At the moment, the current Heisman standings look like:
- Collin Klein
- Kenjon Barner
- A.J. McCarron (will drop)
- Manti Te'o
- Braxton Miller
- Johnny Manziel (will jump)
- Marquis Lee
- Tajh Boyd
- Teddy Bridgewater
Miller (So.), Manziel (RS Fr.), Lee (So.) and Bridgewater (So.) are the underclassmen on this list. The way the Heisman race is shaping up right now, I think Miller and Manziel will both end up getting invites to New York, with Collin Klein most likely taking home the hardware. Next season, however, Miller and Manziel will be the preseason favorites, so I thought I'd take this time to compare the two this season.
Johnny Football (10 games):
227/336, 67.6% completion, 2780 yards, 18 TDs, 6 INTs
156 carries, 1,014 yards, 6.5 YPC, 15 TDs
Braxton Miller (10 games):
124/218, 56.9% completion, 1753 yards, 14 TDs, 6 INTs
184 carries, 1166 yards, 6.3 YPC, 13 TDs
Both players are on young teams that are expected to get even better next season, and both shoulder an outrageous percentage of their team's offensive production. The future of college football is as bright as ever. It's going to be exciting to see these two duke it out for the Heisman for possibly the next two seasons. What do you guys think will make the difference on whom win it?
Putting my bias aside, I think I might have to give the edge to Manziel at this point. Obviously Braxton is the superior runner, but Manziel seems to be a much better passer. Also, Manziel has had to play a tougher schedule than Braxton, losing only to #24 Florida, and #6 LSU by less than 6 pts both times (beating #23 La Tech, #15 Miss. State, #1 'Bama).
Edit: Thanks Triv and KareemAbdulJacobb for pointing out my errors.
Those stats for Manziel are prior to todays game btw
Sorry Urban, Woody is still my favorite
@Triv
Thanks, I knew I shouldn't have trusted ESPN to have the most up-to-date numbers.
Teo's name shouldn't be up there Shazier has very similar stats. Manziel played like a champ today. Can't believe he's only a freshman
edit: nevermind saw you fixed it already
Sorry Urban, Woody is still my favorite
1. Klein
2. Barner
3. Miller
4. Manziel
5. Lee
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
@OTRAIN2416
I think Te'o is still in the running for the Heisman. It's awarded to the "most outstanding player in collegiate football," which in theory factors in stats, leadership, and overall impact to the team.
I've always pictured a Heisman winner as a player that if he were to get injured, the team would just implode (think Dennis Dixon - Oregon in 2007). That seems to describe Te'o to a T. Te'o is the heart and soul of Notre Dame defense and his play seems to carry over to elevate the offense as well.
I know, I was shocked too when I saw that Manziel was only a first-year starter (with a new coach no less). They said that Manziel was actually losing his position battle this past spring, and spent a summer in California working on his passing with a trainer, came back and won the job outright in fall practice.
Obviously Braxton is the superior runner, but Manziel seems to be a much better passer.
Only if you elevate completion percentage as the most important QB stat. On a yards-per-pass basis, they're pretty close (Manziel 8.3 vs. Miller's 8.0).
Way too early to talk about these two as the obvious Heisman favorites for next season, let alone 2014. Look at it this way: last season, Collin Klein wasn't even as good as the Bollmanized Braxton Miller.
The most "loud mouth, disrespect" poster on 11W.
Mantei even being in the discussion is laughable!
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
Braxton would have to have back to back 300 yards passing, and 125+ yards rushing with 8 TDs to win the heisman.
"YOLO" = I'm about to do something extremely ignorant/stupid & I need an excuse to do it.
@Buckeye Chuck
I've only watched two aTm games this season (LA Tech and Alabama), but in both games the majority of Manziel's passes just seem to be more crisps than Braxton's. I didn't see very many underthrows or overthrows in either games, and he leads his receivers more consistently than what I've seen from Miller.
Manziel also plays for Case Keenum's former coach, so maybe his numbers are a bit skewed. I just know Johnny Football passes the "eyeball test" for me.
Manziel is very, very good
Manziel is a beast, he was in the same class as Miller so if Miller can be up for Heisman, he should definitely be. Who cares if he's a RS fresh. He's the leading rusher, and 8 pts away from being undefeated in the best conference in the Nation and it's not like they dodged bullets, they've played Florida, Bama, LSU, Louisana Tech whos good, Miss. St. etc.
Manziels #'s are only going to get better, w/ 3 games left (including the Bowl game) and last 2 regular season games being against Sam Houston St and Mizzu and throw in the bowl game, he would likely end up w/ around 3300-3500 yards passing, and 1200-1400 yards rushing... not too shabby.
Braxton's passing has improved in the last couple games and his #'s would be even better if his receivers could hang on to the ball like Manziel's receivers do. Braxtons running is a lights out performance and his reads are much better. Theres still 2 games left and if Braxton can put up some good passing #'s along with his running abilities and lead his team to victories in both those games I think his Heisman stock goes way up.
O H I O is the Buckeye State
PS Manziel's stats should say through 10 games, not 11. They're now 8-2. W/ 2 games remaining.
I love Braxton, but Manziel gets the edge over him right now. He's played a much tougher schedule and just single handedly beat the number 1 team in America. It's still Klein's to lose. I think Bridgewater is a guy who should get more press than he does though. Even in a loss today Bridgewater was incredible.
I'll admit that I didn't watch any Texas A&M games this season, and didn't understand all the hype about him. Texas A&M just didn't appeal to me since the finished 7-6 last season, and in the middle of the Big 12 with a 1st round QB leading the helm.
I watched the game tonight and it all made sense. Manziel looks like the real deal, and he'll definitely hoist the Heisman at least once in the next 3 years barring any injuries.
I don't know about you guys, but one big thing I noticed is that Manziel's wide open receivers don't drop passes thrown to them. Braxton's receivers have come through when we needed them, but several times there have been wide open drops (I'm looking at you Devin Smith and Jake Stoneburner) that would have accounted for larger chunks of yards and extra passing touchdowns. Now every quarterback will have receivers drop passes, but I'd love to see a stat on that.
Johnny football is superior to Miller in most phases right now. He makes back shoulder throws consistently. His long ball is more often than not on the money. He hit 80% against one of the best teams in America yesterday.
Braxton will have a better chance to win because overall his team is better, but Johnny is the man
^^^Agree. So many of his downfield throws against the Fighting
SatansSabans were so on the money while scrambling it was sick."It's just another case of there you are". ~ Doc (1918-2012)
against LSU^
^^^ your QB cannot be an emotional wreck/nervous Nelly/teenage drama queen...suck it up AJ, you're the starting QB for the defending champions!
D. Anthony
Kenjon should drop drastically after yesterdays abysmal performance. AJ should drop too. Manti is overrated. I think it should be -- 1. Collin Klein 2. Johnny Football 3. Braxton Miller 4. Manti Te'o 5. Teddy Bridgewater 6. Marquise Lee 7. AJ McCarron 8. Kenjon Barner 9. Tajh Boyd
I know this is probably different than most people's list, but I truly believe it should look this way.
Aside from the Stats on Johnny, The biggest thing I noticed was when his team went to the sideline on that 3 and out toward the end of the game he came over to the offensive linemen and was directing, leading, encouraging, picking up all of them. To me he was displaying pure leadership. I would have to give the nod at QB to Johnny over Braxton, but what if Braxton was in the slot or Backfield, we might be giving that advantage back to Miller!
This is why Im rooting for Braxton this year. He has a legitemate shot to win this year but everyone keeps putting it off till next year. You never know what will happen with Braxton and there will be more players stepping up next year to challenge. I feel like we need to root for our heisman candidate. Everyone always seems so pessimistic though. Braxton for Heisman!
I was thinking the same thing last night about these two and thanks for those stats. And personally...Johnny Football has a more accurate arm after seeing him in last nights game. I'm going the homer route with Brax360 being the better runner. However...in the off season he has somethings to work on so he makes throws like Manziel made last night against Bama. Not to mention his wide outs caught almost everything...which as we know Braxton's sometimes let him down (or he'll over throw them when they're open). Next year should be interesting to see how these two finish...
"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you."
"I love football. I think it is most wonderful game in world and I despise to lose."
Woody Hayes 1913 - 1987
NKOL- I think we are all rooting for Braxton to win it..but if we say we think Klein or Someone else will win it that doesn't mean we want them to.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
If anyone missed the aTm-Bama game here are the highlights: