Dillon Gabriel, Travis Hunter, Ashton Jeanty and Cam Ward showed glimpses of greatness when they played on Friday nights.
Since Jay Berwanger won the first Heisman Trophy in 1935, the award has become a symbol of immortality in college football. Legends like Bo Jackson, Barry Sanders and Herschel Walker have etched their names into history by claiming the most prestigious individual honor in the sport.
The 2024 Heisman Trophy finalists —
Dillon Gabriel,
Travis Hunter,
Ashton Jeanty and
Cam Ward — are vying to join this storied lineage. For Gabriel, Hunter and Jeanty, their high school careers hinted at their potential to achieve such greatness. Ward's journey has been more unconventional.
Cam Ward
Ward's rise to Heisman contention started in college. At
Columbia (West Columbia, Texas), the Roughnecks employed a run-heavy, Wing-T offense, limiting Ward's opportunities to throw the football. In 24 career games he threw for just 2,261 yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging 11 pass attempts per game as a senior. Despite leading his team to a 9-1 record as a senior, Ward's production didn't attract significant attention from major college programs.
His collegiate career began at Incarnate Word University, where he threw for 2,260 yards as a freshman. He transferred to Washington State and then to Miami, where he exploded this season with 4,123 passing yards. The Hurricanes will face Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Dec. 28.
Dillon Gabriel
A three-star recruit in the Class of 2019 at
Mililani (Hawaii), Gabriel made an immediate impact as a three-year starter. By his sophomore season, he had already surpassed Ward's high school passing total. Gabriel would finish his time on the islands with 10,048 career passing yards and 104 touchdowns. The Trojans reached two state title games, winning one.
Across six seasons at Central Florida, Oklahoma and now Oregon, he has amassed 18,423 passing yards. This year, Gabriel has guided the No. 1-ranked Ducks to the College Football Playoff.
Ashton Jeanty
Jeanty has carved an unprecedented path to Heisman contention at Boise State. As a freshman in high school, Jeanty lived in Italy, where he dominated as a freshman while his father was stationed in Naples with the Navy. After moving to Texas, Jeanty joined
Lone Star (Frisco), where he initially played defense on a team featuring Marvin Mims that reached the state semifinals in Class 5A Division I.
He moved to wide receiver as a junior and caught 55 passes for 816 yards and seven touchdowns. Finally, he transitioned to running back as a senior and ran for 1,835 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns. He was also the quarterback's favorite target, catching 10 touchdowns.
Jeanty committed to Boise State as a four-star recruit and this season he leads the nation with 2,497 rushing yards. The junior is also the favorite for the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation's top running back. Boise State is also in the College Football Playoff.
Travis Hunter
Hunter's dominant two-way play has defined him since his days at
Collins Hill (Suwanee, Ga.). The No. 1 overall recruit in the Class of 2022, Hunter recorded 48 receiving touchdowns and 19 interceptions during his high school career, leading his team to a state championship in 2021. His most dominant season came in 2020 as he earned MaxPreps National Junior of the Year after catching 24 touchdowns and intercepting eight passes.
Now at Colorado, Hunter continues to deliver highlights as both a wide receiver and cornerback. Colorado will end their season against BYU in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28.
