 2022, it's because Dart put up big numbers.
11. South Carolina: Spencer Rattler (+4000)
Rattler entered last season as the Heisman favorite, but ended the season on the bench for Oklahoma.
Now, he is with Shane Beamer and South Carolina as the team had one of their best seasons in recent memory. Can Beamer channel Rattler's talent and get this team close to double digit wins?
There are high expectations relative to the past half decade for the Gamecocks, will Rattler show up?
12. Tennessee: Hendon Hooker (+6500)
There are big hopes for the Vols this season after the year one returns of the Josh Heupel era. The team was explosive and played at a frenetic pace and also found their best option at QB in Virginia Tech transfer Hooker.
He is experienced, capable with his legs and is an accurate passer (68% completion percentage and only three interceptions).
Hooker had over 3,700 all-purpose yards in 2021, if he can eclipse 4,000 and Tennessee makes a leap, New York may be calling.
13. Texas A&M: Max Johnson (+6500)
Johnson comes in from LSU, so he has experience with the conference and will look to help the Aggies take a leap in 2022. He is an accurate passer and has the marquee matchups to get his name in the mix for Heisman mentions.
A&M hosts Miami and travels to Alabama in the first six games of the season. Johnson passed for over 3,800 yards over two seasons with the Tigers with a 35:7 TD:INT ratio.
If Jimbo Fisher's team plays to their potential, it'll be hard to keep Johnson out of the mix.
14. Vanderbilt: Mike Wright (N/A)
Vanderbilt has gone 5-28 over the last three seasons, so it can't get worse for the Commodores.
Enter Wright, who showed some promise in the final three games of the season, all starts. He passed for 497 yards in those starts with four total touchdowns and rushed for 88 yards.
If Wright can take over the starting job and show some stability, the 'Dores can only improve. The team has three winnable non conference games, can the sophomore take control of the job early?
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