Robert Griffin III turns heads with unconventional Heisman pick

Robert Griffin III unveiled his latest Heisman Trophy front-runner rankings this week, and his top choice is creating some buzz. 

The FOX Sports analyst listed Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King at No. 1, putting the six-year player ahead of conventional candidates Ohio State's Julian Sayin, Alabama’s Ty Simpson and Indiana's Fernando Mendoza.

King has quietly guided the 8th-ranked Yellow Jackets to an undefeated 8-0 record and sit at first place in the ACC standings. In his sixth collegiate season, the former Texas A&M quarterback has thrown for 1,480 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing for 651 yards and 12 more scores. Though he ranks just 12th in the ACC in passing yards, his dual-threat impact has been undeniable. King is third in the conference in rushing yards and leads all ACC players in rushing touchdowns.

King’s Heisman hopes depend on Georgia Tech’s continued success. The Yellow Jackets’ toughest remaining test is a non-conference finale against No. 5 Georgia in the Clean, Old-fashioned Hate rivalry. But a College Football Playoff berth would make King's contributions impossible to ignore.

Griffin’s list also featured another surprise. BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier at No. 5. The true freshman has accounted for 20 total touchdowns while leading the No. 10 Cougars to an 8-0 record.

According to CBS Sports, King sits at +3000 odds to win the Heisman, behind Mendoza, Sayin, Simpson and others. However,  Griffin’s bold pick shows how Georgia Tech has turned the program around under head coach Brent Key. 

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