Heisman finalists: Bryce Young, Aidan Hutchinson, Kenny Pickett, C.J. Stroud

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NEW YORK — Alabama backmost Bryce Young, Michigan antiaircraft extremity Aidan Hutchinson, Pittsburgh backmost Kenny Pickett and Ohio State backmost C.J. Stroud were announced Monday arsenic finalists for the Heisman Trophy.

The Heisman volition beryllium presented Saturday successful New York, returning to its accustomed regular and day — 2nd Saturday successful December — aft it was forced to hold and spell virtual past twelvemonth owed to the pandemic.

There are immoderate changes this year. The tract of the presumption is moving from a theatre successful Midtown Manhattan, adjacent Times Square, to a smaller venue connected the West Side adjacent Lincoln Center.

The process by which Heisman finalists are determined has besides been modified. The Heisman Trust announced that starting with this season, determination volition beryllium 4 finalists — nary more, nary less — invited to the grant presumption ceremony.

In the past the Heisman has invited astatine slightest 3 and arsenic galore arsenic six players to the presentation. The fig was determined by organisation of vote, with the cut-off decided by the spread betwixt vote-getters.

After a 2021 play successful which a Heisman front-runner took a portion to look and the contention seemed wide-open into November, Young closed beardown to go the favorite.

The sophomore led a 97-yard, game-tying touchdown thrust against rival Auburn 2 weeks ago, helping the Crimson Tide rally to triumph the Iron Bowl successful overtime.

Then Young broke the Southeastern Conference title crippled grounds with 421 yards passing successful a triumph against Georgia’s vaunted defence connected Saturday. For the season, Young has thrown for 4,322 yards, 43 touchdowns and conscionable 4 interceptions portion guiding the top-ranked Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff.

As bully has Young has been successful his archetypal play arsenic Alabama’s starting quarterback, pursuing Heisman finalists Mac Jones and Tua Tagovailoa, an statement could beryllium made helium is not adjacent the wide champion subordinate connected his ain team.

Will Anderson Jr. appeared to beryllium the Tide’s apical Heisman contender until Young went disconnected against Georgia. The sophomore extracurricular linebacker leads the federation successful tackles for nonaccomplishment with 31.5 and sacks with 15.5, but helium didn’t get an invitation to New York.

Nether did Michigan State moving backmost Kenneth Walker III, who is 2nd successful the federation successful rushing astatine 136 yards per crippled with 19 touchdowns. The Wake Forest transportation jumped to the apical of the Heisman ticker lists aft scoring 5 touchdowns successful the 11th-ranked Spartans’ triumph against Michigan connected Oct. 30.

Young could go Alabama’s 4th Heisman winner, 2nd consecutive, but archetypal quarterback.

Tide receiver DeVonta Smith won the Heisman past year. Smith broke a streak of 4 consecutive quarterbacks to triumph the Heisman. Since 2000, 17 quarterbacks person won the trophy. Among the non-quarterback winners are Alabama moving backs Mark Ingram (2009) and Derrick Henry (2015).

Hutchinson would beryllium the archetypal antiaircraft subordinate to triumph the Heisman since Michigan’s Charles Woodson successful 1997. Woodson was besides Michigan’s past Heisman winner.

The past Michigan subordinate to beryllium a Heisman finalists besides played defense, though not exclusively. Defensive backmost Jabrill Peppers played immoderate discourtesy and returned kicks erstwhile helium finished 5th successful the voting successful 2016.

Hutchinson is 1 of the nation’s champion walk rushers with 14 sacks. The elder led No. 2 Michigan to its archetypal playoff quality arsenic Big Ten champions and helped extremity an eight-game losing streak to rival Ohio State.

Pickett returned to Pitt for a 5th play successful 2021, taking vantage of the NCAA’s eligibility give-back for playing done the pandemic successful 2020, and had a record-breaking year. Pickett passed for 4,319 yards with 42 touchdowns to eclipse schoolhouse marks and led the 13th-ranked Panthers to their archetypal Atlantic Coast Conference title.

The past Pitt subordinate to beryllium a Heisman finalist was receiver Larry Fitzgerald successful 2003.

Stroud completed 71% of his passes for 3,862 yards, 38 touchdowns and 5 interceptions arsenic the seventh-ranked Buckeyes finished 10-2 successful his archetypal play arsenic a starter.

He is the 3rd consecutive Ohio State starting backmost to beryllium a Heisman finalist, joining Justin Fields (2019) and Dwayne Haskins (2018).

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