Heisman Watch: Jalen tops Tua in first vote

Faculty soccer is again, and meaning Heisman Watch has begun. All through the season, ESPN.com writers will vote on their high Heisman Trophy candidates.

To get the ultimate rankings, we use the next methodology: 10 voters, 5 votes every. Factors system: 5 factors for first-place votes, 4 factors for second-place votes, three factors for third-place votes, two factors for fourth-place votes and one level for fifth-place votes.

Voters: Andrea Adelson, Edward Aschoff, Kyle Bonagura, Invoice Connelly, Heather Dinich, David M. Hale, Chris Low, Ivan Maisel, Adam Rittenberg, Mark Schlabach

Complete factors: 39 (first-place votes: 6)

Notable: Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and now Jalen Hurts? Certain, it has been just one week, however the Alabama switch had fairly the debut for the Sooners on Sunday night time in a 49-31 win over Houston, notching six touchdowns (three passing, three speeding) and throwing for a whopping 332 yards. It is too early to say whether or not Hurts would be the third straight switch QB to win the Heisman for Oklahoma, however to this point, so good.

Quotable: “He is waited a very long time,” Hurts’ father, Averion Hurts, instructed ESPN’s Holly Rowe. “He is again the place … you might say he belongs.”

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Zero:27

Travis Etienne runs for his third landing of the sport as Clemson extends its lead.

Complete factors: 35 (first-place votes: three)

Notable: Everybody retains speaking about Trevor Lawrence, and rightfully so, however Etienne could also be simply as vital to the Tigers’ offense as their star QB. On Thursday night time, the operating again confirmed why, speeding for 205 yards on 12 carries and scoring three TDs. Per ESPN Stats & Information, for the reason that begin of final season, Clemson has averaged extra yards per play on Etienne runs (eight.6) than Lawrence throws (eight.2).

Quotable: “I actually do not attempt to fear about who’s on the market watching,” Etienne mentioned. “I attempt to play the very best for my group and simply attempt to get to 1-Zero each week and be there for my brothers.”

2 Associated

Complete factors: 27 (first-place votes: none)

Notable: Alabama began sluggish within the first half in opposition to Duke earlier than hitting the fuel pedal within the second half behind Tagovailoa, who threw for 336 yards and 4 touchdowns. Final yr’s Heisman runner-up completed 26-for-31 over practically three full quarters of play.

Quotable: “Tua performed rather well,” Alabama coach Nick Saban mentioned. “He often performs properly when he is affected person and takes what the protection provides.”

Complete factors: 24 (first-place votes: 1)

Notable: Taylor has been placing up big numbers ever since he stepped on campus two years in the past (he led the nation in speeding final yr), and his junior season began no in a different way. The Badgers operating again scored 4 touchdowns — two speeding and two receiving — in UW’s blowout win over USF. His two speeding TDs had been each over 35 yards.

Quotable: “You’re employed all offseason like I did, and to have that receiving landing come to life, I am actually enthusiastic about that,” Taylor mentioned. “It motivates you to see that arduous work repay.”

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1:32

Justin Fields throws 4 touchdowns and runs in one other in Ohio State’s rout of Florida Atlantic.

Complete factors: 10 (first-place votes: none)

Notable: Hurts wasn’t the one switch quarterback who had a stellar debut together with his new group. Fields, the Georgia switch now suiting up for the Buckeyes, additionally obtained off to a sizzling begin. The sophomore tossed a 98-yard TD move for one in every of his 4 passing TDs on the day, and in addition rushed for a 51-yard landing in opposition to Florida Atlantic.

Quotable: “I feel I did good general,” Fields mentioned. “In fact there’s all the time room to enhance, however we simply should preserve working as a unit and simply preserve getting higher in all facets of the sport.”

Complete factors: four (first-place votes: none)

Notable: Lawrence did not precisely get off to the blazing begin anticipated for him in Yr 2 underneath heart for the Tigers — throwing two picks on 23 makes an attempt after simply two on his last 351 makes an attempt final season. However he nonetheless threw for 168 yards and a landing and rushed for one more rating.

Quotable: “It looks as if he dealt with every part with such grace and humility as an alternative of a few of these guys you see are available in as freshmen and are cocky a-holes. It’s a must to be cocky and actually good to guide like that and win like that, however you even have to have the ability to earn your teammates’ respect, and Trevor was capable of stroll that line. To make the throws he did as a real freshman, that is outstanding.” — An SEC coach on Lawrence earlier than the season

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Complete factors: four (first-place votes: none)

Notable: The Tigers quarterback tied an LSU single-game report with 5 TD passes earlier than halftime in a blowout win over Georgia Southern, ending 23-for-27 for 278 yards in basically one half of soccer. He helped LSU rating 42 of its 55 factors within the first half.

Quotable: “I needed 60 tonight,” Burrow mentioned. “We have positively come out of the stone age.”

Complete factors: 2 (first-place votes: none)

Notable: Bulldogs quarterback Jake Fromm receives a lot of the eye in Athens, however Swift has proven to be simply as vital to No. three Georgia. In opposition to Vandy, the star RB rushed for 149 yards on 16 carries, together with one for 36 yards.

Quotable: “D’Andre Swift is among the finest playmakers in school soccer. Huge, bodily, can do all of it. I feel he will have a sensational season.” — ESPN’s David Pollack earlier than the season

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1:11

After being anointed Mel Kiper’s No. 1 NFL draft prospect for 2020, Jerry Jeudy places on a 10-catch clinic and scores in Alabama’s season-opening win.

Complete factors: 2 (first-place votes: none)

Notable: Jeudy may arguably be Tagovailoa’s high pass-catcher this season, and he confirmed it in Week 1, with 137 yards receiving and a landing — together with a median of 13.7 yards per catch. He is Mel Kiper’s No. 1 NFL draft prospect for 2020 for a motive, and he performed a key position in Bama’s win over Duke on Saturday.

Quotable: “Jeudy can assault all three ranges of Bama’s professional route tree with a silky-smooth type that leaves defenders within the mud. Play quick. That wins.” — ESPN’s Matt Bowen, earlier than the season

Complete factors: 1 (first-place votes: none)

Notable: This is a reputation it’s possible you’ll not have recognized, however ought to. Within the first half of NDSU’s 57-10 win over Butler on Saturday, Lance threw for 4 touchdowns (and rushed for one) within the first half. His last stat line: 10-for-11 for 185 yards, 4 TDs and 5 rushes for 116 yards.

Quotable: “The Bison would not have turn out to be the dynasty of the Soccer Championship Subdivision in the event that they could not deal with turnover, however dropping each head coach Chris Klieman (to Kansas State) and quarterback Easton Stick (to the Los Angeles Chargers) was rather a lot. The debut for head coach Matt Entz and redshirt freshman quarterback Trey Lance, nonetheless, went about in addition to anybody may have hoped.” — ESPN’s Invoice Connelly