Travis Hunter, Ashton Jeanty, Dillon Gabriel, Cam Ward named Heisman finalists

Colorado’s Travis Hunter, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel and Miami’s Cam Ward were announced as the Heisman Trophy finalists on Monday night.

The Heisman has been given to the nation’s most outstanding college football player since 1935. This year’s winner will be announced Saturday night in New York (8 p.m. ET, ESPN). The top four vote-getters determined by more than 900 voters are selected as finalists. The voting panel includes members of the media and former Heisman winners.

Here’s a look at each of the finalist’s road to Manhattan.

Travis Hunter

Hunter, a two-way standout for the Buffaloes, has recorded 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball, he has recorded 31 tackles and picked off four passes.

His accomplishments harken those of Charles Woodson, the Michigan cornerback who in 1997 became the first Heisman winner who primarily played defense.

Woodson also spent time at receiver, but Hunter’s offensive production dwarfs his. He was named All-Big 12 first-team receiver and earned honorable mention for offensive player of the year. He leads the Big 12 in receptions and receiving touchdowns and is second with 1,152 yards. His 21 receiving plays of 20-plus yards lead the nation. 

Hunter also has been named Big 12 defensive player of the year and a unanimous first-team defensive back, tying for the conference lead with 11 pass breakups and tying for second in interceptions.

Ashton Jeanty

Jeanty, who is in the midst of a historic season, recently surpassed 1981 Heisman winner Marcus Allen of Southern California to move into fourth place on the FBS season rushing list and needs 132 more to pass record-holder Barry Sanders of Oklahoma State.

The junior running back has had one of the most productive seasons in college football history with 2,497 yards rushing. His 192.1 yards per game lead the nation and are 58 more than the next highest average. Jeanty has rushed for at least 125 yards in 13 straight games.

Jeanty has gone over 200 yards in his last two games and a total of six times this season. He averages 7.26 yards per cary, and his 344 attempts are the most in the FBS in two seasons. He and Army’s Bryson Daily share the national lead with 29 rushing touchdowns.

Dillon Gabriel 

Gabriel has led Oregon to a perfect 13-0 record and the No. 1 seed in this year’s College Football Playoff. He is completing better than 73% of his passes for 3,558 yards and 28 touchdowns this season.

Gabriel, who transferred from Oklahoma in the offseason, helped the Ducks win the Big Ten championship in their first year in the conference. He has thrown just six interceptions and ranks second in the nation in completion rate.

His 35 total touchdowns are tied for seventh nationally, and his career total of 187 is the highest in NCAA history. He set the all-time FBS record for career quarterback starts with his 62nd in the Big Ten title game.

Cam Ward

Ward, who is in his first year at Miami after spending the previous two years at Washington State, has helped guide the Hurricanes to an impressive 10-2 mark. He has thrown for 4,123 yards and 36 touchdowns this season. 

The Miami quarterback was named Associated Press offensive player of the year and newcomer of the year in the Atlantic Coast Conference on Monday. He leads the nation in touchdown passes and ranks second with 41 total touchdowns.

Ward also leads the nation’s highest-scoring offense (44.2 ypg). He became the first Miami quarterback to post seven straight 300-yard games, and he has 10 games with 300-plus yards and three or more TD passes.

Ward and the Canes weren’t selected for the CFP and will instead head to Orlando to take on Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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