All Eyes on Trask: Heisman Campaign

With the end of the season just one game away, all eyes are on Kyle Trask. The senior from Manvel, Texas, has been seemingly unstoppable this season against an All-SEC conference schedule.

His story, now well-known, began as the 2123rd ranked player in the 2016 class via 247Sports. Jim McElwain, looking for a second QB for the class, offered Trask his only Power 5 offer, and he never wavered from his commitment. He waited years to get his opportunity, sitting behind now-Miami QB D'Eriq King in high school and then behind now-Arkansas QB Feleipe Franks. Trask's opportunity finally came in 2019 after Franks when down with a season-ending injury against Kentucky. He hasn't looked back since.

Today, Trask leads the conference in TD passes (38), passing-yards (3243), and yards per game (360). Still, the Heisman odds are stacked against him with Alabama QB Mac Jones leading the way. The race likely ends at the SEC Championship game. So, how can Kyle Trask regain the lead?

It starts this weekend in Gainesville. The Gators will host the LSU Tigers for their last game of the regular season. Trask essentially needs to have one of his best games of the season to swing momentum back his way before taking his talents to Atlanta. At this point last year, LSU QB Joe Burrow had locked up the Heisman race by dominating his opponents week-in, week-out. A lone loss to Texas-A&M looms heavy on Trask as the sole difference in their respective campaigns. After all, the Heisman Trophy belongs to winners first, specifically winners who play quarterback. In Trask's case, the rescheduled LSU game is a blessing in disguise.

LSU comes in fielding a league worst of 313 passing YPG. Trask and Co. will no doubt take advantage of this. If Trask is able to go out and impose his will early and often, he has the opportunity to tighten his grip on the race. He needs to at least eclipse his averages of 360 YPG and 4.2 passing TDs per game. Another 6 TD performance, as he did against Arkansas and Ole Miss, would give Trask plenty of momentum heading into Atlanta. Even topping Mac Jones' 384-yard, four-touchdown performance in Alabama's dominant win over LSU last week bodes well for the Gators' signal caller.

Even if all goes accordingly in The Swamp this weekend Trask still has to face off with Mac Jones and the Crimson Tide. Simply put, Trask's road to the Heisman is much like Florida's path to the College Football Playoff. Trask outduels Mac Jones and the Gators win, Trask will find himself behind the virtual podium next month and the orange and blue will be in position to compete for a fourth national title. However, Trask may still find a path to the trophy given a great performance against Alabama that ends in a close loss, as long as he did everything he could and then some.

Despite the current odds, I would not bet against the Gators QB just yet. If I had to guess, the guy who's been an underdog his entire career is likely just where his wants to be in this race. Kyle Trask and the Gators control their own destiny.

Photo Credit: Jordan Herald/@JordanHerald5/UF Football

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