Georgia Tech still hasn’t landed a Heisman Trophy winner, but there are at least a few names on the roster who could force their way into the conversation this season.
The Yellow Jackets’ best showing in the voting has come from Joe Hamilton, who finished second in 1999, and Bill Lothridge, who also placed second in 1963. Clint Castleberry was third in 1942, and Haynes King cracked the top 10 after a strong 2025 season. Even so, Georgia Tech still has not produced a winner, and it hasn’t had a finalist since Hamilton.
That makes any Heisman push a long shot. But if Georgia Tech is going to have one, the most realistic path may come from a running back who already flashed elite production before injury cut his season short.
Justice Haynes, brought in from Michigan, was one of the country’s best backs before his year ended early. In seven games, he ran for 857 yards on 121 carries, averaged 7.1 yards per attempt and scored 10 touchdowns. If he had stayed healthy for a full season, he might have led the nation in rushing.
For Haynes to become a real Heisman candidate, everything would have to line up. He’d need a historic rushing season, Georgia Tech would need to stay in the mix for the ACC title and a College Football Playoff berth, and the preseason favorites would likely need to stumble.
The schedule at least gives him chances to make noise. Georgia Tech opens with Colorado and Tennessee, then later faces Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Clemson and Louisville before finishing the year against Georgia.
A running back hasn’t won the award since Derrick Henry in 2015, when he piled up 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns for a national championship team. The only other backs to win the Heisman this century were Mark Ingram II in 2009 and Reggie Bush in 2005.
Haynes would still be a surprise, but the setup is there for him to put himself in the discussion if the offense leans the way it should.
The quarterback on the list is Mendoza, who is set to start for Georgia Tech in 2026. As the source of most Heisman winners over the years, the position gives him a natural edge.
For Mendoza, the case would come down to production and team success. If Georgia Tech is pushing for contention in the ACC and on the national stage, he’ll get attention.
He also has the kind of name recognition that can help in a race like this. But he’ll still need to deliver in the biggest games on the schedule.
The third name is Mbakwe, though this one comes with a much steeper climb. He’s viewed as a talented player with first-round NFL Draft upside, but the Heisman feels like a stretch.
Still, two-way players have been rewarded before, even if Mbakwe isn’t Travis Hunter. For him to have any chance, he’d need to play significant snaps on both sides of the ball and be a real difference-maker everywhere.
That would mean leading Georgia Tech in receiving, making multiple game-changing plays at cornerback and possibly adding value on special teams. Even then, it isn’t even clear yet whether he’ll play both sides or stay at cornerback.
It’s a near-impossible path, but Mbakwe still has a chance to be one of Georgia Tech’s best players.
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There is also a sense that George Godseys offense will ask more of the tight ends in the passing game, giving someone like Gavin Harris a chance to become a bigger factor. On the other side of the ball, Georgia Tech has been busy adding transfers and young linemen to beef up the defensive front, a unit that could end up defining how far the Jackets go if it develops the way the staff thinks it can. [Read more 🡒]