Two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter headlines 4 Heisman Trophy finalists

Two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter is one of four Heisman Trophy finalists who were revealed on Monday.

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel and Miami quarterback Cam Ward will join Hunter in New York on Saturday for the Heisman Trophy ceremony, where the winner will be revealed.

Hunter, who plays wide receiver and cornerback for Colorado, has emerged late in the season as the favorite for the award. Jeanty has gained ground as his projected top competition as Jeanty challenged Barry Sanders’ single-season FBS rushing record.

Will Hunter or Jeanty break QB trend?

Either would represent an unorthodox selection in the modern college football landscape. Just once in the last eight seasons and twice in the last 14 has a non-quarterback taken home college football’s most prestigious individual honor.

Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith was the last non-quarterback to win the award in 2020. Alabama running back Derrick Henry was the last running back to secure the Heisman Trophy in 2015. Either Gabriel or Ward would have to emerge as an upset winner to continue the trend of quarterbacks claiming the Heisman Trophy.

The case for each finalist

Hunter’s produced a season like few others, if any, that we’ve seen before. As Colorado’s top offensive weapon, Hunter leads the Big 12 in receptions with 92 for 1,152 yards and a league-best 14 touchdowns. As a cornerback, he’s one of the nation’s best who’s accounted for four interceptions, one forced fumble, 32 tackles and a Big 12-best 11 passes defended.

He’s a projected top 3 NFL Draft pick for his anticipated ability to play either position — but not likely both — at the next level.

Jeanty has emerged in the Heisman Trophy conversation thanks to a monster season that’s helped propel Boise State to the No. 3 seed in College Football Playoff. The two-time Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, Jeanty leads the FBS in both rushing yards (2,497 on 7.3 yards per carry) and rushing touchdowns (29). For comparison, North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton is a distant second in rushing yards with 1,660.

With at least one more game to play, Jeanty has Sanders’ all-time record (Oklahoma State, 1988) for rushing yards (2,628) in his sights.

In his first season at Oregon since transferring from Oklahoma, Gabriel has led the Ducks into the CFP as the No. 1 seed and the nation’s only undefeated team (13-0). He has completed 73.2% of his passes for 3,558 yards with 28 touchdowns and six interceptions. He’s added 192 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.

Gabriel has quarterbacked the Ducks to wins over then-No. 2 Ohio State and over No. 3 Penn State in Saturday’s Big Ten championship game.

Ward was among the early Heisman Trophy favorites, but fell off in the eyes of analysts in recent weeks alongside Miami’s fortunes. The Hurricanes lost two of their last three games to Georgia Tech and Syracuse to fall out of the CFP picture.

Regardless, Ward posted a stellar season, completing 67.4% of his passes for 4,123 yards, an ACC-best 36 touchdowns and seven interceptions for a Miami team that finished 10-2 and is ranked No. 15 in the nation heading into its Pop-Tarts Bowl matchup against Iowa State.