Heisman Poll: Travis Hunter’s Pose Matches Early Voting, But Jalen Milroe Lurks

Travis Hunter struck the Heisman pose. Jalen Milroe and Ryan Williams were part of what will be one of the best plays of 2024. Ashton Jeanty made one himself. Cam Ward made an improbable escape.

And that’s the full representation in it The Athletics‘s first weekly Heisman straw poll of the 2024 season. Hunter, Colorado’s do-it-all, play-every-play cornerback and receiver, leads the way, receiving 19 of 25 first-place votes and a total of 67 points . Milroe, the Alabama quarterback whose 75-yard touchdown pass to freshman receiver Williams clinched the win over Georgia after a 28-point lead was squandered, came in second (six first-place votes, 41 points).

No one else received a first-place finish, but Jeanty’s industry-leading rushing performance placed him in third place with 30 points. The Athletics follows the same voting protocol as the Heisman: three points for a first-place vote, two points for a second-place vote, one point for a third-place vote.

Ward, who was spectacular for Miami and leads the nation with 18 touchdown passes, had his best moment yet Friday, dodging multiple would-be sackers and getting the ball out of trouble on the key play in a comeback win over Virginia Tech. He finished fourth and Williams, the Alabama freshman whose spin, hesitation and acceleration completed the electric game-winner, received a vote.

ABSOLUTELY UNREAL SEQUENCE FROM CAM WARD 🤯 pic.twitter.com/FyIy5cPnwJ

— ESPN (@espn) September 28, 2024

That’s an exclusive group for September. A year ago, in our first survey, 11 players received at least one vote. But there’s still plenty of time for others to weave their way into the conversation. Georgia’s Carson Beck might be in it if his wildly up-and-down night in Alabama had ended in a win.

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, Missouri receiver Luther Burden III, Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan and others have opportunities ahead. What about that other absurdly gifted freshman receiver, Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith? Eventual 2023 Heisman winner Jayden Daniels, who is currently splitting the NFL as a Washington Commanders starting quarterback, had one third-place finish in last year’s initial poll.

Daniels was the 12th winner of the past 14 to play at quarterback, excluding Alabama receiver DeVonta Smith in 2020 and Alabama running back Derrick Henry in 2015. Jeanty’s start makes him a threat to become the first running back since Henry to play the competition wins. He leads the nation with 845 yards (10.3 yards per carry) and 13 rushing touchdowns.

One of those was a 59-yard dash to the end zone in a win over Washington State on Saturday that warrants a million replays just like the Milroe-to-Williams theatrics. As difficult as it may be to win a Heisman at Boise State, if Jeanty stays close to this pace all season, he should at least be in New York on December 14 to see that game during the Heisman ceremony.

Ashton Jeanty made Washington State’s defense look like a JV team. I’ve never seen so many forced missed tackles on an RB tape.

Just take a look at these 5 clips. #RB1 pic.twitter.com/kVZGdYLBeR

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) September 29, 2024

And Hunter will be a test of voters’ willingness to deviate from the norm of favoring the best quarterbacks on the best teams. He seems like the best player in college football right now. He is a true two-way player, unlike the only defensive player to win the award, Michigan’s Charles Woodson in 1997. Hunter ranks third nationally in receptions (46) and touchdown catches (six) and is eighth with 112 .2 yards per game.

In Colorado’s 48-21 win Saturday over UCF, he had a touchdown catch and a brilliant interception — he dropped into a zone, read a short pass, accelerated and dove for the pick — and then struck the pose. If the 4-1 Buffaloes keep winning and he continues to produce numbers and “wow” moments, it could prove prophetic.

(Photo: Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)