On3 Heisman Trophy Poll: Top 10 player rankings after Week 2

We’re now two weeks deep into the college football season for most teams, giving us a better idea which players are shaping up to be a major factor in the Heisman Trophy race. It’s still a wide open race after Week 2.

On3 stops to poll its top national analysts for their take. Voting in this poll are Andy Staples, Ari Wasserman, Chris Low, Brett McMurphy, Pete Nakos, JD PicKell and Charles Power.

Each of the national experts submitted a ballot with his top 10 players on it, and we’ve compiled the results to create a complete ranking using points — 10 points for a first-place vote, nine for second, etc. Let’s get into how the rankings unfolded below.

1. QB John Mateer, Oklahoma – 67 points

WEEKEND STATS: 21-of-34 for 270 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT | 19 carries for 74 yards, 2 TD
Mateer notched the biggest win of the week, scoring a ranked victory over a very good Michigan squad. Mateer was clearly the difference in the contest, as the Wolverines never truly got a handle on how to stop him.

It’s obvious at this point that Mateer’s talent has translated just fine to a higher level of competition. His ability to run has made the Oklahoma offense multi-dimensional, putting the Sooners squarely back on the map.

2. QB Tommy Castellanos, Florida State – 53

WEEKEND STATS: 8-of-11 for 237 yards, 3 TD
It was a short week’s work for Castellanos, who had no trouble dispatching East Texas A&M in a hurry. Florida State piled up 77 points and Castellanos had an easy three-touchdown day.

Interestingly enough, Florida State hasn’t really given Castellanos a huge workload in the passing game yet. He’s yet to complete double-digit passes in a game. But it hasn’t mattered as Florida State has notched two impressive wins.

3. QB Garrett Nussmeier, LSU – 46

WEEKEND STATS: 26-of-41 for 237 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
It wasn’t the cleanest weekend for Nussmeier, who threw an interception for the first time this season. Still, he was good enough to have LSU in control against Louisiana Tech throughout the contest.

The real challenge for Nussmeier when it comes to the Heisman Trophy will be proving he can handle it in the big games. Turnovers were an issue last year in those settings. He’ll get a chance to prove more on Saturday against Florida, though that matchup lost some luster following an upset in the Swamp on Saturday.

4. QB Devon Dampier, Utah – 40

WEEKEND STATS: 17-of-23 for 192 yards, 3 TD | 4 carries for 25 yards
The Utah quarterback was elite in his debut against UCLA last week, helping the Utes demolish the Bruins on the road. He was equally good this week against an overmatched Cal Poly team.

Dampier has rare dual-threat ability, though he relied much more on his arm than his legs this week. He’ll be a player to monitor in the Heisman Trophy watch all season given his potential to have truly breakout performances.

5. QB Carson Beck, Miami – 38

WEEKEND STATS: 22-of-24 for 267 yards, 2 TD
Beck managed to set a Miami single-game record for consecutive completions with 15 straight in an easy win over Bethune-Cookman. We didn’t learn a ton about Beck this weekend due to the quality of the opponent, but he continues to look the part.

The most notable thing about Beck so far is just how comfortable he looks. He’s loose and having fun and that’s a dangerous thing for opposing teams on the schedule.

6. QB LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina – 31

WEEKEND STATS: 11-of-19 for 128 yards | 8 carries for 23 yards
Sellers had a quiet performance against South Carolina State, but it’s as much about the players around him not giving him a ton of help as anything else. There were concerns about South Carolina’s skill position players outside of Nyck Harbor going into the year and through two games those appear well-founded.

Can Sellers remain in the Heisman Trophy hunt if he doesn’t get more help? He may not have the statistical production to do so, so it’ll be interesting to see if his help can step up.

7. S Caleb Downs, Ohio State – 26

WEEKEND STATS: 2 tackles, 1.0 tackles for loss, 1 INT
It was another strong weekend for Downs, who was excellent in the season-opening win against Texas. This time around, in a game against Grambling, Downs recorded his first interception of the season.

The stats might not always reflect how impactful Downs is, which could make it difficult for him to truly get a foothold in the Heisman Trophy race. But if voters recognize his overall impact on the game, he’s got a chance. Because it is sizeable.

8. QB Dante Moore, Oregon – 25

WEEKEND STATS: 16-of-21 for 266 yards, 3 TD
The new starting quarterback for the Ducks has been excellent through the first two weeks, going 34-of-44 passing for 479 yards and six touchdowns. He has not thrown an interception to date.

While the competition has been middling so far, Moore is doing everything he’s supposed to. And he’s got an excellent surrounding cast, which should allow him to put up big numbers even against better opponents.

9. DL Rueben Bain, Miami – 13

WEEKEND STATS: 3 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, 1.0 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Bain continues to be an absolutely dominant force up front for a Miami defense that is really getting after opposing quarterbacks. He’s the second defensive player listed in the Heisman Trophy poll for a reason: He’s that good.

To some degree, Bain’s ability to actually win the award is going to come down to Miami’s success. The more the ‘Canes are a contender, the more opportunities he’ll have to showcase in front of a large audience. He’s certainly got the talent to be in the running.

10. RB Jonah Coleman, Washington – 8

WEEKEND STATS: 15 carries for 111 yards | 1 catch for 24 yards
For the second straight week, Coleman topped the 100-yard mark on the ground. He’s averaging a very consistent and very healthy 7.4 yards per carry on the year so far.

Coleman hasn’t been used a ton as a pass-catcher just yet, though he has logged a single catch in both games. Regardless, Washington is rolling with a 2-0 start and the winning should get Coleman a longer look from the Heisman Trophy voters.

Others Receiving Heisman Trophy Votes

11. QB Taylen Green, Arkansas – 7
11. QB Sawyer Robertson, Baylor – 7
11. EDGE Dylan Stewart, South Carolina – 7
14. QB Jayden Maiava, USC – 6
15. QB Rocco Becht, Iowa State – 5
16. QB Joey Aguilar, Tennessee – 3
17. QB Byrum Brown, USF – 1
17. RB Justice Haynes, Michigan – 1