The Finalists for the 2021 NCAA College Football Heisman Trophy Have Been Unveiled

Introduction

On Monday, December 6th, the finalists for the prestigious Heisman Trophy in NCAA college football were revealed. The four standout candidates include Aidan Hutchinson, a defensive end from the University of Michigan; Kenny Pickett, the quarterback from the University of Pittsburgh; C. J. Stroud, a quarterback representing Ohio State University; and Bryce Young, who is also a quarterback from the University of Alabama. It's noteworthy to see a defensive player like Hutchinson making it into the final pool of contenders for the Heisman Trophy for the 2021-2022 NCAA football season.

Aidan Hutchinson

Aidan Hutchinson is not only a senior defensive end but also a two-time captain of the University of Michigan football team. He received the distinguished title of 2021 Woodson-Nagurski Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year , and was recognized as the Smith-Brown Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, along with receiving consensus First-Team Big Ten honors.

Hutchinson set a new record for the most sacks in a single season at Michigan, achieving a remarkable 14 sacks throughout the season, which included three sacks during Michigan’s regular season finale. Ohio State University In the decisive game against OSU, he not only secured three sacks but also achieved an incredible total of 15 quarterback hurries , marking the highest number recorded in a single college football game in the history of that stat. His 14 sacks rank him third in the NCAA this season, complemented by 15.5 tackles for loss that showcase his defensive prowess.

Kenny Pickett

Kenny Pickett, who is a red-shirt senior and a four-year starter at the University of Pittsburgh, has made significant strides this season. He was honored as both the ACC’s Overall Player of the Year and the Offensive Player of the Year, leading the Pitt Panthers to their very first ACC Championship title in school history. His performance also secured Pittsburgh a coveted spot in this year's Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl .

During the season, Pickett threw for an impressive 4,319 yards on 334 completions, achieving a record 42 touchdown passes for the University of Pittsburgh. He notably kept his interceptions low, with only 7 thrown, achieving an exceptional completion percentage of 67.2%. His efforts culminated in an impressive season record of 11 wins and 2 losses. Additionally, he contributed by running in 4 touchdowns, providing critical scores for the Panthers. He passed for over 400 yards on three separate occasions, including a standout performance where he threw for 419 yards in a win against the University of Miami. His total of 42 touchdown passes places him third in the NCAA, while his passing yards tally and an average of 350.8 yards per game rank him fifth overall, with 333.2 passing yards per game placing him seventh nationally this year.

Currently, Kenny Pickett holds the record for most passing yards, completions, total offense, and career touchdown passes for the Pitt Panthers, boasting 12,303 passing yards, 1,045 completions, and 13,112 total offensive yards, in addition to 81 career touchdown throws. With 20 rushing touchdowns, he stands as the all-time leader among Pitt quarterbacks. While Pickett has showcased remarkable skills at the quarterback position, his competitors Stroud and Young enjoy the advantage of playing for larger programs, which often garner more attention in the football community . NCAA college football game these days.

C. J. Stroud

C. J. Stroud is a red-shirt freshman quarterback and this marks his debut season as the starting QB. He completed 280 out of 395 passes, amassing a total of 3,862 yards with 38 touchdowns, and just 5 interceptions, leading the Ohio State Buckeyes to an overall record of 10 wins and 2 losses. Stroud’s quarterback rating of 182.2 is second-best in the nation. His impressive average of 351.1 passing yards per game ranks fourth overall, while his 38 touchdown passes place him fifth, and his completion rate of 70.9% is sixth-best this year.

The offensive unit led by Stroud at Ohio State has established itself as number one nationally in total offense , averaging 551.4 yards per game, and leading in scoring offense with 45.5 points per game, while ranking fifth in passing offense with an impressive 364.9 yards per game. Stroud’s stats—his current QB rating of 182.2, completion percentage of 70.9%, and 351.1 passing yards per game—are all top-ranked for the Ohio State season, with 3,862 passing yards putting him second in school history, along with his 38 touchdown passes ranking third for the Buckeyes.

Bryce Young

Bryce Young, a sophomore, previously served as the backup quarterback to Mac Jones and was also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy in 2020. This season, he has thrown for 4,322 yards, completing 314 of his 462 attempts for a completion rate of 68.0%. Young has thrown 43 touchdown passes while committing only 4 interceptions, guiding Alabama to a strong record of 12 games won and 1 lost, claiming the 2021 SEC championship and securing the top seed in the College Football Playoff this year. University of Alabama last year. Mac Jones The 43 touchdown passes scored by Young are the second-highest in the NCAA this year, while his 4,322 passing yards rank fourth. His quarterback rating stands at an impressive 175.53, putting him fifth. His passing average of 332.5 yards per game and total completions rank him sixth best overall this season. Young also showcased his versatility by running in 3 touchdowns, and throwing for 5 touchdowns on three separate occasions, one of which was against the University of Arkansas, where he set a University of Alabama record with 559 passing yards —a record that stood for 52 years. He also set records during the SEC Championship game with 421 passing yards and 461 total yards, earning him the MVP title.

“Hutchinson, Pickett, Stroud, Young Selected as 2021 Heisman Finalists”

Sources:

“Heisman Trophy Finalists for 2021 Include Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Kenny Pickett, and Aidan Hutchinson” , Paul Goldberg, heisman.com, December 6, 2021.

“Finalists for the 2021 Heisman Trophy Announced” , Paolo Uggetti, espn.in, December 6, 2021.

Expert strategies and math-based information available for various casino games including blackjack, craps, roulette, and many more. , Gary Putnik, ncaa.com, December 6, 2021.

Written by: David Green