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FOX Sports analyst Matt Leinart tabs two B1G stars as Heisman favorites

Dustin Schutte

By Dustin Schutte

Published:

Everyone is getting those last-second picks in.

During a college football preview show on FOX Sports, analyst and former USC quarterback Matt Leinart was asked to give his preseason Heisman Trophy favorites as we head into the 2018 campaign. Two B1G names made his list.

Those two names have been pretty common among most college football analysts: Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley and Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor.

McSorley came in at the No. 5 spot on Leinart’s list.

“The ultra-competitor at this position,” Leinart said. “He can beat you with his legs, he can beat you throwing the football downfield. He takes chances. He’s a much better thrower than I think people give him credit for. The challenges for Trace this year, he loses a lot around him.

“But like Baker Mayfield last year taking the team on his back, that’s what [McSorley] has to do this year to win the B1G.”

Taylor was higher on Leinart’s list, coming in at the No. 2 spot.

“This is your prototypical Wisconsin running back,” Leinart said of Taylor. “He can do everything. He’s running behind the best offensive line in America this year. He has a quarterback in Alex Hornibrook that I believe is going to take chances down the field and really open up those defenses to open up the run game.”

Taylor and McSorley have gained most of the preseason hype from Heisman ballots across the country. The two B1G stars were the only players listed on ESPN’s Heisman Watch list, which was updated on Friday.

Leinart’s full top five list can be viewed below.

Dustin Schutte

Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB