Trevor Lawrence listed as top Heisman contender

Brandon Rink by Staff Writer -

The hype is growing for Clemson’s 5-star freshman quarterback.

College Football News’ Pete Fiutak has listed Trevor Lawrence as his second-most “realistic” Heisman contender after Lawrence’s impressive spring session in Clemson.

His top contender follows the odds more closely, in Heisman-favorite and Stanford running back Bryce Love, who was a Heisman finalist last season. Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor, Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray and Arizona’s Khalil Tate complete the list.

Fiutak compares Lawrence’s position to former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston’s in 2013, when Winston took over and led the Seminoles to a national championship.

“Okay, okay, Winston was a redshirt freshman and Trevor Lawrence is a true frosh," Fuitak said, "and there’s already a very, very good option in place with Kelly Bryant returning after leading the Tigers to the College Football Playoff, but...Lawrence is special.

“Clemson will be the top team in the nation coming into the season – or the preseason No. 2. It’ll be the runaway favorite to win the ACC title, it’s more than good enough to make its fourth College Football Playoff appearances in the last four years, and a 6-5, 205-pound child shall lead them.”

Before a forgettable night in the 2018 Sugar Bowl, Kelly Bryant was regarded as a top 2018 Heisman candidate by both ESPN and NFL.com in December.

Heisman odds in January placed Bryant tied for the ninth-best odds as the nation’s top player at 15-1.

In Saturday’s spring game, Lawrence wowed out of the gates with 50-yard touchdown pass and finished 11-of-16 passing for 122 yards. On the same sideline, former 5-star Hunter Johnson connected on 8-of-14 throws for 85 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.

Bryant missed some throws downfield and ended completing 8-of-15 attempts for 35 yards, while rising sophomore Chase Brice led Tiger QBs in passing yards on the same team with 231 on 12-of-19 passing with one touchdown and three interceptions.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said postgame that they will evaluate the depth chart after watching the film, adding that there's plenty of time until the 2018 kickoff.

“He (Bryant) missed two big throws today that he’s made all spring,” Swinney said, “but he missed them today. We’ll sit down and we’ll have exit interviews with all of those guys. Regardless of what any post-spring depth chart is, it just really doesn’t matter because we don’t play until September...There’s a lot of work to be done. You’ve got earn it every day and that’s what we tell these guys at every position.”