It's time for college football to start taking Oregon State receiver Jesse Legree seriously as a potential Heisman Trophy candidate.
Legree, a true freshman, now leads the country with 932 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns after torching San Diego State for 166 yards and three touchdowns on 10 receptions in Week 6. Legree, averaging 24.5 yards per reception this season, has gone for at least 100 yards in every game and has scored two or more touchdowns in three consecutive contests.
Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton was efficient in a low-scoring game against two of the SEC's best in the Bulldogs' 20-17 win over Alabama. Stockton completed 18-of-22
passes for 249 yards with a touchdown to an interception, also rushing for a touchdown.
Here's how the Heisman race looks after Week 6, with Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith still leading the charge:
Heisman Trophy momentum meter after Week 6
1. Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State ↔️ (1)
Smith now ranks second nationally in receptions (48), receiving yards (916) and receiving touchdowns (12) this season after Legree's breakout week. The 6-foot-4 receiver had a seemingly mortal stat line vs. Maryland in Week 6: four receptions for 93 yards with two touchdowns in Ohio State's 45-16 win. Quarterback Julian Sayin only attempted 21 passes.
Still, it'll take a huge performance in a top-tier game — or Smith completely cooling off — for him to lose his status as the No. 1 Heisman contender.
2. Darian Mensah, Miami ↔️ (2)
Mensah and Miami were off in Week 6. The break represents the start of the regular season's second half for the Hurricanes, which have multiple tougher games on the horizon, including a road trip to No. 2 Notre Dame on Nov. 7. The first-year Duke transfer has been the most-efficient quarterback in the sport so far, but is lacking a signature win.
3. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss ⬆️ (4)
Trinidad Chambliss scored four touchdowns in Ole Miss' 52-17 win over Vanderbilt in Week 6, completing 20 of 30 passes for 213 yards with three touchdowns to an interception. He also rushed for a score.
Chambliss has thrown an interception in four of Ole Miss' five games this season, but most of that falls on how much the second-year starter is asked to do offensively. Chambliss boasts one of the highest usage rates in college football, especially with star running back Kewan Lacy battling injuries this season.
4. Keelon Russell, Alabama ⬇️ (2)
Georgia mostly stymied Alabama in the Crimson Tide's 20-17 loss in Week 6, controversial no-calls notwithstanding. They could've changed the outcome of the game — and Russell's Heisman contention status.
Still, it's tough to knock the first-year starter after facing what's now the No. 1-ranked team and one of the toughest defenses in college football. He still has 1,599 passing yards with 12 touchdowns to two interceptions this season, along with 225 rushing yards and four scores
He'll have plenty more chances to improve his Heisman resume going forward — potentially in a rematch with Georgia.
5. Gunner Stockton, Georgia ⬆️ (9)
Stockton has quietly been one of the best quarterbacks in college football in his two seasons as a starter. He rarely makes mistakes, takes the layups and is unflappable in big games, which he showed against Alabama in Week 6.
6. Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State ⬇️ (5)
There might not be a quarterback in college football better at pushing the ball downfield than Mestemaker. The first-year North Texas transfer had another big game in the Cowboys' 42-28 win over UCF, completing 19 of 28 passes for 304 yards with three total touchdowns.
7. CJ Carr, Notre Dame ↔️ (7)
CJ Carr was hardly needed in Notre Dame's 58-7 win over ACC bottom-feeder Stanford in Week 6. The second-year starter completed 14 of 20 passes for 181 yards with three touchdowns in the win, adding 41 yards on the ground.
Carr and Notre Dame, though, will have their first real test of the season when they travel on the road to face No. 8 BYU in Provo, Utah, with ESPN's "College GameDay" in town. A big win could be the boost Carr needs for his Heisman resume.
8. Malachi Toney, Miami ⬇️ (6)
Toney moves down a spot due to Stockton's rise, but will have plenty of opportunities going forward, even if it'll be hard for him to move past his quarterback in the Heisman running.
9. Kamario Taylor, Mississippi State ⬇️ (8)
It was a week of byes for Heisman contenders, as Mississippi State's Kamario Taylor aimed to get healthy on the off week. Taylor left the Bulldogs' game against Alabama early in Week 4 due to injury after having his worst game of the season in the 56-23 loss.
Another big performance in a big game vs. LSU would put Taylor back near the top of the conversation.
10. Julian Sayin, Ohio State ⬆️ (NR)
Smith has been getting all the praise, and rightfully so, but Sayin, himself a Heisman finalist, has taken his game to another level. He has 1,772 yards with 17 touchdowns to two interceptions this season, having improved his yards per attempt from 9.2 last season to 10.9 this season.
11. Jesse Legree, Oregon State ⬆️ (NR)
Sure, Legree and quarterback Braden Atkinson are tearing up Mountain West competition. But no one else in the conference is remotely doing the same against the same teams. Here's a look at Legree's longest gain in each game this season, just to show how ridiculous he has been so far:
- at Houston: 71 yards
- at Texas Tech: 75 yards
- vs. Montana: 48 yards
- at UTEP: 46 yards
- at Colorado State: 52 yards
- vs. San Diego State: 71 yards
There hasn't been a non-Power Four Heisman winner since Ty Detmer won the award in 1990. Legree's insane start to the season is going to force the hand of Heisman voters, should it continue.
12. Josh Hoover, Indiana ⬇️ (10)
Josh Hoover's late touchdown throw to Nick Marsh was the difference in Indiana's 20-17 road win over Nebraska in Week 6. The TCU transfer completed 12 of 22 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns in the win, as the Cornhuskers kept the Hoosiers' offense in check at times.
Indiana's offense isn't quite as good as it was last season after losing Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza and other key weapons. Hoover will have a chance to knock off Ohio State this week, though.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Heisman momentum meter: Say hello to Oregon State WR Jesse Legree
