2019 Heisman Forecast and Predictions: Heisman Sleepers after Week 1

2019 Heisman Forecast and Predictions: Heisman Sleepers after Week 1: The Heisman Memorial Trophy is the top individual honor in college football and one of the most prestigious awards in all of sports. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who have the opportunity to vote for the award who are lazy. They don’t watch as many games as they should, focusing largely on players who are considered frontrunners heading into the season, giving the established stars a big edge on the rest of the competition.

The good news is that the Heisman can still be won on the field, and we have seen players come out of nowhere to win the award, especially in recent years. Big performances early in the year are one of the best ways for a player to thrust their name into the Heisman conversation, and with Week 1 of the 2019 College Football season in the books, it is time to take a closer look at the players who made an early push to be considered sleeper Heisman contenders.

2019 Heisman Forecast and Predictions: Heisman Sleepers after Week 1

1. Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson Tigers

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence has monopolized the headlines since last year’s championship game, but the future No. 1 pick had a lackluster showing in a blowout win over Georgia Tech. Meanwhile, Etienne showed why he might be the most explosive back in the country, running for 205 yards and three touchdowns on just 12 carries. The highlight was a 90-yard touchdown run, and while all eyes may have originally been tuned in for Lawrence, anyone watching couldn’t help but be wowed by Etienne. If he ends up leading the country in rushing yards and touchdowns, he could end up being the Clemson player hoisting the Heisman at the end of the year.

2. Joe Burrows, QB, LSU Tigers

We heard all offseason that the Tigers were finally going to open up their offense a bit and let the quarterback make some plays, and if Week 1 was any indication, the coaching staff was telling the truth. Burrows completed 23 of his 27 pass attempts for 278 yards and fired five touchdowns, all in the first half. Yes, he was carving up a helpless Georgia Southern defense, but the fact that LSU even allowed Burrows to air it out is encouraging. If Burrows is the driving force behind an offense that helps lead the Tigers past Alabama and back to the top of the SEC, you better believe he will find himself in the thick of the Heisman conversation.

3. Jacob Eason, QB, Washington Huskies

The Huskies were hoping that Georgia transfer Jacob Eason could solidify the quarterback spot and provide an offense punch to go with a stout defensive unit. After throwing for 349 yards and four touchdowns in his team debut, Eason may just be the answer to Washington’s prayers. Granted, Eastern Washington is not the toughest opponent, but with Oregon falling to Auburn, Eason and Huskies could carry the banner for the Pac-12 in 2019. If Washington wins the conference crown and is in the mix for a spot in the College Football Playoff, Eason may be able to generate enough buzz to make a Heisman run.

4. Chuba Hubbard, RB, Oklahoma State Cowboys

With the backfield all to himself this year, the sophomore left no doubt that he can shoulder the load for the Cowboys. He rushed 26 times for 221 yards and three touchdowns in a back-and-forth, shootout win over Oregon State. The high-scoring nature of the Big 12 and Oklahoma State’s suspect defense is going to give Hubbard the chance to put up big numbers all year. It will take 2,000-plus yards and an upset win or two on the part of the Cowboys, but monster statistical numbers could be on tap for Hubbard.

5. Cedric Byrd II, WR, Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors

Playing for Hawai’i is going to make it almost impossible for Byrd to make a real Heisman push, but Byrd had the stage almost to himself when his Rainbow Warriors played back on August 24. He responded with a ridiculous performance in an upset win over Arizona, finishing with 14 receptions for 224 yards and four touchdowns. One week later, Byrd still leads the country in all three categories. He would have to set multiple records to earn a trip to New York, but it doesn’t hurt to start the year with the best performance of any receiver in the country.