Could Heisman snub fuel Milroe, Crimson Tide to championship?
The 2023 Heisman Trophy finalists have been announced, and they largely followed the public consensus on probable finalists: Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels and Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
While arguments can be made for several other players to be included in that list, one in particular is likely to take his omission as a slight, and unfortunately for Penix and the Huskies, the Texas Longhorns and Michigan Wolverines, he and his team have a very public platform to prove the doubters wrong. Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe turned a nightmare of a start to the season into a string of wins over Daniels's LSU Tigers, Auburn and Georgia to take the Tide to the College Football Playoff. It's not as if Milroe hasn't had his so-called Heisman moment. He had four rushing touchdowns against LSU to outduel Daniels and took down Auburn with a fourth-and-31 touchdown pass with only seconds remaining on the clock. It was after the Auburn game in particular that Milroe's Heisman candidacy seemed to gain real steam. He even seemed aware of the momentum, with team cameras capturing an emotion Milroe yelling "Gimme the Heisman" on the field at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Despite downing the previously undefeated and top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs 27-24 on Saturday and racking up more than 2,700 passing yards, nearly 500 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns and 23 passing scores against six interceptions this season, Milroe did not receive an invitation to New York.
That perceived disrespect, however, is what has been driving the Tide all year. The team's motto is "Let all naysayers know," something players have repeatedly stressed.
On Monday, the naysayers were those who left him out of the Heisman hunt, and come January, he has a chance to let them all know what a mistake they made the best way he knows how: on the field. Watch out, Wolverines.
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