Heisman Trophy: Early Look at the 2023 Candidates for College Football's Top Award

The celebration for USC and quarterback Caleb Williams in winning the '22 Heisman Trophy hasn't ended, but it's never too early to think about how the '23 race could look next season. Of course, a lot is going to change between now and August with coaching, transfers, roster movement and other factors that will shake up this list. 

However, the list of contenders next season starts where the '22 award ended. A repeat winner is always tough to see, but Williams will have the stats and the team to pursue another run at the Heisman Trophy. Fellow quarterbacks Drake Maye (North Carolina), Michael Penix Jr. (Washington) and Cade Klubnik (Clemson) are also poised for a run at the trophy, along with running backs Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss) and Donovan Edwards (Michigan). 

Who are the early candidates to win the Heisman Trophy in 2023? Athlon Sports takes a look at the contenders and which players should be in the discussion to be in the mix next fall:

Note: This assumes Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn, Illinois running back Chase Brown, Texas running back Bijan Robinson, Utah quarterback Cameron Rising, South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler, Tennessee receiver Jalin Hyatt, as well as Alabama quarterback Bryce Young and linebacker Will Anderson Jr. are headed to the NFL.

Heisman Trophy: Early Look at the 2023 Candidates for College Football's Top Award

Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Can Williams go back-to-back in 2023? He will have the stats in coach Lincoln Riley's high-powered offense, and there's a good chance USC will make another push for the CFB Playoff.

New Starting Quarterbacks at Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State
Pencil in the winner of these offseason battles for a spot in this list by this summer. Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson are slated to battle for the No. 1 spot at Alabama, while Kyle McCord and Devin Brown top the list of contenders at Ohio State. The battle at Georgia could be a three-man race between Carson Beck, Brock Vandagriff and Gunner Stockton.

J.J. McCarthy, QB/Blake Corum/Donovan Edwards, RB, Michigan
Michigan could have three Heisman contenders next season if Corum opts to return to Ann Arbor after season-ending knee surgery. If Corum heads to the NFL, Edwards will become the team's go-to back after an impressive first two years on campus. McCarthy was steady in his first full season as the starter (2,376 yards and 20 TDs through the air and 254 yards and four scores on the ground). With Michigan dominant on the scoreboard most weeks, McCarthy didn't need to throw much (22.2 attempts a game).

Max Duggan, QB, TCU
Duggan has an extra year of eligibility if he wants to return to Fort Worth in 2023. If he's back, the Iowa native will start near the top of the list for favorites after guiding TCU to a CFB Playoff berth and earning a trip to New York after accounting for 36 total touchdowns and 3,725 overall yards in '22.

Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin
The 2023 season is all about transition for Wisconsin with Luke Fickell taking over as head coach and Phil Longo implementing more of a spread attack in Madison. However, while all of those changes are significant, the Badgers still have one of the Big Ten's best players in Allen returning. He's rushed for 2,394 yards and 22 touchdowns over the last two years.

Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Bowers is one of the most talented players in the nation and a threat to score every time he touches the ball. However, his numbers in '22 weren't enough to get consideration (52 catches for 726 yards and six scores with three rushing touchdowns), and Georgia will have a new quarterback next fall. The path to winning appears to be challenging.

Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Daniels carried the LSU offense in his first season in Baton Rouge, averaging 276.3 total yards a game and scoring 27 overall times. If Daniels returns next year, a run at first-team All-SEC honors (and onto Heisman radar) is certainly within reach. 

Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
A new quarterback will take control of Ohio State's high-powered offense in 2023, but Harrison is back after catching 72 passes for 1,157 yards and 12 touchdowns. He should be the top receiver in college football next fall.

Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ole Miss
Judkins returns to power the high-octane Ole Miss offense after a record-setting freshman season (1,474 yards and 16 scores).

Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson
The torch was passed from DJ Uiagalelei to Klubnik in the ACC Championship Game. The No. 1 quarterback recruit in the '22 signing class is ready to become Clemson's next star signal-caller.

Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Maye made a strong run at the Heisman this year, but North Carolina's late losing streak prevented his candidacy from resulting in a trip to New York. In his first season as the starter, Maye led all ACC quarterbacks by averaging 366.8 total yards a game and scoring 42 total touchdowns.

Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Even though an injury slowed him late in the season, Nix had a monster first season through the air (3,388 passing yards and 27 scores) and on the ground (504 yards and 14 touchdowns) in Eugene. The Auburn transfer will have a new play-caller after Kenny Dillingham left to be the head coach at Arizona State. 

Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
A reunion with Kalen DeBoer (previously his offensive coordinator at Indiana) and finally some good luck in the health department allowed Penix to lead the nation in passing yardage (4,354). The Indiana transfer has already announced his intention to return in '23, and if receivers Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan pass on the NFL, this offense will once again rank as one of the best in the nation.

Nick Singleton, RB, Penn State
Looking for a rising star that could explode onto the scene in 2023? Singleton is the name to watch after rushing for 941 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first year on campus. 

Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State
Florida State is a team on the rise going into 2023, and a case for coach Mike Norvell's team to start as the ACC title favorite begins with Travis. In 12 games in '22, Travis led all ACC quarterbacks by averaging 8.1 yards per play and 263.6 total yards a game.

The Next Tier

K.J. Jefferson, QB, Arkansas
Despite an injury forcing him to miss two games, Jefferson still threw for 2,361 yards and 22 touchdowns and added 510 yards and seven scores on the ground. The Mississippi native could be the SEC's top quarterback entering '23.

Will Rogers, QB, Mississippi State
Stats won't be a problem for Rogers in coach Mike Leach's Air Raid offense. But the Bulldogs will have to push the win total up a bit and contend for the SEC West title to help Rogers' Heisman hopes.

Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oklahoma
As expected, Gabriel had a prolific debut in Norman. In 11 starts, the UCF transfer threw for 2,925 yards and 24 touchdowns to just six picks. Can Oklahoma rebound into the top 25 and help his Heisman campaign next year?

Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
Ewers will be pushed by incoming freshman Arch Manning, and there's plenty of room to improve after an up-and-down finish to '22.