The finalists for college football fans’ top individual awards are starting to be revealed, and fans are already wondering what’s on the list for the Heisman Trophy race.

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, Colorado wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter and Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel are in the running for the Maxwell Award, which goes to the best all-around player and often prefigures the Heisman vote.

Jeanty and Hunter, along with Miami quarterback Cam Ward, are also finalists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year.

It could be a big year for Hunter, who is in the hunt for the Chuck Bednarik Award as a defensive player.

Colorado teammate Shedeur Sanders is in the mix for the Davey O’Brien Award with Ward and Gabriel.

The voting may turn out to be more one-sided than expected, but Hunter and Jeanty could have a hard-fought Heisman battle right to the end.

As a two-way player, Hunter accomplishes something college football hasn’t seen in decades. Champ Bailey in 1998 is the most recent parallel, and Bailey was not the threat that Hunter is today.

The Buffs star has 82 receptions for 1,036 yards and 11 touchdowns, as well as 31 tackles and three interceptions.

Jeanty, on the other hand, is a one-man team that destroys the Broncos’ offense.

He is the FBS leader in rushing yards (2,062) and rushing touchdowns (27). With his 187.5 yards per game, he may be on pace to break Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record (2,628 yards), depending on how long Boise State’s year lasts.

It’s all but certain that Ward will at least get an invite to the Heisman ceremony in New York City. However, his absence from the Maxwell finalist list suggests he could be a far bigger underdog for the award than fans realise.

Gabriel is the starting quarterback for the No. 1 overall team, but it’s hard to argue he’s having a better individual season than Ward, who is second in the FBS in passing yards (3,774) and first in touchdowns (34).