Heisman Pundit

In this brave new world of freshmen winning the Heisman trophy and linebackers finishing second, is there room for a 6-foot-6, 260-pound pterodactyl-like defensive end to compete for the most coveted award in sports?

South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney thinks so.

The rising junior already has a Hendricks Award honoring the nation’s best defensive end under his belt. He was also a finalist for the Nagurski and Lombardi trophies and a unanimous All-American selection in 2012.

When it came time for the Heisman, he finished sixth in the vote, landing atop four ballots while totaling 61 points.

His goal for next year? To win the Heisman or at least get to New York as a finalist.

“That’s my next thing to get to, New York,” he said. “So next season I’m going to come here and work harder than I did this season.”

That could be a frightening prospect for SEC offenses. Clowney tied for the national lead in sacks in 2012 with 13 and was second in tackles for loss with 21.5. He also forced two fumbles and deflected a couple passes while making 50 tackles.

Can Clowney improve on those numbers?

He’s going to have to if he wants to make it to New York as a finalist. It definitely helps that he finished sixth this past season and that the success of Manti Te’o, Tyrann Mathieu and Ndamukong Suh has in recent seasons has made defensive Heisman candidates somewhat more palatable.

Clowney might have more Heisman potential than any of these other guys, though. He came into college as the nation’s top recruit, so his name recognition among media is very high. He’s also likely to benefit from buzz about him being the likely No. 1 pick in the 2014 NFL draft. The last defensive end to make a serious run at the Heisman was Pittsburgh’s Hugh Green. He finished second in 1980 thanks to 17 sacks and 123 tackles (I believe tackle stats were doled out a little more generously back then).

But if Clowney can better his 2012 numbers and help South Carolina duplicate its recent success, he can definitely make it to New York. Can he win? That’s going to be a tough proposition. A lot of unlikely things had to line up this season for a redshirt freshman to win. The Heisman race would have to be even more chaotic in 2013 to pave the way for the first pure defender to take home the trophy.

As we’ve seen in recent years, however, crazy things can — and will — happen in college football.

A whole half a day has passed since the 2012 Heisman was awarded.

Enough relaxing. Time to start thinking about 2013.

What players have the best chance to actually win the Heisman next fall?

It’s a long way off, but here’s an early look: Continue Reading →

Enjoy your Heisman, Johnny Football, because it probably won’t get much better than this.

You’ve won the prestigious trophy earlier in your college career than anyone who has ever played the game.

Beware of what lies ahead. Continue Reading →

Post-Ceremony quotes from Manziel….

(On having his name called)

“I didn’t believe it. I didn’t think it was real. For everyone back in Aggie land, you’re such a huge part of the team and you are the reason I am standing up here.

(On waiting to hear his name)

“I was really, really nervous. More nervous than anything I’ve ever been through.

(On making it to the ceremony)

“Just being able to be here is a real honor. It’s something I’m so humbled by.

(On what his win means as a freshman)

“It doesn’t matter whether you are a freshman or a true freshman. If great people are around you, great things can happen.

(On what comes next for him)

“There are plenty of things. First and foremost, there’s the Cotton Bowl. From there, I have to be the guy who starts the motor for a run at the national title next year. That’s our goal. If more awards come, they come.

(On the importance of the Heisman to his home town)

“I guess I’ll be bringing it half back to Kerrville and half back to Tyler. Either way, it’s coming back to Aggie land.

(On joining such an elite group)

“I’ve always wanted to be in a fraternity. I get to be in the most prestigious one in the world. I heard Doug Flutie said he couldn’t wait to talk to me. He wants to talk to me? That’s absurd!

(On the bias against freshman now going away)

“There is no barrier anymore. There was a great freshman class this year in college football. They are taking the world by storm. It’s there for the taking.

Full results and more video at Heisman Central….

2012 Heisman Trophy Results

Name — 1st – 2nd – 3rd — Total Points

1. Johnny Manziel — 474 — 252 — 103 — 2,029

2. Manti Te’o – 321 — 309 — 125 — 1,706

3. Collin Klein – 60 — 197 — 320 — 894

4. Marqise Lee – 19 — 33 — 84 — 207

5. Braxton Miller – 3 — 29 — 77 — 144

6. Jadeveon Clowney – 4 — 13 — 23 — 61

7. Jordan Lynch – 3 — 8 — 27 — 52

8. Tavon Austin – 6 — 4 — 21 — 47

9. Kenjon Barner – 1 — 12 — 15 — 42

10. Jarvis Jones – 1 — 10 — 18 — 41

2012 Heisman order by region

• Far West
• Southwest
• Midwest
• South
• Mid-Atlantic
• Northeast

1. Manziel –325

2. Te’o — 281

3. Klein — 127

 

 

 

 

1. Manziel — 348

2. Te’o — 274

3. Klein — 220

 

 

 

 

1. Te’o — 315

2. Manziel — 312

3. Klein — 126

 

 

 

 

1. Manziel — 399

2. Te’o — 253

3. Klein — 149

 

 

 

 

1. Manziel — 326

2. Te’o — 272

3. Klein — 141

 

 

 

 

1. Manziel — 319

2. Te’o — 311

3. Klein — 131

 

 

 

 

Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel rode a record-breaking season all the way to a history-making finish in the Heisman Trophy race.

The dual-threat quarterback from Kerrville, Texas, became the first freshman winner in the 78 year history of the prestigious trophy on Saturday night.

Manziel tallied 474 first-place votes and 2,029 total points, comfortably ahead of runner up Manti Te’o, the linebacker from Notre Dame. Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein was third with 894 points.

The 6-1, 190-pound Manziel was fantastic in his first year as a starter, compiling an SEC-record 4,600 yards of total offense — including 43 total touchdowns — while leading the Aggies to a 10-2 record in their first year in the league. It was A&M’s best season since 1998. Manziel became just the fifth player in FBS history — and the first freshman– to throw for over 3,000 yards and rush for over 1,000.

The highlight of Manziel’s season — and probably the key to his Heisman win — was his performance in Texas A&M’s upset of then-No.1 Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Nov. 10. Manziel threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns and added another 92 yards on the ground in the dramatic 29-24 victory.

It’s the second Heisman Trophy for Texas A&M, with the first coming in 1957 when running back John David Crow took home the honor while playing for Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant. Coincidentally, the runner up to Crow was also a defensive player — Alex Karras of Iowa.

NOTES FROM THE 78th HEISMAN CEREMONY

– For the sixth year in a row, the final HeismanPundit/CBSSports.com Heisman Straw poll nailed the winner of the Heisman. The top four in the poll mirrored the top four in the final vote.

– Last night, I wrote that the winning margin would look like the 1992 result, when Gino Torretta beat Marshall Faulk by 320 points. This year’s margin? 323 points.

– Manziel is the first freshman to win the award.

–  Manziel was named on 92% of the ballots. Te’o was on 84%. Klein on 64%.

– The three finalists received 86% of the votes tabulated.

– 77% of the ballots were received in the second week of voting, after the final game.

– 14 players received first-place votes. Thirty players in all appeared on ballots.

– Manziel is the 13th winner to exceed 2,000 points.

– Te’o had the second-most first-place votes for a runner up in the history of the Heisman.

– Kevin Sumlin is the first African-American head coach to coach a Heisman winner.

– Sophomores and freshmen comprised 40% of the top 10, the most in Heisman history.

The three finalists talked one last time to the media before the Heisman Trophy ceremony (Collin Klein was not in town until today due to his appearance at the Unitas Award banquet on Friday)