Heisman Trophy Watch: On3 expert analysis after Week 7

We’re officially seven weeks into the college football season and the Heisman Trophy race is taking much more clear shape, though there are still several contenders.

As we continue through the season, our experts at On3 will continue to evaluate and discuss which players deserve mention for college football’s most prestigious award. There are still dozens right now, even this far into the season.

Let’s take a look at the top selections from our On3 national experts, with their top three in the Heisman Trophy running listed below.

Andy Staples

CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon

Travis Hunter: An injury doesn’t automatically eliminate a player’s chance to win the Heisman Trophy, but Hunter’s ability to play nearly every snap is one of the major factors for his candidacy. Hopefully he returns from an apparent shoulder injury and keeps playing, but if he can’t, he might not be on this list in coming weeks.

Ashton Jeanty: When carrying 31 times for 217 yards drops your per-carry average, you’re having a dominant season.

Dillon Gabriel: Gabriel delivered his best game in Oregon’s most important game so far, and he seems to be improving by the week.

Ari Wasserman

RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
QB Cam Ward, Miami

Ashton Jeanty: Every single time Jeanty steps onto the field, he is the best player. In a win over Hawaii, he rushed for more than 200 yards and scored two total touchdowns and it almost felt like a down game. Boise State is going to have to keep winning for him to actually win the award, but he’s putting up Barry Sanders numbers.

Travis Hunter: The one thing that could knock Hunter out of my top spot did — an injury. He left Colorado’s close-loss to Kansas State and the Buffaloes lost a game they probably would have won had Hunter never gotten hurt. Maybe that’s a sales pitch for Hunter’s Heisman Trophy candidacy, but it’s hard to have him No. 1 right now when we don’t know how severe the injury is.

Cam Ward: Miami had a bye week this week, but the Hurricanes are undefeated in large part because of Ward’s heroics. Even facing a 25-point third-quarter deficit last weekend against Cal, Ward played confidently and led the thrilling comeback. If “The U” is back this year, it’s because of him.

Jesse Simonton

RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
QB Cam Ward, Miami

Ashton Jeanty: Jeanty had his third 200+ yard game this year, yet a season-high 31 carries meant his per-touch-average dipped just below an automatic first down (9.9 yards) for the first time all season. He’s doing insane stuff right now.

Dillon Gabriel: Gabriel just carved up the No. 1 defense in the nation to spur Oregon to an upset over Ohio State. Based on his lack of a history as a big-game killer, I didn’t think he had it in him. He did — and then some.

Cam Ward: The Hurricanes were off this week, but Ward remains one of the best and most important players for his team.

Charles Power

RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
QB Cam Ward, Miami
CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado

Ashton Jeanty: It was a ho-hum week for Ashton Jeanty, as he only rushed for 217 yards and accounted for two touchdowns. That’s sarcasm – if anything Jeanty has continued to add separation. His 208 rushing yards per game is 52 more than the next running back.

Cam Ward: Ward and Miami were idle coming off of last week’s late game heroics against Cal. He enters next week’s contest against Louisville as the nation’s leader in passing yards per game.

Travis Hunter: Hunter exited Saturday’s loss against Kansas State with an apparent shoulder injury. Hopefully we see him back on the field as soon as possible.

JD PicKell

RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
QB Cam Ward, Miami

Ashton Jeanty: In my opinion, Jeanty will need some other P4 players to stumble for him to win the award but 9.9 yards per carry on the year is ridiculous. Another 200+ yard day at the office.

Dillon Gabriel: I don’t believe Heisman Trophy moments happen in October but if they did, Dillon Gabriel had one against Ohio State. DG got a validation game to go with his numbers on the season (76% completion percentage, 17 total touchdowns, and a top 10 QBR of 84.1).

Cam Ward: Miami was on a bye this week but Ward still deserves to be in the Heisman conversation with the clinic he has put it on in willing the ‘Canes to their last two victories over Virginia Tech and Cal.