Ashton Jeanty takes dwelling the Heisman Trophy

• Ashton Jeanty deserves the Heisman proper now: The Boise State working again may shatter each speeding document within the e-book at this tempo.

• Travis Hunter wins the Paul Hornung Award: As the best two-way participant ever, the Colorado star extensive receiver/cornerback is the simple decide for essentially the most versatile participant in school soccer.

• Unlock your edge with a PFF+ subscription: Get full entry to all of our in-season fantasy instruments, together with weekly rankings, WR/CB matchup charts, weekly projections, the Start-Sit Optimizer and extra. Sign up now!

Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

We’ve formally hit the halfway level of the 2024 school soccer season and the most effective gamers and groups are separating themselves from the pack.

After unveiling PFF’s midseason All-American staff final week, let’s check out who deserves all of school soccer’s main awards if the season ended right this moment.

Heisman Trophy/Maxwell Award (Best Player)

Winner: RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

A participant from a non-power convention hasn’t received the Heisman Trophy since 1990, when BYU quarterback Ty Detmertook took dwelling the award. A non-quarterback from a non-power convention hasn’t taken dwelling the stiff-arm trophy since Navy working again Jay Bellino in 1960. Suffice to say, the chances are towards Ashton Jeanty, however his absurd numbers this season make him the present favourite to drag off the unbelievable and win the Heisman.

Ashton Jeanty’s historic first half of the season:

*Since PFF started charting school soccer in 2014

Keep in thoughts that his season-long tempo solely accounts for the common season. Those numbers get much more ridiculous when accounting for the truth that Jeanty could possibly be enjoying within the Mountain West Championship Game and the College Football Playoff/a bowl recreation. He may shatter each FBS speeding document within the e-book if he retains this tempo up and turns into the uncommon Group of Five participant to take dwelling the Heisman.

Chuck Bednarik Award/Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Best Defensive Player)

Winner: EDGE Josaiah Stewart, Michigan

Stewart’s 93.8 PFF grade leads all defenders within the nation, no matter place. His 29.15% pass-rush win price is near eight factors larger than the next-closest Power Four edge defender, whereas his 90.2 run-defense grade is third within the nation for his place.

Davey O’Brien Award (Best Quarterback)

Winner: QB Cam Ward, Miami (FL)

Miami has its highest rating (sixth) in seven years due to its famous person switch from Washington State. Ward’s 92.3 PFF grade this season leads all quarterbacks within the Power Four. He additionally leads the nation in passing yards (2,548), passing touchdowns (24) and is third in big-time throws (20).

Doak Walker Award (Best Running Back)

Winner: RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

Biletnikoff Award (Best Receiver)

Winner: WR Tre Harris, Ole Miss

Harris is the highest-graded receiver in America thus far, posting a 90.3 mark. His 987 receiving yards are additionally 83 greater than another pass-catcher in school soccer. Harris additionally leads all FBS receivers with 462 yards after the catch and 5.25 yards per route run. The next-closest receiver within the latter determine averages simply 3.71 yards per route run.

John Mackey Award (Best Tight End)

Winner: TE Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green

Fannin is the highest-graded participant in school soccer this 12 months, producing a ridiculous 96.7 PFF grade. His 495 yards after the catch lead all gamers within the nation, no matter place. The junior’s 873 receiving yards are 279 greater than any tight finish within the nation. He’s presently on tempo for 1,497 yards simply within the common season. The present FBS tight finish document is 1,352 receiving yards set by Texas Tech’s Jace Amaro in 2013.

Outland Trophy (Best Interior Lineman)

Winner: OT Wyatt Milum, West Virginia

Milum’s been an all-around stud for the Mountaineers this season. He’s the one offensive deal with in America with 85-plus grades each in pass-blocking and run-blocking whereas his 92.1 total grade is the very best within the nation by practically two factors. Among the FBS offensive linemen who haven’t surrendered a strain this season, Milum’s 193 pass-blocking snaps are 46 greater than anybody else. He’s additionally second amongst all offensive tackles in run-blocking grade (90.1). Milum’s enjoying his approach into the primary spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft at this price.

Rotary Lombardi Award (Best Lineman)

Winner: EDGE Josaiah Stewart, Michigan

Rimington Award (Best Center)

Winner: C Jacob Gardner, Colorado State

Gardner’s 89.0 PFF grade is over 5 factors larger than another heart within the nation this season. His 86.6 pass-blocking grade is second on the place whereas his 84.8 run-blocking grade is the very best by 5.5 factors. He hasn’t allowed a sack or hit on 214 pass-blocking snaps whereas solely giving up one strain.

Ted Hendricks Award (Best Defensive End)

Winner: EDGE Josaiah Stewart, Michigan

Butkus Award (Best Linebacker)

Winner: LB Jay Higgins, Iowa

Higgins is essentially the most useful linebacker in school soccer in accordance with PFF’s wins above common metric, thanks largely to his excellent protection potential. His 94.3 protection grade is over three factors larger than another linebacker whereas his two interceptions are tied for essentially the most within the Power Four for his place.

Jim Thorpe Award (Best Defensive Back)

Winner: CB Jahdae Barron, Texas

After enjoying largely as a slot nook all through his profession, Barron has made the transition to the skin look seamless this 12 months. His 89.2 PFF grade leads all FBS corners, and he’s solely given up a 28.2 passer score when focused. For reference, spiking the ball each play nets a 39.6 passer score.

Paul Hornung Award (Most Versatile Player)

Winner: WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado

This is probably the simplest award to provide out as Hunter’s arguably the best two-way participant within the sport’s historical past. His 82.4 receiving grade is a top-20 mark amongst all extensive receivers within the nation whereas he’s tied for 18th in receiving yards (604) and tied for seventeenth in receiving touchdowns (six). Hunter’s 82.8 defensive grade is thirteenth amongst FBS corners and he’s one in every of solely three corners within the nation with 80-plus grades in protection and as a run defender. The prime prospect on PFF’s 2025 NFL Draft large board has solely let up a 44.0 passer score into his protection this 12 months and has picked off two passes.

Lou Groza Award (Best Kicker)

Winner: Okay Ben Sauls, Pittsburgh

Sauls has drilled all 10 of his subject objectives and all 28 of his extra-point makes an attempt this season. He’s transformed all three of his makes an attempt from 50-plus yards, together with a career-long 58-yarder towards California that tied this system document.

Ray Guy Award (Best Punter)

Winner: P Brett Thorson, Georgia

Thorson’s 94.2 punting grade is over three factors larger than anybody else within the nation. Only three of his punts have been returned, netting -9 yards complete. 14 of his 22 punts landed contained in the 20-yard line and he additionally lead the FBS with a 4.64-second common cling time.

Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers Award (Best Return Specialist)

Winner: CB Rayshawn Pleasant, Tulane

Pleasant’s 92.0 return grade is sort of six factors larger than anybody else within the nation. While the cornerback’s solely returned six kicks, two of them have gone for touchdowns. In truth, he’s the one participant in America with a number of return touchdowns thus far.

Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award (Best Freshman)

Winner: WR Ryan Williams, Alabama

While the truth that Ryan Williams is barely 17 years outdated has been repeated advert nauseam over broadcasts, it doesn’t make what he’s performed this 12 months any much less ridiculous. He’s already develop into the clear No. 1 choice for the Crimson Tide and leads all true freshmen within the nation with 649 receiving yards, 100 greater than anybody else. Despite being so younger into his profession, he already has a legendary play within the immediate basic win over Georgia.

ABSOLUTE SCENES IN TUSCALOOSA!!!

RYAN WILLIAMS WITH A 75-YARD TD TO RETAKE THE LEAD! pic.twitter.com/pvc9ML7E7G

— Sports activitiesCenter (@Sports activitiesCenter) September 29, 2024

Burlsworth Trophy (Best participant who began his profession as a walk-on)

Winner: S Will Brooks, Tennessee

Brooks is third amongst Power Four safeties this 12 months with an 88.5 protection grade. He’s solely allowed three first downs into his protection whereas selecting off two passes and forcing one other two incompletions.

Joe Moore Award (Best Offensive Line)

Winner: Iowa Hawkeyes

Iowa’s offensive line is the one unit within the FBS with top-10 grades each in pass-blocking and run-blocking, inserting ninth in each classes. In truth, no different offensive line even cracked the top-15 for each. They’ve helped Kaleb Johnson run for 357 yards earlier than contact, greater than another working again in America.

Home Depot Coach of the Year Award (Best Coach)

Winner: HC Curt Cignetti, Indiana

Indiana completed with a 3-9 document final 12 months, its third-consecutive season with 4 wins or fewer. In Cignetti’s first 12 months on the helm, the Hoosiers are 7-0 and are No. 13 within the nation. If Indiana can win 4 of its remaining 5 video games, it ought to punch its ticket to the College Football Playoff. That’s fairly the turnaround for a program whose final bowl recreation look was 4 years in the past.

Frank Broyles Award (Best Assistant Coach)

Winner: OC Andy Kotelnicki, Penn State

Kotelnicki has fully revolutionized Penn State’s offense in his first 12 months as its offensive coordinator, which is a serious cause why the Nittany Lions have their highest rating in seven years (third). Despite dropping critical expertise to the NFL Draft and the switch portal, Penn State’s offense is eighth in EPA per play after inserting twenty seventh final 12 months. Meanwhile, Kansas, the varsity he left, is twenty eighth in EPA per play after rating fifth in 2023 regardless of bringing again many of the star gamers from a 12 months in the past.

Penn State can also be seventh in receiving grade this season after inserting 81st the 12 months earlier than. The Nittany Lions are working a pre-snap shift or movement on 63.3% of their performs after doing so simply 45.7% of the time final season.