The Athletic’s Heisman draft is back with all new prospects for this year’s outstanding player. The four finalists from the previous year have all moved on to the NFL as top-tier picks, throwing the field open for debate. The contest involves writers choosing their prediction for the season’s Heisman candidate over four rounds, with the writer amassing the most points winning bragging rights for a year.
The nine writers of The Athletic conducted a snake draft with the order being randomized. Justin Williams landed the first pick, followed by David Ubben, Seth Emerson, last year’s champion Stewart Mandel, Sam Khan Jr., Scott Dochterman, Chris Vannini, Manny Navarro, and Bruce Feldman. The players they picked were scored based on their performance, with points ranging from 15 for a Heisman Trophy winner to 1 for a 10th place finish.
The first round saw Georgia’s QB Carson Beck being the first pick due to his impressive performance as the leading returning passer from last year. Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel and the Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden were the next two picks. Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, taken at fourth by last year’s champion Stewart Mandel, was seen as a steal given his performance the previous year. The top six was rounded out by Texas QB Quinn Ewers and Nico Iamaleava from Tennessee.
Travis Hunter from Colorado, the player predicted by Chris Vannini to win the Heisman, was picked seventh. Riley Leonard, described by Manny Navarro as a “tough as hell” player from Notre Dame, was picked eighth. The first round was concluded by Bruce Feldman opting for the high-ceiling QB Jaxson Dart from Ole Miss.
Round 2 saw another surprise as last season’s dominant running back Quinshon Judkins from Ohio State was picket at 13, followed by fellow running back Ollie Gordon from Oklahoma State at pick 14. Shedeur Sanders, the son of NFL great Deion Sanders, was also a part of round 2. The round was concluded with Jackson Arnold from Oklahoma, described as a promising but raw prospect, and Dillon Gabriel’s successor being picked up by Justin Williams.
The final two rounds saw the writers pick a mixture of proven performers and high-potential prospects. The final pick, at 36, went to Justin Williams who selected Ashton Jeanty from Boise State, last season’s Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year. Jeanty will provide Williams with a strong chance of gaining a lot of points due to Boise’s status as one of the favorites for the Group of 5 Playoff spot.
