Penn State Quarterback Trace McSorley, a 2018 Heisman Frontrunner?

Could Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley be the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner?  Some national media outlets believe it could happen.

The ink is barely dry on the final ballot giving Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield the 2017 Heisman Trophy.  However, its never too early to look at the 2018 candidates.  Two prominent national media outlets even believe a Nittany Lion could take home the trophy next fall.

With the likely departure of running back Saquon Barkley, quarterback Trace McSorley will shoulder the offensive load for the Nittany Lions in 2018.  The dual-threat signal caller may even do enough to be the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner!

Sports Illustrated’s Andy Staples listed Lions quarterback Trace McSorley among a trio of Big Ten players as early 2018 frontrunners.  Among Staples top-15 list for 2018, Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor and Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins also joined McSorley.

According to Staples, the transition from Joe Moorhead to Ricky Rahne might actually help McSorley.

"The promotion of quarterbacks coach Ricky Rahne to offensive coordinator following Joe Moorhead’s departure for Mississippi State should allow for continuity that should only help McSorley."

McSorley also found himself in the 2018 Heisman Trophy discussion with USA Today’s Paul Myerberg.  Trace McSorley checks in at number 5 on his top-10 list.

“McSorley’s an interesting case, Myerberg writes. On one hand, Saquon Barkley’s likely entry into the draft leaves McSorley as the clear and unquestioned leader of Penn State’s offense. On the other, not having Barkley in the backfield will make things more difficult for McSorley and the Nittany Lions.”

Myerberg thinks enough of McSorley’s leadership and on-field potential to rate him as the Big Ten’s second best Heisman candidate. McSorley is behind Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins and slotted just ahead of Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor.

In 2017 much of the opposing defensive attention was given to all-purpose running back Saquon Barkley.  While defenses were plotting to stop Barkley, there was Trace McSorley churning out passing yards, rushing yards, and touchdowns at a near-school-record pace.

This season McSorley quietly put up numbers that rivaled, and in some cases, outperformed his 2016 campaign.  Both 2016 and 2017 seasons saw McSorley pass for over 3000 yards with 26+ touchdowns against only eight interceptions.  It also saw him eclipse 263 average passing yards per game while rushing for nearly 800 yards and 18 touchdowns.

With the Fiesta Bowl remaining, plus all 2018, McSorley sits 1,400 yards shy of becoming Penn State’s all-time passing leader.  He would surpass the likes of Christian Hackenberg and Zack Mills.  Finally, completing the 2018 season with the type of numbers he has put up the previous two seasons, McSorley will become the first quarterback in Penn State history to amass 10,000 career passing yards.

The numbers and the accolades could go on and on, but one thing remains clear, Trace McSorley is one of the most talented players in Penn State’s rich history. Perhaps talented enough to cap off his storied career with the 2018 Heisman Trophy.