Balls In Your Court Heisman Picks

The Heisman ceremony just isn’t what it used to be, right? This year has some great finalists but for whatever reason it just isn’t what it used to be. Maybe just what the award needs is some fresh blood. A defender winning it, or a lineman making the top 2. Something to really show some change and not just the best quarterback each year. This year we have an opportunity to change things up, will it happen? My guess is no, but I am happy to see Aiden Hutchinson in the running to add some spice. We will have the BIYC winner along with a prediction on who we think we win the award. We chose to have 5 finalists because we truly couldn’t narrow it down to 4. Tune in below!

Heisman Finalists:

Bryce Young

CJ Stroud

Kenneth Walker

Kenny Pickett

Aiden Hutchinson

Bryce Young’s Case:

Stats: 315/463 (68.0%) 4,322 yards 43/4 TD:INT; 31 rushing yards* on 71 attempts (0.4 avg) 3TDs

Bryce Young has one of the best TD/INT ratios in the country, has the Heisman moment in his performance in the SEC championship, and has the wins as he plays for a Playoff squad. At this point the only argument against Bryce Young is the incredible talent around him because, well its Alabama, but I don’t buy into that notion. If we truly wanted to choose the MVP with a player who does well without any help we would be crowing Malik Cunningham at Louisville. Alas, wins matter here and Alabama has plenty.

Resume: Very Strong

CJ Stroud’s Case:

Stats: 280/395 (70.9%) 3,862 yards 38/5 TD:INT; -30 rushing yards* on 31 attempts

CJ Stroud was injured and missed a game so that does cause his stats to take a hit, but he looked like the best QB in football for half a season. He didn’t do anything in terms of running the ball, but he has some of the best arm talent in the country. Only a freshman, he continued to improve as the year went on and will arguably be a top draft pick choice as soon as he is eligible. It doesn’t appear he has much of a shot unless eye test was the main purpose. Its tough to compare stats between Pickett and Young but I wouldn’t be upset if someone told me Stroud was the best QB in CFB.

Resume: Average

Kenneth Walker’s Case:

Stats: 264 attempts 1,646 yards (6.2 avg) 18 TDs; 13 rec 89 yards 1 TD

Kenneth Walker had one of the best years for a tailback in 2021 and he was the primary reason Michigan State was ranked so high this year and surprised so many. He even performed well in their biggest games with a prime example vs Michigan. Although the committee still had Michigan ahead of MSU in the rankings Kenneth Walker gained the respect of the country that Saturday. However, MSU doesn’t quite have the wins or resume for Walker to be the front runner

Resume: Above Average

Kenny Pickett’s Case:

Stats: 334/497 (67.2%) 4,319 yards 42/7 TD:INT; 233 rushing yards* on 98 attempts (2.4 avg) 5 TDs

Pickett was one of the hottest players in the country down the stretch on one of the best offenses in the country. Jordan Addison was the best wide receiver in the country in 2021 and Pickett was a big reason for that. Pitt won the ACC in 2021 and the stats are some of the best in the country and can be put side to side with anyone. While Pitt did win the ACC, it wasn’t a particularly strong year for the conference and Pitt wasn’t in the CFP conversation.

Resume: Strong

Aiden Hutchinson’s Case:

Stats: 58 Total tackles (33 solo), 15.5 TFL 14 sacks; 2FF 1FR 3 Pass deflections

Aiden Hutchinson didn’t lead the league in TFL or sacks, but he is arguably going to be the first overall pick in the draft and thought to be the best EDGE in the country. Hutchinson is here more as an eye test rather than based off stats, but the talent is obvious, and offenses are forced to game-plan around him. There is a discourse surrounding the idea that Hutchinson couldn’t win because Ndamukong Suh didn’t win in 2009 but I don’t buy that. We can agree Suh deserved the Heisman while at the same time giving defenders in todays age their due.

Resume: Below average

BIYC Heisman Rankings:

1. Bryce Young

2. Kenny Pickett

3. Kenneth Walker

4. CJ Stroud

5. Aiden Hutchinson

BIYC Heisman Winner: Bryce Young

We went with the obvious answer because, well its obvious. Bryce Young passes the eye test, has the stats, the signature win and moment vs Georgia, and will be in the playoff. He really checks all the boxes here and there is no reason to over think it.

Projected Trophy Winner: Bryce Young

As we said above, this makes way too much sense to go anywhere else. Bryce Young checks all the boxes and the only reason its not him is to purposely avoid Young and/or Alabama as the pick. If its not Bryce Young I could see Kenny Pickett being the winner given the proximity in stats and how hot Pitt/Pickett were to end the year. Its hard to ignore Bryce Young's performance in the SEC Championship however.

*CFB includes sack yardage in QB rushing yard totals