The Heisman Trophy actually offers up great value in the future markets. There's several reasons for this as returning favorites are not only competing against others, but they also have to live up to their own stats and performances from previous year(s). It's a major reason why Ohio St RB Archie Griffin has been the only two-time Heisman winner in history.
Last year, the first time I was on the ESPN Las Vegas show with RJ, I offered up Lamar Jackson as a Heisman sleeper at 100/1. Obviously, that worked out quite well, but it hasn't just been Lamar Jackson who has come out of nowhere to win the Heisman Trophy in recent years. In fact six of the last seven Heisman winners weren't even among top 8 favorites in the preseason. The only preseason top 3 favorite to win it in recent memory was Marcus Mariota in 2014 and in 2012 and 2013 Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston hadn't even played a down of college football yet, but still won the award!!!
Here are two early long-shots and my reasons for betting them:
Jarrett Stidham (QB Auburn) 50/1
First and foremost, a QB has taken home the award in 14 of the last 17 years while a RB has the other three years. Most of the time that QB has been on a national title contender and I believe Auburn is a contender this season. If you're not familiar with Stidham, he was a Top 5 QB recruit coming out of high school in 2015. He actually started three games at Baylor in 2015 as a true freshman before getting KO'd for the season with an injury. In limited action his numbers were mighty impressive as he threw for 1,265 yards with a 69-percent completion rate and a 12-to-2 TD-to-INT ratio. Last year he transferred out of Baylor (sanctions) and played at a junior college. He took part in spring this year at Auburn and just had a sensational spring game going 16 of 20 for 267 yards. While spring game stats can be very overrated, Stidham passed the eye test for me with flying colors as several of his throws were NFL-caliber. Gus Malzahn's offense is QB friendly when he has the right guy under center and Stidham is that guy (also has underrated mobility).
Derwin James (DB Florida St) 100/1
James is flying under the radar because last season he was out for the year after only two games with a knee injury (had 11 tackles and an interception). James was a freshman All-American in 2015 notching 91 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss in only 8 starts. Flash forward to this spring and James just might be the most versatile player in college football this season as he has lined up at Cornerback/Safety/Linebacker/Punt Returner and has even been featured as an edge pass rusher. Former N.Y. Jets and Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan, who was doing the broadcast of Florida St's spring game on Saturday said this about James when comparing him to Jabrill Peppers of Michigan; "No offense to Peppers but he (Peppers) only wished he was the player this kid (James) was." Ryan went on to say that James is a once in every 10-year type of talent/player. James certainly put on a show as he had 7 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and 2 sacks and was all over the field on Saturday. Quite simply, if Peppers can get an invite to New York for the Heisman ceremony, I think James is perfectly capable as well, if not becoming the first defensive back to win it since Charles Woodson in 1997!