Heisman Trophy sleepers for college football's top award
Give me a three-pack of Heisman picks, and I'd take Manning, Smith and Nussmeier.
Behind the front-runners are a few more quarterbacks and another wide receiver that stand out as Heisman sleepers. How do I define a sleeper? Their odds are worse than 15-to-1.
Full disclosure: I am a Heisman voter. I do not wager on the award.
Here are my top Heisman sleepers for the 2025 season:
Prime Heisman Trophy sleeper candidates
Carson Beck, Miami, QB
BetMGM odds: 25-to-1
Beck headlined the shortlist of Heisman front-runners last summer. Since then, he threw twice as many interceptions (12) in 2024 as he did the previous season, then he transferred to a worse program, he had his expensive cars stolen, and he split with his model girlfriend. Ouch! Never mind all that. He still can make throws most other quarterbacks can't, and he should find ACC defenses to his liking. Cam Ward finished fourth for the Heisman after transferring to Miami before last season. Beck injured his elbow in December. He resumed throwing recently. If healthy, he retains Heisman-level talent.
EXPERIENCE MATTERS: Familiar faces top Big Ten QB rankings
TIME TO SHINE: Arch Manning headlines SEC QB rankings
LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina, QB
BetMGM odds: 18-to-1
Few quarterbacks outclassed Sellers by the end of last season. Ask Missouri about Sellers' passing ability. Ask Clemson about his running ability. Dual-threat quarterbacks make for good Heisman contenders, and Sellers fits that billing. He's an efficient passer, but he must reduce his turnovers after a redshirt freshman season filled with fumbles. A neat story helps a Heisman campaign. How's this? Sellers signed with South Carolina as a three-star recruit who played in goggles. (He later switched to contacts.) His Heisman hopes will depend on the Gamecocks rekindling their 2024 success, when they reached the playoff's doorstep.
Julian Sayin, Ohio State, QB
BetMGM odds: 18-to-1
Coach Ryan Day churns out successful quarterbacks. Sayin, a former blue-chip recruit, is next in line. If Sayin outperforms Manning in a season-opening clash of top teams at "The Horseshoe," his Heisman stock will soar. Here's your buy-low opportunity. Sayin should benefit from throwing to one of the nation's best wide receiving corps. He might encounter Heisman competition from his teammate, Smith, but a big season for Smith probably also means a big season for Sayin. He played sparingly in 2024, but he's got the arm to be a star. Sayin exudes upside, with a great supporting cast around him.
Long-shot sleeper to contend for Heisman Trophy
John Mateer, Oklahoma, QB
BetMGM odds: 25-to-1
Oklahoma needed a quarterback to lead a revival after the Sooners' dismal first season in the SEC. Insert Mateer, who starred at Washington State, like Ward before him. Mateer's offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, preceded him to Oklahoma, so there's no need for Mateer to learn a new system. Now, he just needs to prove himself in the SEC. He's a dual threat with a bundle of playmaking skills. Oklahoma's brutal schedule - it's perhaps the nation's toughest - will create a platform for Mateer to sink or shine.
Hail Mary sleeper to contend for Heisman Trophy
Ryan Williams, Alabama, WR
BetMGM odds: 35-to-1
How's this for a Heisman narrative: Williams, at 18 years old, would be the youngest player to win the award. He introduced himself on the scene with a 177-yard receiving game against Georgia. He'll need to find more consistency as a sophomore to emerge as a contender. Alabama will have a new starting quarterback, and it's unclear whether that will help or hamper the pass game. Williams' Heisman hurdles include proving himself as the nation's best receiver within a landscape that includes Smith from Ohio State. Williams enjoys an advantage in playing for Alabama, which has produced four Heisman winners since 2009.
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
21 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Big Ten college football quarterback rankings: Drew Allar leads
That experience could be a major edge for Penn State. In comparison, Ohio State is leaning heavily toward sophomore Julian Sayin and Oregon will tap redshirt sophomore Dante Moore, who previously started five games at UCLA. While Sayin and Moore are pegged as future stars, Allar has 29 games of starting experience and is range of every passing record in Nittany Lions program history. That makes him the safest bet in the Big Ten and one of the top players at his position in the Bowl Subdivision. Beginning with Allar, here's how Big Ten quarterback stack up: 1. Drew Allar, Penn State Allar won't struggle for motivation after his junior year ended with a devastating interception in the team's CFP semifinal game against Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. He'll be in his second season with offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki and surrounded by a top-notch offensive line and one of the nation's top collections of skill talent, especially in the backfield. Look for Allar to have a hugely productive year and contend for the Heisman Trophy. 2. Luke Altmyer, Illinois The former Mississippi transfer had 26 total touchdowns against six interceptions in a breakout 2024 season that saw the Fighting Illini win 10 games. Like Allar, Altmyer is a multiple-year starter at the same program amid a Big Ten quarterback crop that's otherwise defined by youth, inexperience and first-year transfers. BEST OF BEST: Ranking the top quarterbacks in the SEC BIG REGRET: Big Ten bullying SEC on schedule will backfire 3. Dylan Raiola, Nebraska There are three reasons why Raiola is set for a sophomore surge. The first is the experience gained from an uneven freshman year that skidded to a finish after a very solid start. The second is the stronger supporting cast, especially at receiver. And the third is Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, one of the best in the country. 4. Dante Moore, Oregon Moore started at UCLA in 2023 and then spent last season learning the Ducks' system behind Dillon Gabriel. Look for the former five-star recruit to grab this opportunity and run with it to become the next super-productive Oregon starter. 5. Julian Sayin, Ohio State Sayin is still expected to grab the starting job, though Lincoln Kienholz made things interesting with a strong performance in the spring. As with Moore, he's extremely gifted and set to benefit from playing alongside stars such as Jeremiah Smith, among others. Unlike Moore, though, Sayin has no starting experience and could take some time to steady himself. 6. Nico Iamaleava, UCLA Iamaleava will be one of this season's most-watched players after his dramatic exit from Tennessee. He'll have a harder time at UCLA, which showed improvement in the second half of its first year under coach Deshaun Foster but is not anywhere near the Volunteers' level. But Iamaleava has led an SEC team to the playoff and is viewed in some circles as one of the top four or five quarterback prospects in the FBS. 7. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana Mendoza takes over for Kurtis Rourke as Indiana looks to follow up on last year's shocking playoff berth. The former California starter threw for over 3,000 yards with 18 scores last season and should flourish in Curt Cignetti's explosive offense. 8. Jayden Maiava, Southern California Maiava is the unquestioned starter for the Trojans after Miller Moss transferred to Louisville. Formerly of UNLV, Maiava went 3-1 after taking over last November but really struggled with turnovers, tossing five across the Trojans' loss to Notre Dame and bowl win against Texas A&M. 9. Bryce Underwood, Michigan After enrolling in time for spring practice, Underwood has steadily climbed Michigan's depth chart to become the odds-on starter as a true freshman. The five-star prospect has a uniquely stacked skill set and the complementary pieces to shine as a rookie, though it's obvious that he'll also need time and patience to crack his full potential. 10. Mark Gronkowski, Iowa Gronkowski is one of the most intriguing new starters in the Power Four. The former South Dakota State transfer was a star on the Championship Subdivision level, leading the Jackrabbits to a pair of national championships and winning the Walter Payton Award in 2023 as the best overall player on the FCS ranks. How that production translates to the Big Ten will determine where Iowa falls in the playoff race. 11. Demond Williams Jr., Washington Williams is more than ready to take over for the Huskies based on his play as a freshman. A backup for most of the year, he ascended to the starting job in late November and played well enough to ratchet up expectations heading into September. Williams completed 82.7% of his attempts for 575 yards and five touchdowns with one interception in losses to Oregon and Louisville. 12. Aidan Chiles, Michigan State Things didn't exactly go smoothly for Chiles after following former Oregon State coach Johnathan Smith to East Lansing. But the junior did cut down on his turnovers in the second half of the season after a rough start and showed flashes of the dual-threat athleticism that makes him such an interesting prospect, most notably in totaling over 300 yards of total offense in a win against Iowa. 13. Athan Kaliakmanis, Rutgers Kaliakmanis is a high-floor starter who has a command of the scheme and the clear trust of the coaching staff after leading Rutgers into bowl play last season. To take the next step, Kaliakmanis and the Scarlet Knights have to improve on third down and in the fourth quarter after dropping four games by a possession in 2024. 14. Billy Edwards Jr., Wisconsin Edwards brings to Wisconsin plenty of experience after making nearly 500 attempts across his three years at Maryland. As the starter last season, Edwards threw for 2,881 yards on 6.9 yards per attempt with 15 touchdowns. He's not really a difference-maker and won't contend for all-conference accolades, but Edwards is a serviceable starter in the Big Ten - and that would be a big improvement over what the Badgers have drawn from the position in coach Luke Fickell's first two years. 15. Preston Stone, Northwestern Stone is the latest quarterback transfer to take the job at Northwestern after starting for SMU in 2023 and mostly playing backup last season to Kevin Jennings. The former four-star prospect threw for 33 scores and only seven interceptions across these two years, and that ability to limit mistakes will be a big positive for a passing game that managed just seven touchdowns with 11 interceptions in 2024. 16. Drake Lindsey, Minnesota Lindsey has already drawn raves from coach P.J. Fleck after taking command of Minnesota's offseason competition to replace a one-year rental in Max Brosmer. To ease his transition, the Gophers need to get their offensive line in order and establish a tone-setting ground game behind running back Darius Taylor. 17. Ryan Browne, Purdue Browne left Purdue in December for North Carolina but then reversed course in April to return to the Boilermakers. After all that, he's in position to start under new coach Barry Odom. Browne made two starts in his first two seasons, losing both games, and has four touchdowns and four interceptions in 92 career attempts. 18. Malik Washington, Maryland There is plenty of hype around Washington, the current favorite to grab the job for the Terrapins and conceivably start a multiple-year run in the lineup. If so, look for the freshman to take his lumps on one of the weaker teams in the Big Ten but gain valuable experience to lean on moving forward.
The Herald Scotland
21 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Heisman Trophy sleepers for college football's top award
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (8 1/2 -to-1), Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (9-to-1), Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (10-to-1) and Penn State quarterback Drew Allar (14-to-1) complete the top five of oddsmaker front-runners. Give me a three-pack of Heisman picks, and I'd take Manning, Smith and Nussmeier. Behind the front-runners are a few more quarterbacks and another wide receiver that stand out as Heisman sleepers. How do I define a sleeper? Their odds are worse than 15-to-1. Full disclosure: I am a Heisman voter. I do not wager on the award. Here are my top Heisman sleepers for the 2025 season: Prime Heisman Trophy sleeper candidates Carson Beck, Miami, QB BetMGM odds: 25-to-1 Beck headlined the shortlist of Heisman front-runners last summer. Since then, he threw twice as many interceptions (12) in 2024 as he did the previous season, then he transferred to a worse program, he had his expensive cars stolen, and he split with his model girlfriend. Ouch! Never mind all that. He still can make throws most other quarterbacks can't, and he should find ACC defenses to his liking. Cam Ward finished fourth for the Heisman after transferring to Miami before last season. Beck injured his elbow in December. He resumed throwing recently. If healthy, he retains Heisman-level talent. EXPERIENCE MATTERS: Familiar faces top Big Ten QB rankings TIME TO SHINE: Arch Manning headlines SEC QB rankings LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina, QB BetMGM odds: 18-to-1 Few quarterbacks outclassed Sellers by the end of last season. Ask Missouri about Sellers' passing ability. Ask Clemson about his running ability. Dual-threat quarterbacks make for good Heisman contenders, and Sellers fits that billing. He's an efficient passer, but he must reduce his turnovers after a redshirt freshman season filled with fumbles. A neat story helps a Heisman campaign. How's this? Sellers signed with South Carolina as a three-star recruit who played in goggles. (He later switched to contacts.) His Heisman hopes will depend on the Gamecocks rekindling their 2024 success, when they reached the playoff's doorstep. Julian Sayin, Ohio State, QB BetMGM odds: 18-to-1 Coach Ryan Day churns out successful quarterbacks. Sayin, a former blue-chip recruit, is next in line. If Sayin outperforms Manning in a season-opening clash of top teams at "The Horseshoe," his Heisman stock will soar. Here's your buy-low opportunity. Sayin should benefit from throwing to one of the nation's best wide receiving corps. He might encounter Heisman competition from his teammate, Smith, but a big season for Smith probably also means a big season for Sayin. He played sparingly in 2024, but he's got the arm to be a star. Sayin exudes upside, with a great supporting cast around him. Long-shot sleeper to contend for Heisman Trophy John Mateer, Oklahoma, QB BetMGM odds: 25-to-1 Oklahoma needed a quarterback to lead a revival after the Sooners' dismal first season in the SEC. Insert Mateer, who starred at Washington State, like Ward before him. Mateer's offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, preceded him to Oklahoma, so there's no need for Mateer to learn a new system. Now, he just needs to prove himself in the SEC. He's a dual threat with a bundle of playmaking skills. Oklahoma's brutal schedule - it's perhaps the nation's toughest - will create a platform for Mateer to sink or shine. Hail Mary sleeper to contend for Heisman Trophy Ryan Williams, Alabama, WR BetMGM odds: 35-to-1 How's this for a Heisman narrative: Williams, at 18 years old, would be the youngest player to win the award. He introduced himself on the scene with a 177-yard receiving game against Georgia. He'll need to find more consistency as a sophomore to emerge as a contender. Alabama will have a new starting quarterback, and it's unclear whether that will help or hamper the pass game. Williams' Heisman hurdles include proving himself as the nation's best receiver within a landscape that includes Smith from Ohio State. Williams enjoys an advantage in playing for Alabama, which has produced four Heisman winners since 2009. Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@ and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Who is Ishe Samuels-Smith? Rangers 'transfer target' destined for the top at Chelsea who thrives on taking the lead
Gers have been linked with a loan move for the Stamford Bridge starlet The summer transfer window rumour mill is in overdrive and the latest player to be linked with Rangers is Chelsea youngster Ishe Samuels-Smith. New Ibrox boss Russell Martin has welcomed two new faces into his squad so far with the arrival of Dundee star Lyall Cameron and the loan capture of Max Aarons. And more are on the way with Record Sport revealing that Leicester City defender Conor Coady in advanced talks while Martin's former player at Southampton, Joe Bothwell is also set to join Aarons from the Cherries. But reports down south claim Gers are set to battle Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Stoke to land Stamford Bridge teen Ishe Samuels-Smith. The 19-year-old left back is highly thought of by the Premier League giants, who recently handed him a long-term contract until 2031. Samuels-Smith has had a taste of first team training with Enzo Maresca's side, but with the player yet to make a first team appearance Chelsea are keen for the defender to go out and get some valuable experience in the senior game under his belt. Rangers have also been liked with Liverpool left back Owen Beck who was previously a transfer target for rivals Celtic. Should Martin be successful in strengthening the position, then it could spell the end at Ibrox for injury-prone Turkey international Ridvan Yilmaz. And with Samuels-Smith reportedly in the frame, Record Sport takes a look at a player who has been tipped to have an 'incredible future' in West London. Who is he? Samuels-Smith is a 19-year-old defender who came through the ranks at Everton before joining current club Chelsea in 2023. He is predominantly a left back but with his 6ft frame is also adept at filling in at centre back if required. Samuels-Smith is an England U19 international and was previously a part of the Three Lions side that won the U18 Pinatar Super Cup last year having been named in the UEFA U17s European Championships team of the tournament 12 months earlier. His twin brother Odin Samuels-Smith is currently a budding youngster in former club Everton's youth-set up. What kind of player is he? Despite not having a taste of senior football, Samuels-Smith has demonstrated his potential leadership capabilities by donning the captain's armband for Chelsea's Premier League 2 side on several occasions last season. And the player himself says he relished the added responsibility. He told the club's website in April: "I've really enjoyed wearing the armband,' he said. 'It's something I take a lot of pride in, but it also comes with responsibility. Leading by example, both on and off the pitch, is key. "As captain, my role is to bring the team together, motivate everyone and help each player give their best. It's about strengthening the team. Being in this leadership role has taught me so much, not just about football but about life. "One thing (manager) Filipe Coelho has emphasised since joining is the importance of relationships off the pitch. Strengthening our bond as a team has helped us improve. "This season has been a massive learning curve. Training with the men's team and being part of the matchday squad has been huge for me personally. Those experiences are invaluable. They've shown me the level of intensity and quality required to perform consistently at the highest level. "It's motivating as it pushes me to raise my game. Ultimately, that's where I want to be, challenging myself every week at that level. The most valuable part is bringing those lessons back to the Under-21s. "Training with the men's team gives us a benchmark. It's made me and the rest of the boys who've had similar experiences approach our Academy matches with a higher intensity. That makes it much harder for our opponents to cope with us." What's been said about him? Everton hero David Unsworth previously served as the Merseyside club's U21s manager and spoke about Samuels-Smith in glowing terms earlier this year. In an interview with TEAMtalk in April, he said: "Ishe is an incredibly talented young man who I know really well. A very talented left-sided defender, either left-back or centre-back, with an incredible future ahead of him. "He's got great parents behind him who support him. He also has a very talented brother, Odin, who is still at Everton. "The next step for Ishe would maybe be to go out on loan to get exposure to first team football – that's if he can't get into the Chelsea team! "He's only 18 [now 19] and is one of England's brightest prospects, certainly at his age."
