Alabama teammates Mac Jones, DeVonta Smith among 4 Heisman finalists

NEW YORK — University of Alabama teammates Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith were announced as 2020 Heisman Trophy finalists on Thursday night.

>> Read more trending news

Joining the Crimson Tide pair as finalists for college football’s most prestigious award were Clemson University quarterback Trevor Lawrence and University of Florida quarterback Kyle Trask, according to the Heisman Trophy website.

Voting could be much closer this year than in 2019, when LSU’s Joe Burrow was the overwhelming favorite to win.

The Heisman will be awarded in a virtual ceremony on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET on Jan. 5, the network reported.

Jones, a redshirt junior quarterback, started four games last season but had to beat out former five-star prospect Bryce Young to win this year’s starting job. This year, Jones has thrown for 3,739 yards and 32 touchdowns for the Crimson Tide (10-0).

Smith leads the nation with 98 catches and 1,511 yards receiving. He has hauled in 17 touchdown passes and has rushed for a score.

Smith is trying to be the first non-quarterback to win the Heisman since Tide running back Derrick Henry in 2015, ESPN reported. The last receiver to win the Heisman was the University of Michigan’s Desmond Howard in 1991, according to The Sporting News. The last receiver to finish in the top three also played at Alabama -- Amari Cooper in 2014, TSN reported.

Lawrence is 34-1 as a starter at Clemson and only the second player in school history to become a Heisman finalist, joining Deshaun Watson (2015, 2016), ESPN reported. He won all nine of his starts in 2020 and finished with 2,753 yards and 22 touchdown passes. He also rushed for seven touchdowns.

Trask led the Football Bowl Subdivision this season with 4,125 yards and 43 touchdowns, ESPN reported. He is trying to become the fourth Gators quarterback to win the Heisman, following Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996) and Tim Tebow (2007).

Cox Media Group