When it comes to the top 2020 Heisman Trophy contenders, even casual college football fans can think of stars like Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State’s Justin Fields. However, when it comes to the handful of Heisman hopefuls that are just off the mark as top favorites, there are several players that could potentially pull off the Heisman trophy upset this coming campaign.
Top 5 Value-Packed Under the Radar Heisman Hopefuls
Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
- Heisman Trophy Odds: +2200
Etienne wasn’t expected to return for his senior season after rushing for a fantastic for 1,614 yards and 19 touchdowns while averaging a whopping 7.8 yards per carry as a junior in 2019. While Etienne will have to battle teammate and quarterback Trevor Lawrence for the Heisman, much like he did last season, the fleet-footed running back is one of the most explosive players in all of college football and he did finish ninth in last season’s Heisman voting.
Ian Book, QB, Notre Dame
- Heisman Trophy Odds: +2500
While Book doesn’t get the same amount of national media attention that some of the other high profile quarterbacks in the country get, he was very good for the Fighting Irish a year ago in passing for 3,034 yards with 34 touchdowns and only six interceptions while completing 60.2 percent of his passes. Book also added 546 rushing yards and four touchdowns last season and he’ll be in the Heisman mix in 2020 if Notre Dame remains a legitimate CFP contender all season.
Sam Ehlinger, QB, Texas
- Heisman Trophy Odds: +800
You might not know it, seeing as how Texas underachieved in a big way in going 8-5 last season, but quarterback Sam Ehlinger was pretty damned good in 2019. As a junior, Ehlinger tossed 32 touchdown passes and just 10 interceptions while completing 65.2 percent of his passes for 3,663 yards. Sure, he had an awful, four-interception game against TCU, but he also threw four TD passes in three other games last season. The dual-threat signal-caller added 663 rushing yards and seven scores. The bottom line is that, if Texas reaches the double-digit win mark in 2020 and challenges for the Big 12 title, Ehlinger should be in the Heisman mix.
Jamie Newman, QB, Georgia
- Heisman Trophy Odds: +800
The athletically-gifted Newman transferred to Georgia for his senior season after throwing for 2,868 yards with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions and adding 574 rushing yards and six scores for Wake Forest in 2019. Now as the starter for a perennially-powerful Georgia team that has legitimate national championship hopes, Newman is in the spotlight and his clear-cut gifts could put hi right in the Heisman mix in 2020.
Kedon Slovis, QB, USC
- Heisman Trophy Odds: +400
USC went a mediocre 8-5 in 2019, but it wasn’t because they struggled with quarterback play. No, it was quite the opposite as freshman signal-caller Kedon Slovis took over for injured starter T.J. Daniels and unleashed a season that has catapulted him into the Heisman conversation. Slovis threw for 3,502 yards with 30 TD passes and nine interceptions while completing a blistering 71.9 percent of his passes. While Slovis isn’t much of a threat to run the ball, he’s clearly gifted in the pocket and should be in the Heisman mix in 2020 – if USC can challenge for the Pac-12 title.
