Press "Enter" to skip to content

Blog Post: Top 3 Heisman Candidates– Loyalty, Challenging and Grit

The winner of the 2018 Heisman Memorial Trophy is…

On Dec. 8, the statement above will reverberate across the nation as this year’s “most outstanding football player in the United States” receives college football’s most coveted trophy.

Selected through a 929 ballot process, Heisman finalists travel to the award ceremony in New York each year, coveting the prime award which cements their superior level of talent, skill and ultimate stardom.

As the date of the Heisman winner announcement looms less than a week away, the nation sits in anticipation of who will be named the “most outstanding player.”

According to the ESPN Experts’ Poll, three quarterbacks across the NCAA Division I FBS sit in top contention for the award, in no particular order.

Tua Tagovailoa—sophomore from the University of Alabama

Kyler Murray—junior from the University of Oklahoma

Dwayne Haskins Jr.—sophomore from The Ohio State University

 How did they get there?

Each of these men didn’t just become Heisman candidates on their superior talent alone. No, each one individually possesses a specific trait which sets them apart on their path to greatness.

1. Tua Tagovailoa

Online Photo.

 2018 Statistics:

Passing Yards: 3353

Rushing Yards: 190

Rushing TDs: 5

Passing TDs: 37

Interceptions: 4

A native of Ewa Beach, HI, Tagovailoa sweeps the internet with an astounding stat sheet, receiving incredible accolades.

Head Coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide Nick Saban spoke the highest praise of Tagovailoa, “He wants to be the best player he can be, pays attention to detail. He works hard every day, doesn’t take things for granted.”

Tagovailoa might as well be an acronym for terrifically, unstoppable all-star. BUT– What one trait sets Tagovailoa apart as a Heisman contender?

My answer…

LOYALTY or Ua kupa’a in Hawaiian

Merriam Webster defines loyalty as “faithful to a cause, ideal, custom, institution, or product.”

Tagovailoa expressed loyalty to his family and to his team. Without his intense heart for devotion he would not be in the position of success he is in today.

Coached throughout his youth by his father and grandfather, Tagovailoa allowed his father to decide where he would attend college and did not complain when his entire family uprooted and moved to Alabama. Oh and I forgot to mention, Tagovailoa’s father taught him to be left-handed, which isn’t his natural throwing position. In both instances, he shows complete loyalty and trust in his father’s ability to guide him to a path of success.

Fast forward to the 2018 National Championship game, Alabama down by 13 at halftime and Tagovailoa hadn’t stepped onto the field in a dominant, pressure-situation all season. Saban calls his number and Tagovailoa rallies to win the title for the Tide, cementing his fame and his future starting quarterback position.

He sat on the sidelines for 14 games. 14. He could have given up and set his mind on transferring at the end of the season. He could of stopped pushing.

Nope—with intense loyalty he fought and preservered today to a top-three Heisman candidate position.

2. Kyler Murray

Online Photo.

2018 Statistics:

Passing Yards: 4053

Rushing Yards: 892

Rushing TDs: 11

Passing TDs: 40

Interceptions: 7

From Allen, TX, Kyler Murray dominates on the football field and on the baseball diamond. For the Oklahoma Sooners, he lettered in two Division I sports. Nevertheless, his talent on the turf speaks volumes across the sports world as he sets his sights on the Heisman title.

Murray stepped into the starting quarterback position with big shoes left to fill—Baker Mayfield’s shoes to be exact.

New York Times Sports Columnist Marc Tracy said, “Murray arguably has been college football’s best quarterback this season.”

Did he fill Mayfield’s shoes? No… he EXCEEDED them. He deserves to be in this Heisman race but what sets him apart from the pack? What trait makes him one of the most outstanding players in college football?

My answer…

CHALLENGING

Google defines challenging in two appropriate ways to describe Murray: 1. “Testing one’s abilities” and 2. “Inviting competition; provocative”.

Now, I’m not meaning challenging in a negative connotation—he is not challenging to coach or be around; rather, he works tirelessly to challenge himself every minute of every single day in everything he does.

Murray didn’t just varsity letter in two sports at the University of Oklahoma. Murray signed a $5 million MLB contract with the Oakland As.

Need to blink to make sure you read that right? THIS 21 YEAR OLD SIGNED A CONTRACT FOR $5 MILLION DOLLARS. Yet, what was his only stipulation in the signing—“I have to play a season of Sooner football.”

Fun fact: Murray receives no scholarship money to play football. He came back. He worked to get the starting spot. He challenged himself from the beginning—inviting competition almost in a taunting manner.

Oh, no one plays two sports in Division I? Oh, no one signs an MLB contract and makes the Heisman list?

Murray didn’t care. He sent the haters an invitation and said welcome to the Kyler Murray show.

3. Dwayne Haskins Jr.

Online Photo.

2018 Statistics:

Passing Yards: 4580

Rushing Yards: 122

Rushing TDs: 4

Passing TDs: 47

Interceptions: 8

Dwayne Haskins Jr., from Potomac, MD, wanted to be the quarterback of The Ohio State Buckeyes since he was seven years old.

Seven year old Haskins meet 21 year old starting quarterback for the Buckeyes…but he’s not just the starting quarterback. Haskins holds several impressive accomplishments:

  • holds more than 20 Buckeye records
  • most single season total yards in the Big 10
  • passed Drew Brees for the most passing touchdowns in a single season.

 Patrick Mayhorn, writer for SB Nation, said of Haskins, “there isn’t a team in the country that can stop him. Ohio State just has to give him the ball and get out of the way.”

What makes Haskins great?

My answer…

GRIT

Merriam Webster defines grit or gritty as “courageously persistent.”

Haskins has lost several “should-have-won” games this season, but he fights back. He  possesses the natural desire to go out each game and work until the final whistle—to come out with big, last minute, wins.

Haskins almost went to Maryland University. Last minute, he texted Urban Meyer and said, “I want to come.” Meyer said, “who is this?”

Well, Meyer and the world definitely know his name now.

Cast your vote..

 The winner of the 2018 Heisman Memorial Trophy is…

This article ran on Dec. 3, 2018. On Dec. 8, 2018, the Heisman Trophy was awarded to Kyler Murray of the University of Oklahoma. Murray recently announced his plans to pursue a position as an NFL quarterback. 

This post is one part of a blog written for Dr. Philip Patterson’s Feature Writing class. 

Email this to someonePrint this pageShare on Facebook0Tweet about this on TwitterShare on LinkedIn0

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *