With the college football season half-way over, players and teams are starting to make their cases as the ‘top dog’ on the gridiron. Some players come as no surprise to football fans while others have taken advantage of the newfound success and have the nation in a stir. Here are the five candidates who have positioned themselves ahead of the pack to take college football’s highest individual honor, the Heisman Trophy.
Joshua Caudill is a writer for CraveOnline Sports, a surfing enthusiast, a miserable Bills fan, and an expert on all things Patrick Swayze. You can follow him on @JoshuaCaudill85.
Top 5 Heisman
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5. QB Sean Mannion - Oregon State
TDs: 25
INTs: 3
YDS: 2,511
Team Record: 5-1
Sean Mannion has been incredible for the Beavers this season, despite no run game. He is No. 1 in the nation in both passing yards and passing touchdowns. Mannion’s receiver, Brandin Cooks, is also No. 1 in receiving yards (944) and receiving touchdowns (11). Through only six games that is incredible. Nov. 29 will be an intense showdown and display of explosive offenses as Mannion’s Beavers take on in-state rival, Oregon, and go up against their phenomenal playmaker, Marcus Mariota. If the Beavers can win out, including an upset over Oregon, Mannion’s stats may just get him the Heisman.
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4. QB Tajh Boyd - Clemson
TDs: 20 Total (15 passing, 5 rushing)
INTs: 2
YDS: 1,783
Team Record: 6-0
Clemson’s dual threat QB, Tajh Boyd, has been electrifying fans with his performance. Boyd made the nation take notice early in the season with a win over SEC power, Georgia. Boyd threw for 270 yards and 3 TDs with no picks over a legitimate opponent and Heisman voters do not forget about those types of things. Those types of performances mean more than padding stats against cupcakes. Boyd has his Tigers in position to play for a national championship with a little luck as the Tigers currently stand at No. 3 in the nation. This week’s performance against fellow undefeated ACC team, Florida State and their Heisman candidate QB, Jameis Winston, will make or break this Heisman campaign.
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3. QB Jameis Winston - Florida State
TDs: 19 Total (17 passing, 2 rushing)
INTs: 2
YDS: 1,441
Team Record: 5-0
Speaking of Mr. Winston, his Seminoles are flourishing under his freshmen leadership. No one expected this kid to be this good but FSU fans love every minute of it. Winston’s college debut consisted of a remarkable performance over Pitt with him racking up 356 yards through the air and five total touchdowns. If that performance didn’t impress skeptics then his performance against No. 25 Maryland surely did. Winston threw for 393 yards and delivered five touchdowns while setting the record for biggest defeat ever over a ranked opponent, 63-0. Likewise, with Tajh Boyd, Saturday’s matchup could skyrocket Winston to the head of the pack. Perhaps if FSU finishes undefeated and Winston leads the charge, he may be the second freshmen in a row to bring home the Heisman.
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2. QB Marcus Mariota - Oregon
TDs: 25 Total (17 passing, 8 rushing)
INTs: 0
YDS: 1,724
Team Record: 6-0
Mariota ranks No. 1 on most Heisman favorites list and it is very hard to argue that position. The Ducks’ Mariota and company have been absolutely throttling teams with humiliating numbers, lighting up the scoreboards. The Ducks are averaging 51 ppg with their closest game being a 21 point whipping over Washington. The downside of those mega numbers is that Mariota is usually sitting on the bench in the third quarter. Still, he has combined for 25 total touchdowns and has yet to throw a single interception. Mariota exemplified how dominant he is on the field with his performance against Colorado earlier this month. He threw for 355 yards, five passing touchdowns and rushed for two more scores. That is seven total touchdowns, people! If Oregon finishes undefeated, he will definitely be your Heisman winner.
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1. QB Johnny Manziel - Texas A&M
TDs: 19 Total (14 passing, 5 rushing)
INTs: 5
YDS: 1,835
Team Record: 5-1
College football’s favorite villain, Johnny Manziel, has been the most impressive player this season. This ranking is more in line with what it ‘should’ be as opposed to what it ‘will be’ if the Heisman voters have their say. Manziel has proven that he wasn’t a one hit wonder following up his impressive 2012 Heisman winning campaign by impressing this season as well. In fact, he has been even more impressive this season and may I add, extremely clutch as well. Last week’s comeback win over Ole Miss was another notch in the legendary Manziel’s belt with 346 yards through the air and a 124 yards on the ground with two rushing scores in a 41-38 last second win. Its not as if Manziel is putting up numbers against scrubs either. The anticipated rematch of Alabama and Texas A&M last month lived up to expectations in large part due to Johnny Football’s performance. Manziel lit up the No. 1 ranked Crimson Tide with five passing touchdowns, 464 yards passing, and 98 yards on the ground. Manziel’s accuracy has him completing 73 percent of his passes, which is No. 2 in the nation.
Manziel has a realistic shot at becoming the first two-time Heisman winner since Ohio State’s Archie Griffin did it in 1975. Manziel just needs to keep winning and hope for Oregon and Mariota to fall to position himself as the leader. With two Heisman trophies, Johnny Manziel will be able to charge quite a bit for his autograph.
