2021 Heisman Trophy Futures: Why Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler is Worth a Bet as Top Player in College Football
Tom Pennington/Getty Images. Pictured: Spencer Rattler.
2021 Heisman Trophy Odds
| Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma | +450 |
| DJ Uiagalelei, Clemson | +900 |
| Bryce Young, Alabama | +1000 |
| CJ Stroud, Ohio State | +1500 |
| JT Daniels, Georgia | +1500 |
| Bijan Robinson, Texas | +2000 |
| D'Eriq King, Miami | +2000 |
| Matt Corral, Ole Miss | +2000 |
| Brock Purdy, Iowa State | +3000 |
| Kedon Slovis, USC | +3000 |
| Graham Mertz, Wisconsin | +3000 |
| Odds as of Wednesday morning and via WynnBET. | |
What do Joey Chestnut, Secretariat, quarterbacks winning the Heisman, and my blood pressure constantly being high all have in common? They are all in the top of their field.
Focusing more on the Heisman than the others, the number of quarterbacks winning the prestigious award is eye-popping. Since the year 2000, quarterbacks have taken home the award 17 times. I believe that trend continues at the conclusion of this season. But by who?
To win the Heisman, you need to do two things.
- Win football games.
- Put up stats while doing so.
If you read our staff's best preseason futures article last weekend, you would have noticed that I have a position on the Oklahoma Sooners to win the National Championship.
Bringing back a respectable offensive TARP of 77% and a defense that ranked top-20 in both Havoc and Success Rate, they have the talent to finally get over the hump. Not only can they win a Playoff game, but they can take home the championship trophy as well.
That won't be the only trophy the Sooners take back to Norman.
Oklahoma has the talent to win it all, and quarterback Spencer Rattler (+450) has the ability to fill up the stat sheet.
Rattler had a strong season last year, his first as the Oklahoma starter. He exceeded early expectations by throwing for 3,031 yards and 28 touchdowns. He finished 10th in the country in passing yards and eighth in passing touchdowns. Rattler also recorded 160 rushing yards with six rushing touchdowns — a productive scoring machine.
The 2021 season shows no signs of being any different. The Oklahoma offense returns a majority of its offense, along with some added weapons.
Running back Kennedy Brooks returns after opting out of last season. Brooks has topped 1,000 yards in both seasons he played in while scoring 18 total touchdowns. He is joined in the backfield by Tennessee transfer Eric Gray, who finished last season with 772 yards and four rushing touchdowns. Gray is also lethal in the passing game, racking up 254 yards and two touchdowns.
Along with the running back duo, Rattler will have plenty of pass-catching weapons at his disposable as well. Starters Marvin Mims and Theo Wease are back for their sophomore and junior seasons, respectively.
Mims hauled in 37 catches for 610 yards and nine touchdowns. His counterpart, Wease, put up 37 catches for 530 yards and four touchdowns last season. They are also joined by Arkansas transfer Michael Woods II, who finished the season with 32 catches, 619 yards, and five touchdowns.
All in all, Rattler has plenty of options to torch opposing defenses. Oklahoma's play-action will devastate opposing defenses, as Rattler can burn secondaries that come up on the running back threats or cover some yards on his own feet — all stats that will pad his lead on the race to the Heisman.
And it's a race that has some big-time players.
Rattler is followed by Clemson's DJ Uiagalelei (+900), who showed flashes in his short stint last season. Alabama's Bryce Young (+1000) — Bama's highest-rated quarterback recruit in program history — is right behind him.
Neither of them have my interest. Young may suffer the same fate as Mac Jones last season, overshadowed by talent that will take votes away. For Uiagalelei, we just don't have enough tape on him for me to formulate a concrete opinion. I may look to grab a piece on him if he continues the success he had in his two games last season.
As previously stated, to win the Heisman, a player needs to win football games and put up captivating stats.
Rattler will have plenty of weapons to help him put up the numbers that will attract the voters' attention. Oklahoma is poised for another double-digit win season, a trend in recent Heisman winners. All but two winners have played for teams with at least 10 wins.
Take Rattler to win the Heisman before the season starts. We will not get a better price than we can get right now. I'll also look to add Uiagalelei in a week or so.
Pick: Spencer Rattler to win the Heisman (+450 WynnBET).
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