Andy Staples likes two Alabama football players as dark horse Heisman candidates

For the first time in a while, Alabama doesn't have a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy. They have plenty of quality players, and are among the favorites to compete for the National Championship, but not one single player is standing out near the top as a Heisman candidate.

That doesn't mean that they don't have anyone who is Heisman-worthy. But breaking in a new QB, with a competition that hasn't officially been settled, has oddsmakers a little weary on putting too much stock into Ty Simpson.

Alabama's top offensive player, sophomore WR Ryan Williams, is also impacted by that. With the uncertainty at the QB position, it's tough to list a skill-position player who is totally contingent on the the quarterback to get him the ball.

But if the Crimson Tide is a legitimate contender in 2025, it stands to reason that somebody on the roster is a Heisman Trophy candidate. The two candidates who make the most sense are listed by On3's Andy Staples as dark horse Heisman contenders.

Andy Staples lists Ty Simpson and Ryan Williams as Heisman dark horses

On FanDuel, Simpson is listed at +3000 and Williams is at +4200. That implies that Simpson's odds are 30-1 and Williams is 42-1 to win the stiff-arm trophy.

Simpson, of course, still has to prove he's the best QB on the Alabama roster, more less the best player in the country. He's the leader in the clubhouse to be the starter, but he will face competition in fall camp from redshirt sophomore Austin Mack and true freshman Keelon Russell, who was the No. 2 ranked player in the country last season.

Simpson has had a strong offseason, perception-wise. He seems to have won over the team. He attended the Manning Passing Academy last month, and drew rave reviews from those in attendance. He's waited his turn, and now it's his time to grab the starting job and lead the Crimson Tide.

Regardless of who the starting QB is, Williams figures to be the focal point of the offense. He's the top playmaker on campus, though the WR room around him is much improved from where it was a season ago. Germie Bernard and Isaiah Horton will give Alabama three, proven options at WR. They'll probably steal enough touches away from Williams to keep him out of the Heisman conversation.

Three of Alabama's four Heisman winners in program history were won during National Championship seasons - Mark Ingram in 2009, Derrick Henry in 2015, and DeVonta Smith in 2020. But Alabama has won the title in this era without a Heisman winner, doing so in 2011, 2012, and 2017.