It’s about that time in the season where certain players begin to emerge from the pack and standout to the Heisman Trophy voters.
Last season, freshman Johnny Manziel took home the hardware. Who will it be this season? Let’s take a look at some early options.
Johnny Maziel, QB, Texas A&M – Of course you have to put Mazniel back into the mix. You may not like him, but the kid is talented. So far this season he’s completed 100-of-140 passes (71.4 %) and thrown for 1,489 yards and 14 touchdowns. He’s only thrown four interceptions and has only been sacked four times, speaking to his ability to escape pressure and make plays. On the ground, he has 314 yards and three touchdowns on 48 carries. From that he’s averaging 6.5 yards per carry. Manziel is exciting. He’s a playmaker. That makes him a front runner for the Heisman Trophy in its own right, but he makes the plays to back it up. Even if he doesn’t make the best decisions off the field, he seems to know what he’s doing on the field.
Sean Mannion, QB, Oregon State – Mannion is a dark horse this season. Oregon State is 4-1 this season after losing their first game of the season. Mannion has been the main reason for that success. He’s completed 67.2 percent of his passes, completing 160-of-238 passes. He’s thrown for an NCAA-leading 2,018 yards and 21 touchdowns while only throwing two interceptions. He’s thrown for at least 367 yards and three touchdowns in every game this season and his team is averaging 41.6 points per game. If he keeps it up, look out.
Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville – Bridgewater’s stats may have not lived up to the hype just yet, but his name continues to float in this discussion. He’s completed 79-of-110 passes (71.8 %) for 1,214 yards and 14 touchdowns while throwing just one interception. Bridgewater is the senior leader for Louisville, who is undefeated this season. His Cardinals have outscored their opponents 192-27 and Bridgewater has thrown for at least four touchdowns in each game except for one. In each game, though, he’s thrown for at least 200 yards. As one of the few seniors getting consideration, he could finish the season strong and move up easily.
Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson – It seems that Boyd’s name has been in the mix at the beginning of each season but he typically falls out halfway through. This season he hopes to change that. Starting out so far, he’s shown his dual-threat abilities, passing for 994 yards and nine touchdowns and rushing for 159 yards and four touchdowns. Clemson has been rising up the polls all season and are some’s favorite to win it all. Boyd is surely a big reason for that.
Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – Mariota, like Manziel, is just fun to watch. Many believed that when Chip Kelly left Oregon that the high-powered offense would go with him. Mariota has been proving that theory wrong all season. His completion percentage is low, but he’s still thrown for 1,003 yards on just 60 completions. He also has nine touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s ran for 295 yards and five touchdowns, also. The stat that stands out the most is that he’s averaging 14.0 yards per carry this season. He’s into a rhythm.
Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia – Murray, another senior in the group, has faced adversity all season with his Bulldogs and has done a great job of beating it. He’s thrown for 1,338 yards on 79-of-116 passing (68.1 %) and 11 touchdowns while throwing three interceptions. Murray has always been in the bottom of this discussion, but, as his senior season rolls on, he’s hoping his name moves higher in the talks.
Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State – Even though he’s been hurt, you can’t afford to leave Miller out of this. With the limited snaps he’s had, he’s thrown for 406 yards and six touchdowns while only throwing one interception. If he can come back strong, he still may be able to sway the voters minds.
Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin – Gordon is my sleeper pick. There aren’t many running backs being talked about this season in terms of standing out among the rest. Gordon has 698 yards already this season to go along with his seven touchdowns. The best stat? He’s averaging 10.3 yards per carry on the season. That’s impressive.
Other notables: Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor; Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson; Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State; Blake Bell, QB, Oklahoma, Jadeveon Clowney, DE/LB, South Carolina ; Jordon Hall, RB, Ohio State
Photo Credit: butr.net (Demetrios Manos)
