Heisman hopefuls: Week 1

The bands, the fans and the football are back on Saturdays as college football has kicked off the 2018 season. While the pads have just been put on for the first real action in over half a year, the race for the Heisman Trophy is already in full swing with multiple players making an early case to be the best football player in the NCAA.

Here are five players who helped their resumes the most this week:

Will Grier, West Virginia

Grier started high on most experts' preseason Heisman lists, and he only solidified his position after Week 1. The Mountaineer quarterback threw for 429 yards and five touchdowns against Tennessee, showing why many have him as the first pass thrower off the board at the next NFL Draft. He started the day unevenly but used a one-hour weather delay to get his rhythm back.

Last year, a broken finger ended Grier’s season. If he stays healthy, he could easily pass Geno Smith for WVU's most passing touchdowns in a single season and secure the Heisman Trophy.

Rodney Anderson, Oklahoma

Many were skeptical about the Sooners' success this season after losing reigning Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield. Rodney Anderson put some of those questions to bed.

The junior running back put down some huge runs, scoring on a 30-yard burst and a 65-yard burner, leaving helpless Florida Atlantic defenders in his wake. Anderson was benched after the first half, finishing with 100 yards on five carries and two scores.

Sooner fans’ mouths are watering thinking of what he can do with a full four-quarter workload. If his first game is any indication, Anderson will be dominating defenses all season.

Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
While the rest of the Buckeye football program is under fire for a domestic abuse scandal, Dwayne Haskins showed he can be the guiding light on the field. The sophomore quarterback set the record for most touchdown passes in a debut performance at Ohio State, notching five scoring tosses and adding 313 yards against Oregon State.

This shouldn’t have been surprising to anyone after Haskins stepped in for J.T. Barrett last season, helping the Buckeyes grab a comeback victory over Michigan. The rest of the program might burn to the ground, but at least Haskins will positively impact the team no matter what.

Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
Taylor finished his freshman year with nearly 2,000 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. It looks like he’s only going to get better.

The sophomore running back carved up Western Kentucky for 145 rushing yards and two scores. His strong base allows him to take initial contact and create separation in the open field once he hits the second level. It also doesn’t hurt to have one of the best rushing offensive lines in the country opening holes for him every down.

There may be other players getting more hype than Taylor, but he might have the last laugh when it’s all said and done.

Nick Bosa, Ohio State

Houston’s Ed Oliver might be high on most experts’ lists for the best defensive player in the country, but Nick Bosa stuck his nose into the Heisman Trophy conversation with a dominating Week 1 performance. He finished the game against Oregon State with two tackles for loss, two sacks and one fumble recovery for his first career touchdown. The junior lineman was named Defensive Player of the Week by ADT, and if he has more performances like this, he could be the rare defensive player to be a Heisman Trophy finalist by the end of the year.