For a time in 2020, BYU Cougars quarterback Zach Wilson appeared to have a legitimate shot of at least being among the top vote-getters for the Heisman Trophy.
Those hopes faded throughout the season, although on Thursday evening, it was revealed in a show on ESPN that Wilson finished eighth in the final voting.
Votes were due on Monday.
This marks the first time since Ty Detmer came in third in 1991 that a BYU player has finished in the top 10 (Detmer won the award in 1990).
Wilson, a junior who prepped at Corner Canyon High in Draper and is widely figured to be headed to the NFL, finished the season having completed 247 of 336 passes for 3,692 yards with 33 touchdowns against just three interceptions. He also rushed 70 times for 254 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Cougars finished with an 11-1 record.
Florida’s Kyle Pitts and Notre Dame’s Ian Book finished behind Wilson in 10th and ninth, respectively. Ahead of Wilson, Ohio State’s Justin Fields finished seventh, Iowa State’s Breece Hall was sixth and Alabama’s Najee Harris came in fifth.
The top four who will be in the running to hear their name called when the award is announced on Jan. 5 are Alabama’s Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith (it is the first time since 1946 that one team has had three players in the top five), Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Florida’s Kyle Trask.