Heisman Trophy contenders from Florida high schools: Who leads pack?

Could a player from a Florida high school take home college football's most prestigious trophy for the second consecutive year?

Christopher Columbus High School grad Fernando Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy last year.

The former Indiana quarterback became the third player from a Florida high school in the past 11 years to win the trophy as college football's most outstanding player. Lamar Jackson (Louisville/Boynton Beach) and Derrick Henry (Alabama/Yulee) won the award in 2016 and 2015, respectively.

So, who will be the top contenders this year?

Well, in some respects that's a tricky question to answer. Mendoza wasn't exactly a household name a year ago but emerged as the face of a dominant Indiana team that won the national title.

But, without the aid of a crystal ball, we have to look at what we know — or at least we think we know — now.

Here are three players from Florida high schools who could be in the mix for the Heisman Trophy this season:

Jeremiah Smith

Ohio State's star junior wide receiver is almost universally considered the best college football player in the nation, which will certainly help Smith's case. In two seasons, the Chaminade-Madonna graduate caught 163 passes for 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns. He's a two-time All-American and two-time All-Big Ten Receiver of the Year. For a clearer picture of Smith's talent, realize he was the top Buckeyes receiver on a team that also included Carnell Tate, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

What needs to happen? Realistically, Ohio State will need to force feed him the ball. Unfortunately, the Buckeyes are so talented on offense that they probably won't need to. But for Smith to even get more votes than Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, Smith will need to have the lion's share of the team's receiving yards.

Stat to know: 3. Just three players who primarily played wide receiver have ever won the Heisman Trophy: Johnny Rodgers (1972), Tim Brown (1986) and DeVonta Smith (2020). The list doesn't include Desmond Howard (1991), who also made a major impact in the return game, or multi-position players like Charles Woodson (1997) or Travis Hunter (2024).

Malachi Toney

What Miami's star wide receiver did as a true freshman in 2025 was stunning: He led the nation in receptions (109), had a school-record 1,211 yards, scored 11 offensive touchdowns and was a second-team All-American. Not bad for a player who would have been a high school senior in 2025 had he not reclassified to the 2025 recruiting class midway through his junior season. The American Heritage graduate's versatility and playmaking ability made him one of the most exciting players to watch last season and one of the nation's most anticipated this year.

What needs to happen? Toney needs to remain the focal point of the Hurricanes offense, which will be difficult for a number of reasons. Miami's coaching staff embraces a run-first, smashmouth approach. Also, new Miami quarterback Darian Mensah has his favorite target from Duke, Cooper Barkate, to throw to in Coral Gables.

Stat to know: 141. Toney was targeted 141 times in 2025, which was fourth-most in the nation. Colorado wide receiver Danny Scudero led the nation in both targets (163) and receiving yards (1,291) in 12 games at San Jose State last season.

Rocco Becht

Penn State's senior quarterback arrived in Happy Valley from Iowa State shortly after former Cyclones coach Matt Campbell was hired to lead the Nittany Lions program. Becht, a Wiregrass Ranch graduate, is one of the most experienced players in the nation having made 39 starts over the past three seasons. The dual-threat quarterback threw for 2,584 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 116 yards and eight scores last season. If Penn State makes a serious run in the Big Ten, Becht should get his time in the spotlight.

What needs to happen? Penn State has to be a legitimate playoff contender, which is possible. Campbell is a talented coach, who now has more resources. Becht has Campbell's trust and understands the offense as well as any player. If Penn State makes a serious run and Becht leads the offense well, he'll get some recognition.

Stat to know: 9,274. Becht has thrown for 9,274 yards during his career, which ranks 245th all-time. In the first game of the season, he should pass several notable stars. Becht enters the season only 11 yards behind Tim Tebow (No. 243), 39 behind Matt Ryan (No. 241), 75 behind John Elway (No. 236), 102 behind Dak Prescott (No. 232) and 156 behind Andrew Luck (tied for No. 223).

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Heisman Trophy contenders from Florida high schools: Who leads pack?