“a fistful of golden contracts, a personal manager, and ranking-celebrity status on three continents.” HST on Jean-Claude Killy 3/1/1970

Perhaps, this is what is at stake for these elite football talents, although, the “golden contracts” seem to be available regardless of Heisman status these days. At least, they are golden in my eyes. Doc Thompson wouldn’t be able to fathom that someone born in 2005 and playing college football would be earning more than NFL rookies Kalel Mullings, Shedeur Sanders, and Cam Skattebo combined in terms of what they will earn this season. Such is the case for Jeremiah Smith who has an NIL deal of over 4 million with Ohio St. Yessir, golden contracts are all over the college game, and three-time Gold Medalist Skier Jean-Claude Killy’s six figure “golden contract” looks like a 20% dinner tip these days.

Nevertheless, these college athletes are elite and providing elite entertainment. Payment for their contributions is long overdue. However, the talks of awarding retrospective payments to former athletes, a reparation of sorts, continues to befuddle me. The sport changed, the value of the sport changed, the TV deals became larger, and money matters less than in years past. “Chips fall where they fall” as former UCF Safety Quad Bullard said last year. Let it be. Start a podcast if you feel as an athlete that you still demand influence. Everybody’s doing it. Moving on.

So, the Heisman trophy. Who gets it this season? No one knows. Least of all the guy sitting barefoot on his couch on this breezy, bluebird Nick Lachey kind of day. However, there are a few players that I think could be on the Heisman shortlist by season’s end.

-Jeremiah Smith WR Ohio State 10/1

• Potentially the most dominant player in College Football this season.
• Ohio St is projected 10-2
• Smith’s highlight catches and big numbers will wow fans and influence voters.

-Dante Moore QB Oregon 20/1

• Oregon is Projected 10-2
• Should the Ducks meet this goal, Moore will be an irreplaceable contributing factor

-Gunner Stockton QB Georgia 33/1

• Stockton will start the Season slow
• Georgia is projected 10-2
• By November 15th, he will be near the top of Heisman lists.

-Jeremiah Love RB Notre Dame 40/1

• Notre Dame projected 10-2
• Love’s big play ability and total yard accumulation will garner attention from Heisman voters.
• Perhaps he will be relatively low on the TD numbers

-Joey Aguilar QB Tennessee 50/1

• Tennessee is projected 11-1
• “I’m ready to give my all for Tennessee”
• Hungry, coachable QB in a weapons-filled offense with an aggressive Head Coach

-Jayden Maiava QB Southern Cal 70/1

• USC is projected 9-3
• Lincoln Riley is a masterful QB coach
• USC should score points

-Demond Williams QB Washington 75/1

• High ceiling for this Sophomore QB
• Washington projected 10-2
• Winning Week 5 against Ohio St will increase his Heisman stock

So, there is my top 7 based on the season’s projection. All of these teams except USC are in the 12-team playoff and these players will be the reason why. Gunner Stockton at 33/1 is probably my favorite for the price, while Jeremiah Smith at 10/1 is my favorite to win it. I do not think he can be covered at the college level. He will dominate as long as he stays healthy.

So, no Manning, no Nussmeier, no Klubnik which are the odds-on favorites. If one of them wins, then something went drastically different than my “unpredictable predictions,” but if one of them wins, my gut tells me it’s the Clemson QB. Only time will tell.

Time. Another day closer to the first kick in Dublin. Each minute feels like a week until then.

Find the humor and keep on movin’

Whit W.