NFL Draft

12/16/24

6 min read

DJ Lagway, Arch Manning Lead Early Ranking of 2025 Heisman Trophy Contenders

By Tyler Brooke

NFL Analyst
Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) looks on against the Mississippi Rebels during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) looks on against the Mississippi Rebels during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images.

Colorado Buffaloes two-way star Travis Hunter is your 2024 Heisman Trophy winner, but the next group in waiting includes some electric Heisman candidates for the 2025 season.

There won't be any repeat Heisman finalists next year with Hunter, Ashton Jeanty, Dillon Gabriel, and Cam Ward all expected to play in the NFL next season. However, the future of college football is bright with some emerging young stars, including a handful of incredible true freshmen who took the sport by storm in 2024.

Things can change quickly, and unlikely heroes like Joe Burrow can ascend into Heisman favorites. However, based on what we saw this season, let's rank some of the early candidates to win the 2025 Heisman Trophy.

2025 Heisman Trophy Candidates

Honorable Mention: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State Ohio State Buckeyes logo

It's tough to leave off either of the two electric true freshman wide receivers for this season, so it's important to at least give an honorable mention to Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith.

There are few receivers who invoke memories of Julio Jones like Smith, who is doing so at just 19 years old. He earned first-team All-Big Ten honors this season after racking up 57 catches for 934 yards and 10 touchdowns, making highlight-worthy catches throughout the year.

Smith is almost impossible to guard with his 6-foot-3 frame, body control, and strong hands to come away with catches from all kinds of different angles. He's big, elusive, and already has some impressive route-running ability.

It's unclear who Ohio State's quarterback will be next year, however, and poor QB play combined with a balanced offensive attack could limit Smith's potential to rack up video game numbers in 2025.

5. LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina South Carolina Gamecocks logo

As far as quarterbacks who showed flashes of Heisman potential, LaNorris Sellers out of South Carolina might have the highest upside.

It took some time for him to find his footing, but by the time he found it, Sellers was almost unstoppable at the end of the year. In his last five games, Sellers threw for 1,306 yards, 12 touchdowns, and just three interceptions while rushing for another 408 yards and four scores.

That doesn't mean Sellers is a finished product. He still took far too many sacks last season, with a 19.3 percent pressure-to-sack ratio. According to Pro Football Focus, he also needs to cut down on turnover-worthy plays, throwing 19 of them compared to 11 big-time throws.

However, the 242-pound dual-threat quarterback looks like he has the potential to be an unstoppable force in the SEC next season.

4. Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama Alabama Crimson Tide logo

If you want to discuss electric athletes in college football, Ryan Williams needs to be one of the first names mentioned.

Williams came to Alabama and instantly looked like one of the fastest players in the country as a true freshman. His national breakout game came in the win against Georgia when he caught six passes for 177 yards and a game-sealing touchdown on an incredible play after the catch. He finished the year with 10 total touchdowns and over 19.0 yards per catch, consistently generating explosive plays in Alabama's offense.

Although Williams and Smith are both deserving, the Alabama receiver gets the slight edge in these rankings because of the possibility that Jalen Milroe returns for one more year. Even if he doesn't, head coach Kalen DeBoer knows how to build out a dominant passing offense.

Only four receivers have ever won the Heisman Trophy, but Williams and Smith both have decent chances to make a run.

3. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Ashton Jeanty put up a running back season that may not be seen again for more than a decade. However, if there's any running back that will have a chance to win a Heisman Trophy next year, Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love is the most likely candidate.

Love put up strong numbers in a limited workload as a sophomore for the Fighting Irish this year. He's rushed for 949 yards and 15 touchdowns heading into the College Football Playoff, averaging an impressive 7.1 yards per carry. He also caught 22 passes for another 206 yards and two scores.

Playing behind Notre Dame's offensive line and having an easier schedule than other teams on this list will help Love's case in 2025. It would also help if the Irish are willing to ramp up Love's workload next season to put him on the map among college running backs.

If that happens, based on what we've seen from Love's explosive running style, he'll have a chance to become Notre Dame's next superstar.

2. Arch Manning, QB, Texas Texas Longhorns logo

There hasn't been a more hyped-up quarterback in the last few years than Arch Manning, the nephew of Eli and Peyton Manning. While college football fans have only seen glimpses of what Manning is capable of, it should have them confident about his chances to be a Heisman Trophy frontrunner in 2025.

Although Manning has only attempted 90 passes this year, he has averaged 10.4 yards per pass attempt, with nine touchdowns and only two interceptions. Unlike his uncles, Manning also has impressive rushing ability, with his 225-pound frame, rushing for 100 yards and four scores.

That dual-threat ability, along with a strong arm and quick release, will help Manning put up numbers next season. It also helps to have an offensive mind like head coach Steve Sarkisian, who can scheme up some explosive plays for a young quarterback.

Even if Manning has some hiccups along the way, his name and brand recognition will keep him in the Heisman race.

1. DJ Lagway, Florida Florida Gators logo

If you aren't ready for the DJ Lagway show, then get ready.

The Florida Gators were patient in rolling out the true freshman quarterback this season, but at some point, they couldn't afford to keep sitting him. The stats aren't that impressive (1,610 yards, 11 touchdowns, seven interceptions on 157 attempts), but the big-play potential that he brought to Florida changed the course of their season.

Lagway helped the Gators compete against some of the top teams in the SEC, leading them to an overtime loss to Tennessee, a hard-fought game against Georgia, and wins against the likes of Ole Miss and LSU. He's a well-built 6-foot-3, 239-pound quarterback with a howitzer for an arm with the pocket presence and mobility to make all kinds of electric off-script plays.

The Gators seem determined to build around Lagway this offseason, and the next few months could do wonders for his development just in time for a Heisman run in 2025.

Tags: Arch Manning, DJ Lagway, Heisman Trophy See More

Tyler Brooke

NFL Analyst

Tyler is an experienced NFL writer who has been covering the NFL since 2012. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, FanDuel, SB Nation, and a number of other sites. Along with more than 12 years of experience covering the NFL, Tyler also co-authored "The Science of Football" and is an assistant football coach at Carmel High School in Indiana.

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