College football: Heisman watch, Week 1

College football could not come back soon enough after a summer of old town roads and fried chicken sandwich wars. Athletes from across the country are starting their football campaigns, and there are a few who are already lighting the nation on fire with their play.

Some Heisman Trophy candidates were tabbed before the season, and the spotlight was on them as the full weekend of college football kicked off. There were a few who stumbled, while others had huge games to establish themselves as the most lethal players in the country. It’s a long season, but these athletes should be high on everyone’s watch list moving forward.

Here are five of the best Heisman candidates after Week 1:

Travis Etienne, Clemson

All eyes were on Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence to destroy Georgia Tech, but it was Etienne, the explosive running back from Louisiana, who set the pace for the Tigers. The junior speedster lit up the Yellow Jackets for 205 rushing yards, exploiting huge gaps and rumbling for huge gains.

What was most impressive about his performance wasn’t just the volume of yards but also the efficiency of his dominance. He carried the ball only 12 times, averaging 17.1 yards per carry.

Lawrence might be the most talked about player on Clemson, but it could be Etienne who takes home the hardware at the end of the season.

Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin

Two years into his college football career, running back Jonathan Taylor has averaged just over 2,085 rushing yards per year. Teams are always scheming against him in the rushing attack, but he added another dimension that might make him even more unstoppable.

South Florida couldn’t stop him in the ground game, allowing Taylor to pile up 135 rushing yards and two scores. However, the more surprising development was the junior running back's receiving chops, catching two balls for 48 yards and scoring two touchdowns — the first receiving scores of his career. The receiving yards he gained in Week 1 already account for almost a third of the receiving yards he piled up his previous two seasons.

Experts already were hyped on what Taylor could do this season, and the skills he displayed the first week are delivering on those expectations.

Justin Fields, Ohio State

Unlike some other quarterback college transfers, Justin Fields was able to win the quarterback competition at his new school and had the opportunity to thrive in Week 1. He didn’t squander that chance.

Fields showed off the full arsenal against Florida Atlantic, getting things started with a 51-yard touchdown run on his first drive and notching three passing touchdowns all before the first quarter ended. He finished the game with four passing scores and 234 yards through the air.

After losing the quarterback battle to Jake Fromm at Georgia last year, some believed Fields’ talents may have been overblown. He proved a lot of people wrong in his first game as the Ohio State starter.

Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

The Alabama Crimson Tide had a little trouble rolling at the start of their first game against Duke, but they trounced the Blue Devils by the end with a signature effort from their star quarterback.

Last year’s Heisman Trophy finalist proved last season wasn’t a fluke by torching Duke for 336 passing yards and four touchdowns. He showed off the accuracy that has many NFL scouts salivating over his potential, completing 83.9 percent of his 31 pass attempts.

Tagovailoa came in second place last year for the most coveted individual trophy in college football. It’s looking like he’s making sure that doesn’t happen again this season.

Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma

Losing Heisman Trophy-winning Kyler Murray to the NFL was supposed to make for a bumpy transition, but when you’re Oklahoma, rough transitions aren’t exactly common. Head coach Lincoln Riley convinced national championship-caliber quarterback Jalen Hurts to leave Alabama and play for the Sooners, and the results are already positive.

In his first week, Hurts set the Oklahoma record for most yards in a debut, notching 508 total yards. His 332 passing yards and 176 rushing yards led the Sooners to a Week 1 win. He also piled up three passing scores and three rushing touchdowns, but that wasn’t the most impressive part of his afternoon.

After being dogged for his passing ability at Alabama, Hurts showed off his improvement, completing 20 of his 23 pass attempts. While Murray is still fresh on a lot of fans’ minds in Norman, Hurts may make him an afterthought with performances like this.