Johnny Manziel 2012 Heisman Trophy Winner

Congratulations to 2012 winner Johnny "Football" Manziel
 History in the Making
With the announcement of Johnny Manziel as the 2012 Heisman winner, Manziel became the first freshman to win college football's top individual award.  The  achievement also marked the second time that a Texas A&M Aggie has won the award.

 2012 Heisman Finalist
Johnny Manziel - Texas A&M, Collin Klein - Kansas State, Manti Te'o, Notre Dame

 Our top Heisman candidates through the regular season
Johnny "Football" Manziel - Fresh. QB - Texas A&M
Stats through Dec. 1
Comp Att Yds Comp % TD INT QB Rtg. Rush YDS Avg TD
273 400 3419 68.3 24 8 151.7 184 1181 6.4 19
Dec 1 Idle: Season Highlights:
  • Delivered epic performance in tremendous 29-24 upset of top ranked Alabama.
  • Has thrown for 453 yards in a game and has rushed for 181 yards rushing in a contest
  • Seven games of 250+ yards passing and 6 100+ yards rushing games.
  • Three 300+ yard passing games including 453 vs. Arkansas
  • Has become th 1st freshman QB in FBS history to throw for 3000 yards and rush for 1000 yards in a season.
  • Sets a new SEC single-season total yards record with 4,600 that surpasses the yardage totals achieved by Cam Newton's 2010 Heisman season.
Jordan Lynch - Junior QB - Northern Illinois
Stats through Dec. 1
Comp Att Yds Comp % TD INT QB Rtg. Rush YDS Avg TD
222 350 2962 62.9 24 5 153.0 271 1771 6.5 19
Dec. 31 update:  Led NIU to a 44-37 OT win over Kent State in the MAC Conference championship. Lynch completed 19 of 34 passes for 212 yards, 1 TD and 1 Int.  LYnch added 160 yards and 3 TDs on 36 carries.
  • Has led NIU to a 12-1 record and MAC championship
  • Ranks 1st nationally in rushing yardage and 24th in passing efficiency
  • Has rushed for 100+ yards in every game but one.
Collin Klein - Senior QB - Kansas State
Stats through Dec. 1
Comp Att Yds Comp % TD INT QB Rtg. Rush YDS Avg TD
180 272 2490 66.7 15 7 156.1 194 890 4.6 22
Dec. 1 Update: Led Kansas State to a 42-24 win over Texas and an outright Big 12 title.  Klein completed 8 of 14 passes for 184 yards, 1 TD and 1 Int.  Klein also gained 103 yards and 2 TDs on 23 carries. Season Highlights:
  • Directed the Wildcats to a 11-1 regular season and a Big 12 championship.
  • Has rushed for 3 TD's twice and 4 TD's once
  • Ranks 15th nationally in passing efficiency.  Ranked 1st after week 10.
Braxton Miller - Sophomore QB - Ohio State
Stats through Dec. 1
Comp Att Yds Comp % TD INT QB Rtg. Rush YDS Avg TD
148 254 2039 58.3 15 6 140.5 227 1271 5,6 13
Dec. 1 update: Ohio State was idle Season Highlights:
  • Led the Buckeyes to an 12-0 record
  • Had strong passing stats and rushing totals
  • Not only does Miller lead the Buckeyes in rushing, but ranked 20th nationally in that category when his season ended on November 24.
Manti Te'o - Senior LB - Notre Dame
Stats through Nov. 24
Dec 1 update: Notre Dame was idle Season Highlights:
  • Ranks 2nd nationally with 7 interceptions.  Only one of 2 non defensive backs to rank in the top 20
  • The leader of the nation's No. 1 scoring defense.
Preseason Analysis
 2012 Heisman Candidate Quarterbacks
 Matt Barkley - USC (Sr.):  With "unfinished business" at hand, Barkley turned down NFL thoughts and decided to return for this senior season at USC.  During the 2011 season, Barkley completed 69% of his passes and compiled a 161.2 QB rating.  Barkley passed for 3,528 yards and threw 39 TD passes vs. just 7 picks.  In two of his last 4 games Barkley routed defenses with 6 TD passes.
  • Last USC Heisman winner: Matt Leinart 2004
Tajh Boyd- Clemson (Jr.):  Through the first eight games of the 2011 season, Boyd was on track for the Heisman Trophy.  His Clemson Tigers were undefeated with huge wins over Auburn, FSU and VA Tech.  However the road to a Heisman and national championship took a detour as the Tigers lost 3 of their last 5 regular season games  and Boyd threw 6 picks in a three-game stretch.  On the season, Boyd threw for a very impressive 3,828 yards, 33 TD's and 12 Int's.  The Clemson QB also rushed for 218 yards and 5 scores.
  • Clemson still seeking first Heisman winner.  CJ Spiller recently finished 6th in the 2009 vote.

Collin Klein - Kansas St. (Sr.): Dual threat QB's are a Heisman voters dream and the Wildcats Collin Klein's ability to run the ball with his 6-5/226-pound frame is amazing.  Along with passing for 1,918 yards, 13 TD's and 6 Int's, Klein rushed 317 times for 1.141 yards and an incredible 27 TD's.  The K-State QB did this while also leading his squad to a surprising 10-3 record that included wins Miami, Baylor, Texas A&M and Texas.
  • Kansas St. has not produced a Heisman winner.  Michael Bishop finished 2nd in the 1998 voting behind Texas' Ricky Williams
Aaron Murray - Georgia (Jr.):  After leading UGA to an SEC East Division championship in 2011, Murray enters this season with some Heisman buzz.  The Bulldogs QB passes for 3,149 yards, 35 TD's and 14 picks last season.  However in his last two games (both losses), Murray threw just 3 TD passes and 4 interceptions.
  • Georgia's last winner was Herschel Walker in 1982
Denard Robinson - Michigan (Sr.): An early season interception flurry took Robinson out of the Heisman mix, but he finished the year strong while guiding the Wolverines to a long-anticipated win over Ohio State and an 11-2 record.  Robinson threw for 2,173 yards, 20 TD's and 15 Int's on the season.  Robinson was sensational on the ground once more with 1,176 yards and 16 TD's.
  • Charles Woodson (1997) was the last Wolverine to win college football's famous stiff-armed trophy.
Geno Smith - West Virginia (Sr.): Smith set the tone for a Heisman campaign in WV's 70-33 scalping of Clemson.  All Smith did was throw for 407 yards and six TD's against the ACC champion in the Orange Bowl.  For the season, Smith completed 346 of 526 passes for 4,385 yards, 31 TD's and 7 Int's.  With the Mountaineers now playing in the Big 12, Smith can earn additional exposure by lighting up his new foes.
  • No winners yet.  Major Harris finished 3rd in the 1989 Heisman voting.
Tyler Wilson - Arkansas (Sr.): The Razorbacks offense didn't miss a beat last season when Tyler Wilson stepped in for the departed Ryan Mallett.  Without their top RB for the whole season, Wilson guided the Hogs to an 11-2 record while tossing for 3,638 yards, 24 TD's and 6 Int's.
  • Darren McFadden was the runner up in 2006 and 2007, but no Razorbacks Heisman winner yet.
Others we're watching:
 Landry Jones - Oklahoma (Sr.):  While still putting up strong numbers last season, Jones regressed last year including just 1 TD vs. 6 Int's in his last four games.
  • Sam Bradford (2008) was OU's last winner of the coveted bronzed trophy.
Casey Pachall - TCU (Jr.): In his first season as a starter, Pachall filled the big shoes once filled by Andy Dalton.  Pachall stood tall (6- 5/216 pounds) while leading the Horned Frogs to an 11-2 record.  The TCU signal caller threw for 2,921 yards, 25 TD's and 7 Int's.  With the Frogs now hopping in the Big 12, Pachall will be under a brighter spotlight.
  • TCU brought home its only Heisman Trophy in 1938 when Davey O'Brien won the award.
Keith Price - Washington (Jr.):  In his first season as the Huskies starter, Price led Washington to a 7-6 record while compiling a very impressive 161.9 QB rating.  Price threw for 3,063 yards and produced a 33/11 TD/Int ratio.  Price built momentum for 2012 with a 438 yards passing performance in the Huskies bowl game against Baylor.  In that contest, Price threw for 4 TD's and ran for 3 more.
  • Huskies defensive star Steve Emtman finished 4th in the 1991 vote.

2012 College Football Preseason Top 10 Ranking (ESPN)
Why we include these rankings:
 Heisman voters love to select players that play on top ranked teams.  Finalist aren't  selected until after the final week of the season.
  1. LSU
  2. USC
  3. Alabama
  4. Oregon
  5. Oklahoma
  6. Georgia
  7. West Virginia
  8. Florida State
  9. Michigan State
  10. South Carolina
2012 Heisman Candidate Running Backs
 Montee Ball - Wisconsin (Jr.) 2011 Season Overview: Ball gained 1,923 yards on 307 carries (6.3 YPG) and scored 33 rushing TD's.  Ball also collected 24 receptions for 306 yards and six more scores.  The Badgers RB's rushing totals led the nation and his 236 points scored earned college football's top ranking as well.

Positive: Ball is the top returning Heisman finalist from 2011 and is expected to be the focal point of the Wisconsin offense.  Ball got off to a slow start in 2011 and failed to pass the rushing century mark in 3 of his first four games.  Don't expect a slow start this season.

Concerns: The Badgers will not have the multi-talented Russell Wilson at QB in 2012.  That factor may enable opposing defenses to key more on keeping Wisconsin's Ball from rolling.  
  • Ron Dayne (1999) was the Badgers last Heisman winner.
  DeAnthony Thomas - Oregon (Soph.):  Although he played in the shadow of the Ducks LaMichael James last season, Thomas emerged as breakaway threat that is dangerous running and catching the ball.  Thomas averaged 10.8 YPC on just 55 carries last season for 595 yards and 7 TD's.  The 5-9, 160-pound back also generated 605 yards and 9 scores on 46 receptions last season.

Positive: Has a chance to get more of the limelight with James gone in 2012.  His dual rushing/receiving threat combined with his breakaway ability gives him many highlight opportunities.

Concerns:  His small frame may not be able to take a pounding for Thomas to sustain a featured role.  Also RB Kenjon Barner is a rising star and could likely take away carries.  
  • LaMichael James finished 3rd in 2010 for the stiff-armed trophy.
  Others we're watching:
 Rex Burkehead - Nebraska (Sr.): Burkehead led the Huskers in rushing last season with 1,357 yards on 284 carries.  The 5-11/210 pound back scored 15 rushing TD's and also crossed the goal line twice as a receiver while hauling in 21 receptions for 177 yards.  
  • Eric Crouch (2001) was the last Husker to win the award
Knile Davis - Arkansas (Jr:):  After missing all of 2011 with an injury, Davis promises to return with vengeance in 2012.  Davis emerged as the Razorbacks featured back in the 2nd half of the 2010 season and rushed for 1,322 yards and 13 TD's.  Davis capped off that season with 946 yards and 12 rushing scores his last 7 games of the 2010 campaign.

 Marcus Lattimore - South Carolina (Jr.): The Gamecock's featured back went down for the season in the 7th game last year.  With 818 yards rushing and 10 TD's Lattimore was gaining some attention.  The jury is still out on healthy and effective he'll be in 2012.

John White IV - Utah (Sr.):  White rushed for 1,519 yards in 2011 while scoring 15 TD's on the ground and two more as a receiver. He'll have to be more consistent after getting held below the 40-yard rushing mark three times last season.
Heisman Candidates: Wide Receivers-All Purpose
 Sammy Watkins- Clemson (Soph.): With his Superman cape securely fitted, Watkins arrived in Clemson as a true freshman in 2011 and lit up defenses, special teams and the scoreboard.  The 6-1, 180-pound speedster snagged 82 receptions for 1,219 yards and 12 scores.  Adding extra dimensions, Watkins also rushed 32 times for 231 yards and excelled as a kick returner with 332 attempts for 826 yards and 1 TD.
Comments Off on Johnny Manziel 2012 Heisman Trophy Winner