I am not sure who the media guy was that asked Urban about Braxton being mentioned as a heisman candidate and Urban's reponse was "Oh, gosh". I kind of brushed it off thinking it was a local reporter maybe drinking a little too much of Braxton's kool aid.
He is going to be a great QB, he is an amazing athlete right now but far from a polished Heisman QB candidate. I think of RG3 or $cam and although I think Braxton reaches those heights, he has a long way to go. That is no knock, he will get there but he needs time to develop and grow.
However, ESPIN has him seated firmly in NYC at the end of the season. Coupled with Matt Barkley getting the cold shoulder from voters all last year, I really didn't think Braxton would even be mentioned. What are your guys thoughts? Is this a pick based on potential? Am I under selling Braxton (RIGHT NOW) and is he ready to take the next 10 games by storm?
we'll know week 5 against mich. st.
"Winter is coming" - Urban Meyer
Honestly, after week 2, was RGIII really and truly a Heisman candidate last year. It was Luck's to lose really. I know RGIII had some freakishly good games early on, but it took a while. Cam Newton was kind of that way too. He had a few great games early on but no one really knew if he was for real until he started destroying SEC teams too.
I agree, Braxton is far from a polished great passing QB, but if he can get that aspect down by the end of the year I see no reason he couldn't be at least a finalist. I think it's a bit early to be talking about whether he is legit or not Heisman contender, but I agree BuckeyBrowny, we'll know after week 5 how serious of a contender he could be.
I'm thinking more like next year he'll be a serious threat. Remember, often it's not just the individual performance itself, it's also the team's performance as a result, getting the team to a conference title and a big bowl game (exactly what this team can't do this year). The only way I see Braxton having a serious chance at the Heisman this year is if he leads the Buckeyes to a 12-0 season. The whole bowl ban thing could be what got Matt Barkley such little love last year as far as the Heisman goes.
Class of 2010.
RGIII won it last year with a less than perfect record. Baylor was only 6-3 in conference good enough third place, 10-3 overall.
If Braxton continues on his pace and ends up with 24 rushing TD's and 18 passing TDs, along with the 1800 rushing yards he's on pace for, well it's going to be hard to keep him out of New York no matter what the record of the team is. He's probably not going to make it through the season if he keeps attempting so many rushes, but there are going to be a lot of games where if he only has 10 carries there's a shot he'll hit 100 yards.
I doubt he wins it, but like I said I could see him as a finalist this year.
while it was luck's award to lose last year, he really didn't do anything to lose it. RG3 just had a better statistical season, and was more important to his team than luck was to stanford. sure, luck was amazing, but he had (at the beginning of the season anyway) several all-americal caliber O linemen, Stepfan Taylor, Chris Owusu, and a few standout defensive players. RG3 had kendall wright (I believe that's who I'm thinking of) and that's about it. his numbers were insane, as he had passing numbers pocket passers would be glad to have, and was a running threat to boot. i remember at one point early in the season (game 2 or 3), he had more TD passes than incompletions
and Btalbert25, I agree. he'll be hard to keep out of NY with numbers like that. however, being on pace for 1800 yards means he probably ends up with soemthing in the neighborhood of 12-1500, especially since he only has 12 games to work with. and we know the meat of the B1G will give him more trouble defensively than Miami or UCF. plus, urban won't risk him getting hurt just to get those numbers. he has a stable of talented backs that should carry a lot of the weight. spread offenses are dangerous because the QB is always a THREAT to run, but if the offense can keep going, the less he actually runs, the better
I completely agree he won't hit 1800 rushing yards, but I do think he has a shot at the 2 rushing TD's per game. He could end up with 3 or more against UAB. There will be games where he doesn't get two as well. I think his passing TD numbers will increase to more than the 1.5 per game that he currently has too though.
Tebow won the Heisman by putting up 20 rushing TD's and 55 total. If he sniffs 50 total TD's I think he gets to New York as a finalist.
I'll look for Miller to win or at least be top 3 in voting next season when we'll return basically everyone on O/D and will have a year under his belt in the new offense with hopefully other play makers emerging around him.
I'd say this year he'll be around 25ish TD passes and close to 20 Rushing TDs. With about 2000 passing 1300 rushing.
RGIII to win it last year had 4000 passing yards and 37 TDs. His Rushing yards were 699 with 10TDs. Yardage wise, no way Braxton will ever see 4000 yards, and he may not do that in 2013 or 2014 either. He'll crush RGIII's rushing yard and TD total, and my guess is he'll come in around 20-25 passing TD's too.
I think he'll end up closer to 2500 passing yards and 1000-1500 rushing. If he could put up those kind of numbers and have 45 total TD's, he's going to New York this season. I'm not saying he'll win the Heisman, I doubt he will, but those are finalist kind of numbers.
Vince Young was a finalist with just over 3000 passing yards, just over 1000 rushing and a total of 38 TD's. Tebow's Heisman year he had just under 3300 passing and almost 900 rushing with the 55TDs, but the next 2 seasons his passing and total TD's dropped.
I'm not arguing just found it intriguing that guys won or came darn near winning with pretty comparable stats that we are projecting Braxton to have. Of course it's VERY early and only 2 games have passed but if Braxton can get in the vicinity of 2500 yards passing, and 1300-1500 rushing yards with 45 combined TD's, he is going to be a finalist. Ohio State may not have a championship this year because they aren't allowed, but the value the Braxton has to Ohio State just can't be replaced. He has a lot going for him if he stays healthy he has a shot. Tebow may not be Urban's only 3 time Heisman finalist.
Lets say he does get the stats he is projected to get or around there, who will he have to beat out to get to New York. Barkely is a lock to win or get there, but who else do you think has the talent to make it has a finalist. And I know its week two just wondering.
In the ESPN Heisman watch he isn't even in the top 5. I call BS.
He is there before his career is over. Jr or Sr season, accompanied by a national championship run. Don't see his pace holding up but all will matter what he does vs MSU, Neb, Wisky, ans scUM.