Who will win the 2022 Heisman Trophy? Every 2022 Heisman award candidate is looking to leave his mark on college football. The best Heisman Trophy candidates in 2022 will come from all around the country, with quarterbacks, receivers, running backs, and a few defenders all in the running. This year's Heisman Trophy race is sure to be a thrilling one with college football loaded with so much talent. Who is the best player in college football this year? Who will be the 2022 Heisman?
When making 2022 Heisman Trophy predictions, you have to start with the reigning Heisman, Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young, who has a good chance to repeat. Other QBs like CJ Stroud, Caleb Williams, and JT Daniels will also be in the running, along with reigning National Championship MVP Stetson Bennett IV. Beyond the quarterbacks, players like running back Bijan Robinson, outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr., and wide receiver Jordan Addison will have a chance to make a Heisman Trophy 2022 statement with their performances in the college football playoff race.
So which college football stars are most likely to take home the hardware at the end of the season? Which player is most likely to win the Heisman Trophy 2022? Make your predictions by voting up the top candidates below.
It'd be fitting if an OSU player stopped Bryce Young from joining the exclusive two-time Heisman winner club (only OSU's Archie Griffin has achieved the feat). Stroud is an early front-runner to unseat Bryce Young. Stroud threw for 4,000+ yards and 44 touchdowns last year, guiding Ohio State to an 11-2 record and Rose Bowl victory. The Buckeyes lost two amazing receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson to the NFL, but Stroud's top target Jaxson Smith-Njigba is back. Smith-Njigba posted top-10 national rankings in both catches (95) and yards (1,606) last season. Then there's Marvin Harrison Jr. who profiles as a likely breakout player, if he's anything like his father. Stroud is in great shape to take the Heisman Trophy in 2022.
Williams has no shortage of playmakers in his inaugural season at USC. Following head coach Lincoln Riley out west to Los Angeles, Williams links up with fellow transfers ex-Pitt wideout and Biletnikoff winner Jordan Addison, as well as running back Travis Dye from Oregon and wide receiver Mario Williams from OU. USC also returns Tahj Washington and Gary Bryant Jr., who combined for almost 100 catches for 1,000+ yards with eight touchdowns last season. Williams has the weapons, but he'll need to step up his play and rack up wins if he is to compete for the Heisman.
The Heisman Trophy's lone two-time winner is Ohio State running back Archie Griffin (1974-75). Young's race for a second Heisman in a row, will be without last year's cast of characters. Wideouts Jameson Williams, John Metchie III, and Slade Bolden, as well as running back Brian Robinson Jr. all went to the league. But as we know with Alabama, it's always about the next man up. Young's high powered offense has been restocked with Georgia Tech transfer Jahmyr Gibbs in the backfield and Georgia transfer receiver Jermaine Burton, along with sophomore wideout Ja'Corey Brooks and tight end Cameron Latu leading the pass-catching group. How far the Crimson Tide can go will be on Young's shoulders, and Bama fans will hope he can take them back to the promised land.
After wasting away as a part of a very weird quarterback carousel for Virginia Tech, Hooker's move to Tennessee via the transfer portal paid off big time. He began the year backing up to ex-Michigan QB Joe Milton, but took over as starter after two weeks. Hooker made the most of his opportunity, quickly becoming a productive enough passer to earn All-SEC honors. However, your team must be a contender, if you're going to garner Heisman consideration. Plain and simple. When Tennessee managed a 7-5 record, that all but removed Hooker from consideration in 2022. Yet, it would be foolish to overlook a power-conference QB who put up big stats last season (3,500+ yards, 36 TDs) and doesn't make many mistakes (3 INTs). The sixth year QB gets his leading receiver Cedric Tillman back and in year two with head coach Josh Heupel, a continuity bump is expected. Given his efficiency last year trailed only Grayson McCall and CJ Stroud, Hooker is a huge reason why expectations are high in Knoxville this fall.
Stetson Bennett IV cemented his place in the Georgia pantheon last year, leading the Bulldogs to their first national championship since 1980. Bennett is the returning starter for the defending national champions. He ranked fourth nationally in pass efficiency and third in total QBR, and will lead another extremely talented offense under the same coordinator, Todd Monken. It does seem likely that Georgia’s defense will take at least a minor step back in 2022. Though this could lead to Bennett being forced to air it out a little more. That could, in turn, lead to bigger numbers being posted by the Georgia QB.
Bijan Robinson put up Heisman-level stats last year, but as Texas' losses stacked up, the running back to fell out of contention. Robinson is a versatile back and a foundational player for the Longhorns. He put up 1,400+ yards from scrimmage and 15 TDs in the 2021 campaign. If Sarkisian can get UT on the right track and Robinson puts up big numbers again, he will be in the hunt.
