Midseason Group of Five Heisman Race

The Group of Five, or “non-power conferences” to some, has never produced a Heisman winner. Marshall Faulk (SDSU) was a runner-up in 1992 and Randy Moss (Marshall) finished 4th in 1997 when Charles Woodson hoisted the coveted trophy. The most recent Top-5 finisher was actually Navy QB Keenan Reynolds back in 2015 when he finished 5th. 

The moral of the story is that it will be a long shot for a G5 player to make the Heisman Trophy ceremony, or at least that’s what history has told us. With that being said, it’s time to unveil my midseason “Group of Five Heisman candidates.” Below is a list of notable players (in no particular order) who are ascending and deserve more national recognition. Let’s dig in.

RB Kimani Vidal, Troy

If you asked yourself who is currently leading the nation in rushing yards, here’s your answer. Vidal has 83 more more rushing yards than anyone else in the country and is averaging 6.2 yards every time he carries the rock. With unbeaten James Madison still ineligible to compete in postseason play (sigh), the 5-2 Trojans are currently in the driver’s seat to winning their second-consecutive Sun Belt title. If Troy manages to pull it off, Vidal will be a pivotal factor. 

QB Michael Pratt, Tulane

Pratt entered the 2023 season as one of the top G5 players, and he has lived up to that hype. While his numbers aren’t eye-popping, Pratt is as efficient as they come. The Green Wave signal caller ranks 3rd among G5 quarterbacks with a 1.5% interception percentage (9 TD, 1 INT) and he boasts the 13th-best completion rate in the FBS (70.7%). To top it off, Pratt has the fifth-best QBR in the entire country. Most importantly, he’s piloting one of the best G5 teams in the nation that is now the clear favorite to win the American and potentially earn its second-straight NY6 berth.

WR Tory Horton, Colorado State

Horton’s NFL Draft stock has drastically shot up through the first six games of the season, and reasonably so. His breakout performance against then-#18 Colorado put him on the map and he has been an absolute mismatch ever since. The Cali native is tied for 2nd among FBS receivers with 30 catches that have gone for either a first down or touchdown. He is the best G5 wide receiver right now by a wide margin.

QB Zac Larrier, Air Force

One could put any Air Force player on this list, but might as well go with the quarterback since the Heisman is practically a QB award. Larrier’s numbers are underwhelming (just 973 total yards and 8 TD), but he has yet to turn the ball over and is averaging 5.8 yards per carry. The senior also commands the best ground game in the country, as the Falcons are averaging 80.7 more rushing yards than any team in the FBS with a whopping 334.2 YPG. Larrier is a Stetson Bennett-type Heisman candidate here with Air Force being widely regarded as the best G5 team right now. Still, I give credit where credit is due.

QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty

Salter, a former four-star prospect coming out of high school, has been brilliant up to the midway point of the season and is quarterbacking one of the best offenses in the G5. The dual threat sophomore is tied for 5th in the country with 20 all-purpose touchdowns and has the ninth-best QBR in the FBS, trailing only Pratt for G5 quarterbacks. If the 6-0 Flames can run the table and win the C-USA with an unblemished record, it would be a crime to keep Salter off this list.

RB Peny Boone, Toledo

The Rockets are the current MAC conference favorites and are quietly beginning to sneak into the NY6 conversation with a 6-1 record. Boone, the former Maryland Terrapin, is having a true breakout season, as his 792 rushing yards rank 3rd in the FBS and 7.4 yards per carry lead the nation for players with at least 100 attempts. 

Top Defender:

DE Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State

One of the most disruptive players in the entire country, Kamara currently leads the FBS in sacks (9.5) and has planted the quarterback in all but one game this season. Kamara’s 11.5 TFL also rank second among G5 defenders and he is the anchor of a Colorado State defense that ranks 10th in the country in negative play rate.