Oklahoma QB Spencer Rattler tabbed as early favorite to win Heisman Trophy, go No. 1 at 2022 NFL Draft

The decision to come back for another year of college football looks as though it’s helping Spencer Rattler already.

The sophomore is projected as the early favorite to win the Heisman Trophy in 2021, which would then put him on track to be the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, according to OddsChecker.

A quarterback has been taken first overall in each of the last four drafts, with three of them having won the Heisman Trophy that year. The lone exception was Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, now of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who was selected No. 1 overall this year after losing out to Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith for the Heisman Trophy.

Rattler put up a strong showing in his redshirt freshman campaign last season with the Sooners, 67.5% of his passes for 3,031 yards with 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 11 games.

Most of his competition on the betting line comes from quarterbacks as eight of the other nine favorites are passers — the lone exception being Texas running back Bijan Robinson.

“It may seem wrong, but NFL teams care about the Heisman because it shows dominance over your competition,” OddsChecker spokesperson Kyle Newman said. “Every player since 2010 to win the Heisman has gone first or second overall except for Lamar Jackson and Johnny Manziel. If a QB wins the award, as is always the preseason expectation, he will likely be the favorite to go first overall. Right now that’s Rattler, but the field is really wide open given the lack of a truly elite QB in this upcoming class.”

A quarterback has won the Heisman Trophy in 17 of the last 20 years.

Heisman Trophy Odds