While we still have six more months until the 2024 college football season kicks off, early betting odds as to who will take home the next Heisman Trophy are already starting to be released. Among those starting to generate some very early buzz are two newcomers for the Louisville football program.
Circa Sports recently posted their early 2024 Heisman Trophy winner odds, and both Cardinals quarterback Tyler Shough and wide receiver Ja'Corey Brooks were among them. Shough was given +15000 (150-1) odds, while Brooks was put at +25000 (250-1) odds. Shough transferred in to Louisville from Texas Tech earlier this offseason, while Brooks did so from Alabama.
While Shough (pronounced "Shuck") has dealt with several injuries over the course of his career, when healthy, has more than proven that he is a capable quarterback. In 15 games over three seasons with the Red Raiders, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound signal caller completed 62.4 percent of his passes for 2,922 yards and 20 touchdowns to 11 interceptions, while rushing for 432 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Chandler Ariz. native spent the first three seasons of his collegiate career with Oregon, guiding the Ducks to a Pac-12 Championship and berth in the Fiesta Bowl in his lone season as a starters in 2020. In 26 career games, he has completed 63.2 percent of his throws for 4,625 yards and 36 touchdowns to 17 interceptions, along with 714 yards and 10 scores on the ground.
Brooks was limited to just three catches for 30 yards in nine games with the Crimson Tide this past season due to a shoulder injury, but has proven himself in the past to be a valuable asset. During the 2022 season, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound receiver hauled in 39 receptions for 674 yards and team-best eight touchdowns for the Tide.
As a true freshman in 2021, Brooks caught 15 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns, including a game-tying 28-yard catch in the final minute of Iron Bowl to help keep Alabama's College Football Playoff hopes alive, and a 44-yard score in the CFP Semifinal vs. Cincinnati. He was a five star prospect coming out of high school, regarded as the No. 27 player in the Class of 2021 according to the 247Sports Composite.
Louisville finished their 2023 season with an overall mark of 10-4 (7-1 in ACC) including a berth in the program's first ever ACC Championship Game, but ended year one under head coach Jeff Brohm on a three-game losing streak.
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