Maroon and White Nation
Fansided

Should Nick Fitzgerald Be In the Race for the Heisman Trophy Next Season?

By Andrew Norwood

Nov 26, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Nick Fitzgerald (7) celebrates after the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi State won 55-20 Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Nick Fitzgerald (7) celebrates after the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi State won 55-20 Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

With the 2016 Heisman Trophy close to be handed out, it’s time for speculation for next season. With that in mind, can Nick Fitzgerald make a legitimate run for the Heisman?

Well to answer that question, I’m going to compare stats with another presumed favorite for next season’s Heisman Trophy. That would be Alabama Freshman (will be Sophomore) QB Jalen Hurts. So how does Nick Fitzgerald compare to Hurts? Actually pretty well, all things considered.

Passing Stats

  • Jalen Hurts – 220 for 337, 2592 yards, 199.38 Yards per Game, 22 TD, 9 Int, Sacked 16 Times, QBR 75.2
  • Nick Fitzgerald – 183 for 335, 2287 yards, 190.58 Yards per Game, 21 TD, 10 Int, Sacked 14 times, QBR 78.3
Oct 29, 2016; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Nick Fitzgerald (7) looks to pass against the Samford Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Nick Fitzgerald (7) looks to pass against the Samford Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /

All in all, it’s actually pretty evenly matched for the two Quarterbacks in the passing category. Keep in mind that Jalen Hurts has played statistically one more game, but in all reality two more games, than Nick Fitzgerald. In that time, Fitzgerald only has one less touchdown than Jalen Hurts. His Total QBR is actually higher than Hurts, which is good news for a Heisman campaign. With the passing out of the way, how do the two dual-threat quarterbacks compare with running?

Rushing Stats

  • Jalen Hurts – 162 rushes, 841 yards, 5.2 Yards per Carry, 12 TD
  • Nick Fitzgerald – 177 rushes, 1243 yards, 7.0 Yards per Carry, 14 TD

Without a doubt, Nick Fitzgerald holds the advantage in the rushing category. Fitzgerald is 400 yards to the better in rushing over the season, and Nick played realistically two less games! That’s actually a really good statistic for Nick Fitzgerald to hold over Jalen Hurts. In terms of total offense, Nick Fitzgerald led the way in the SEC for total yards.

https://twitter.com/HailStateFB/status/805834130944425984

If you want a better example of a player who impacts his team on every aspect of the game, then you don’t have to look any further than Fitzgerald. The guy just knows how to produce on the field. If his trajectory continues from this season, we could easily see Fitz make the trip to NYC.

So keep that in mind when looking at possible candidates for the 2017 Heisman Trophy race. If you want to include Jalen Hurts in the conversation, you better include Mississippi State’s own Nick Fitzgerald. The guy is well deserving of the praise, and statistically he stacks up.

Home/Mississippi State Football