Athlon's Top 25 Heisman Trophy candidates-2013

[Brasky]

Of his first 8 games, there is MAYBE one potential top 50 defensive unit. Do not be surprised if Nebraska is top 3 or even 1st in scoring offense heading in to November.

 

[Brasky]

Someone get this guy a r*pe van and an unlimited supply of natty ice.

 

[Sox33OSU]

Taylor gets the easier schedule. He also gets FAR AND AWAY the best receiving corps in the B1G and easily top 3 in the country. Veteran O-Line with a loaded RB group.

Nebraska will have one of the best offenses in the nation. He will barely have to improve on his numbers from last year to be a heisman contender.

I'm not sure if you were being serious or not here but holy shit, did I ever get a good laugh out of it.

 

[Brasky]

I'm not sure if you were being serious or not here but holy shit, did I ever get a good laugh out of it.

You might have some talent, but Nebraska has established itself as the best WR corps in the B1G. They are the most veteran, talent laden group. It's widely established.

This considered by many to be the best WR unit Nebraska has ever had.

 

[Brasky]

Power Ranking the 25 Best WR Corps in College Football | Bleacher Report

 

[Sox33OSU]

You might have some talent, but Nebraska has established itself as the best WR corps in the B1G. They are the most veteran, talent laden group. It's widely established.

This considered by many to be the best WR unit Nebraska has ever had.

First off, saying this is the best WR unit Nebraska has ever had isn't saying much.

Secondly, I am taking Ohio State's WR corp every day over Nebraska. I'm not trying to rip on your WRs, you have some talented guys. However, OSU is so loaded at WR this year, both with the guys coming back and the new guys coming in, I'd take our playmakers at the position over anyone in the NCAA outside of maybe Bama and Oregon.

 

[Brasky]

And I'll take our legit 4.3, 4.4 guys who are grown men who've actually played the college game and proven themselves over your 5 star young pups who's heads are swimming in the playbook right now and don't know how to run block or read a defense.

Philly Brown is the only kid who would sniff the starting 4 wide on our team right now.

 

[Brasky]

The rest of those young kids including James Clark... The only way they would get on the field is on special teams.

 

[Sox33OSU]

Ok, first off, you linked Bleacher Report. I don't buy steak at Walmart, I don't buy jeans at the gas station, and I don't base my sports opinions off Bleacher Report.

Secondly, Philly and Devin Smith are both studs that would crack your top 4.

Thirdly, the numbers for both teams WRs are pretty similar despite the fact that Nebraska threw the ball 100 more times than OSU did last season.

This is not going to be an argument either of us will win, so we can agree to disagree. That said, the WR position is a position that Ohio State is completely loaded at right now, and Braxton is finally getting continuity in his offense and has had a long offseason working with George Whitfield who basically turns decent QBs into studs, so we'll be throwing a lot more.

 

[Brasky]

For future reference, when I link BR, it's to piss people off. Secondly I don't know how the fuck you can say you're loaded when you didn't have a single receiver break 700 yards last year and you're expecting James Clark who needs at least a year or two in a weight room to be a legit run blocker, Jalin Marshall who played quarterback in HS, and Corey Smith from bumfuck egypt community college who's never played a D-1 Snap in his life to all contribute and flourish immediately.

Put the crack pipe down.

L. O. Fucking. L if you think that tOSU is better off than Nebraska THIS SEASON.

 

[Brasky]

Also Taylor has been working with an equally reputable QB coach in Jim Calhoun (Cam Newton anyone?) since the summer of last year.

 

[Sox33OSU]

For future reference, when I link BR, it's to piss people off. Secondly I don't know how the fuck you can say you're loaded when you didn't have a single receiver break 700 yards last year and you're expecting James Clark who needs at least a year or two in a weight room to be a legit run blocker, Jalin Marshall who played quarterback in HS, and Corey Smith from bumfuck egypt community college who's never played a D-1 Snap in his life to all contribute and flourish immediately.

Put the crack pipe down.

L. O. Fucking. L if you think that tOSU is better off than Nebraska THIS SEASON.

Fair enough on BR. Duly noted.

I have watched Philly and Devin Smith play. There is nothing at all about Nebraska's WRs that are more special than these two.

James Clark who needs at least a year or two in a weight room to be a legit run blocker -- because DeAnthony Thomas and Sammy Watkins are fucking huge.

Jalin Marshall who played quarterback in HS -- Then why was he a blue chip WR? Watch his film at camps going one-on-one with the top tier CBs in his class and you'll see why he's special.

Corey Smith from bumfuck egypt community college who's never played a D-1 Snap in his life -- Because no JUCO WR has ever come in and been any good at all at the D1 level... Keyshawn Johnson/Isaac Bruce/Chad Johnson/Steve Smith/TJ Houshmanzadeh/Corderalle Patterson/Kevin Curtis

But keep it up. Hopefully we get to meet you guys in the B1GCCG and whoop up on you again.

 

[Sox33OSU]

Also Taylor has been working with an equally reputable QB coach in Jim Calhoun (Cam Newton anyone?) since the summer of last year.

Cam Newton worked with Whitfield, numbnuts. He's never worked with whoever Jim Calhoun is.

 

[Brasky]

Yes he has. Google is a beautiful thing. Use it.

Also I would tell you to go suck a giant bag of dicks, but I'm too busy enjoying your avatar.

 

[Sox33OSU]

Yes he has. Google is a beautiful thing. Use it.

Also I would tell you to go suck a giant bag of dicks, but I'm too busy enjoying your avatar.

I have. I see no mention of him working with a "Jim Calhoun", only Whitfield.

NFL - Andrew Luck, Cam Newton swear by QB guru George Whitfield Jr - ESPN The Magazine - ESPN

Why doesn't Cam talk about Calhoun, only Whitfield?

And you're welcome for the avy. She is very talented.

 

[bamabear82]

Also Taylor has been working with an equally reputable QB coach in Jim Calhoun (Cam Newton anyone?) since the summer of last year.

Isn't Jim Calhoun UCONNs ex basketball coach? I don't know of a QB coach by they name of the top of my head.

 

[Brasky]

It's Steve Calhoun, not Jim. He coached Cam when he transferred from florida.

Must have done something right.

He is just as highly regarded as Whitfield among those who know what the fuck they are talking about.

 

[Edisto_Tiger]

College Football's Top 25 Heisman Trophy Candidates for 2013 | AthlonSports.com



The Heisman Finalists:

1. Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State (7/1)
The Buckeyes' quarterback was easily the biggest finalist snub this past season, as he ended up finishing fifth in the voting. As the unquestioned leader of an unbeaten Ohio State squad, Miller single-handedly carried the Bucknuts to victory week after week. He was fourth in the Big Ten in rushing (105.9 ypg), second in passing efficiency and second in total offense. Few players on this list can improve their numbers like Miller will in his second year in Urban Meyer's unstoppable spread scheme. His electric play-making ability, raw toughness and perfect fit in the system make him a virtual lock as a Heisman contender next season — as well as potential top overall NFL Draft pick.

2. Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson (15/1)
Few players posted numbers comparable to Johnny Heisman, but Boyd was one of them. He led the ACC in passing efficiency (165.59) and total offense (339.2 ypg) and was fifth and seventh in each category nationally. He scored 46 total touchdowns (36 pass, 10 rush) and has a host of elite weapons returning. More importantly, this team should be the preseason favorite in the ACC with Boyd under center and Chad Morris calling the plays. He is one of few players who will have the numbers, the marquee showdowns (vs. Georgia, at South Carolina), the potential championship and the offensive support to win the Heisman.

3. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina (12/1)
There is little doubt that Clowney is the most physically gifted player in the nation. He is a near lock as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. And because he set the table as a sophomore with a monster hit against Michigan and huge numbers statistically, he has a great chance at landing in New York. The monster defensive end finished third in the nation in sacks (1.08 pg) and second nationally in tackles for loss (1.96 pg). He enters his third year with 21.0 sacks, eight forced fumbles and 35.5 tackles for loss and because he plays a stat-heavy defensive position, his boxscore will speak for itself. However, winning the SEC East might be a must if Clowney wants to become just the second true defensive player to ever win the award.

4. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M (4/1)
What else is there to say about Manziel? His numbers speak for themselves and his Cotton Bowl performance will go down in Aggie lore as one of the greatest postseason performances by a Heisman winner of all time. But Tim Tebow couldn’t repeat. Neither could Mark Ingram, Matt Leinart or Sam Bradford. All were elite talents like Manziel, but the odds of repeating are 1-in-77. And now that SEC defensive coordinators will be spending the next five months figuring out ways to stop him, a repeat of his production seems highly unlikely mostly because he set the bar so high for himself in 2012.

5. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon (18/1)
Manziel gets most of the love as a redshirt freshman, but Mariota wasn’t far behind. He rarely played in any second halves and led the nation in road passing efficiency. Overall, he led the Pac-12 in passer rating and scored 37 total touchdowns. He plays with poise and confidence well beyond his years. The big question mark will be the loss of head coach Chip Kelly. The last time Oregon switched head coaches internally, there was little drop off, but one has to think this offense will take a small step back. Yet, as the leader of Oregon's offense, the supremely gifted 6-foot-4, 200-pound second-year starter should be destined for at least one trip to NYC in his career.

6. Ka'Deem Carey, RB, Arizona (33/1)
Carey was the most underrated player in the nation last fall. He led the nation in rushing (148.4 ypg, 1,929 yards), set the Arizona single-season rushing record and the Pac-12 single-game rushing record (366 yards). He scored 24 times and helped turn the Wildcats from a four-win team in 2011 to an eight-win, zone-read monster. And he did all of this as a sophomore. With spread guru Rich Rodriguez calling the shots, the tough-nosed workhorse has a chance to post huge numbers once again in 2013. Although Carey's on-field performance merits inclusion, there is one glaring issue with Carey. Should his off-the-field behavior — a domestic abuse issue and basketball game incident — become an issue, he drops out of the Heisman race. Currently, he is being disciplined internally and is practicing, so he makes the list.

ROLL TAJH!!

 

[Edisto_Tiger]

The Top Challengers:

7. Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia (10/1)
The Dawgs' signal caller will make a push to rewrite the Georgia and SEC record books with another big year in Athens. He led the nation in passing efficiency and has 77 total touchdowns in the last two seasons. With a loaded offense returning around him, Murray just needs to eliminate the bizarro game from his resume — e.g., Florida and South Carolina in 2012, Mississippi State in 2011 — to be an NYC finalist. He might also need to finish a season in Atlanta with a win instead of a loss.

8. De'Anthony Thomas, RB, Oregon (10/1)
An elite big-play machine, Thomas’ biggest weakness is actually one of his biggest strengths. The Oregon scheme lends itself to huge numbers but it also distributes the football. Simply put, he needs more than 137 touches on offense to get to New York. The change in head coach will also play a role with Thomas' campaign like it will Mariota's.

9. Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia (--)
It will be tough for Gurley to top his freshman numbers in the brutal SEC, but his quarterback and offensive line return intact. He led the league in rushing by a running back and scored 17 times. Only Trent Richardson has ever scored 20 rushing TDs in SEC history as a running back. With Murray and Gurley in the same backfield, one has to wonder if the UGA vote will be split between two elite players.

10. T.J. Yeldon, RB, Alabama (18/1)
Looking for another true sophomore to win the award? Look no further than the extremely gifted Yeldon. As just a freshman, he rushed for 1,000 yards and 10 scores as a backup last season en route to a national championship. Nick Saban’s offense is a proven Heisman commodity for running backs and Eddie Lacy has moved on to the NFL. If Yeldon gets 200+ touches, he easily has the skill to make it to New York.

11. Duke Johnson, RB, Miami (12/1)
The De’Anthony Thomas of the East Coast, Johnson led the ACC in kickoff returns and was third in all-purpose running as just a freshman. As the season went on, Al Golden trusted Johnson more on offense and he topped 100 yards three times in his last four games. The key will be his role in 2013 as Golden looks to get him more involved in the traditional offense. He could see a big jump from 139 carries a year ago, and should that happen, fans can bet the sophomore speedster's numbers will be eye-popping.

12. Marqise Lee, WR, USC (9/1)
With a proven commodity at quarterback coming back, Lee would be in the “Finalists” category. But with Matt Barkley — and counterpart Robert Woods who drew plenty of defensive attention — leaving for the NFL, Lee’s numbers will almost assuredly go down. He is an elite player who may not have the supporting cast to get to Radio City Music Hall.

13. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville (--)
The hot name du jour is the Cards' signal caller after his electric performance against Florida’s nasty defense in the Sugar Bowl. The numbers have to get bigger and better for him to be a finalist, however, as Louisville's system is the most bland of any of the other contenders. Charlie Strong isn't going to throw the ball 50 times a game. Also, The Ville likely needs to run the table for the junior-to-be to get an invite to the Big Apple.

14. Taylor Martinez, QB, Nebraska (15/1)
Few players make the eye-popping plays in the backfield like Martinez. He showed marked improvement in efficiency and decision making this fall, leading the Big Ten in total offense and passer rating. A pair of potential showdowns with Braxton Miller will likely determine T-Magic’s Heisman fate. Four more losses for the Big Red and Martinez will find it hard to get to New York without elite statistics.

15. Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA (20/1)
The Bruins finally found a quarterback. The redshirt sophomore-to-be threw for three 300-yard efforts in his first four career games. He then led his team to the Pac-12 title game, scored 38 total touchdowns and produced nearly 4,100 yards of total offense in just his first year under center. The show will be all his in Westwood now that Johnathan Franklin is gone.

16. AJ McCarron, QB, Alabama (12/1)
A big part of why Yeldon will be successful will be the return of McCarron. The O-line will have to be rebuilt (to some extent), but the talent at the skill positions could be better than Saban has ever had at the Capstone. If McCarron goes for 30 TDs and just three interceptions again, he will most definitely be in the Heisman race. The biggest issue is his offensive system may never allow for big numbers from the quarterback as names like Ingram, Richardson, Lacy and Yeldon get most of the attention.

17. Devin Gardner, QB, Michigan (40/1)
Fans in Ann Arbor have been waiting for Gardner for years and 2013 will be his chance to shine. In just five starts last year, the former elite recruit accounted for 18 touchdowns, just five interceptions and 264 yards of offense per game. He fits Brady Hoke's scheme better than Denard Robinson but has similar athletic ability. His ability to pass the football could set him apart from his former teammate.

18. Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson (--)
When it comes to raw upside and physical talent, Watkins is second to none nationally. But staying healthy and focused has been an issue for the electric play-maker, causing him to miss four games in his first two years. With DeAndre Hopkins off to the NFL and his quarterback Boyd returning, the sky could be the limit for the star wideout. Consistency will be the name of the game for the junior-to-be.

19. Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor (20/1)
Seastrunk's journey to Heisman contender has been long and winding, but he is finally here. He left Oregon before ever playing a down and finally set Waco afire in the second half of 2012. The former five-star recruit rushed for 831 yards, including five 100-yard games, and six of his seven touchdowns in the season's final six games. Art Briles system is set up for big numbers but he needs solid play from a new quarterback to get to NYC.

20. Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State (--)
The Fresno State offensive system will allow Carr to air it out all season long. He has 7,648 yards passing and 63 touchdowns against only 16 interceptions over his last two seasons. An unbeaten record and BCS bowl bid would go a long way in elevating the Heisman profile for the Bulldogs' starter.

21. Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska (18/1)
Nebraska has always loved to run the football and the explosive back will finally be the full-time starter in Lincoln. After starter Rex Burkhead went down with an injury, the sophomore stepped in and provided big support in the running game. He posted six 100-yard efforts over a nine week span in place of Burkhead and should get the lion's share of carries this fall.

22. Jordan Lynch, QB, Northern Illinois (--)
For Lynch to get to Manhattan next December, he would have to improve on what could be considered the best single-season in MAC history. A BCS bowl bid, nearly 2,000 yards rushing, over 3,000 yards passing, 44 total touchdowns and just six interceptions will be tough to reproduce.

23. Venric Mark, RB, Northwestern (--)
The Northwestern offense is as dynamic as any in the nation and Mark will be the centerpiece. He rushed for 1,366 yards, caught 20 passes and scored on two punt returns. He can do everything for a team looking to win its first Big Ten title since 1995. With exciting players returning around him, Mark's only negative heading into the season will be the losses along the offensive line. That said, the Wildcats normally plug in the next guy on a roster that isn't ever overloaded with talent.

24. Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech (--)
Many people, myself included, were massively disappointed by the 260-pound quarterback in 2012. He rallied the Hokies late and the offense should be improved in 2013 under new coordinator Scott Loeffler, but Thomas needs to show quite a bit more growth as a passer (18 TD, 16 INT) to get to New York. The good news is he did run the ball more effectively and threw it with more accuracy as a sophomore than he did as a junior. A return to 2011 will get Thomas back in the mix.

25. Blake Bell, QB, Oklahoma (30/1)
Bell has one of the most bizarre stat lines in college football. As a backup quarterback entering his first season under center, the massive 6-6, 260-pound passer has had more rushing touchdowns (24) than passing attempts (20). He has rushed 104 times and has scored on nearly a quarter of his attempts. On a team poised to make yet another run at a conference crown, passing the football effectively is still the overwhelming concern for Bell's Heisman candidacy.

The rest of the list

 

[HuskerinBig10]

Who do you scratch off of the list?

Ameer Abdullah good back, but not uber back.
Taylor Martinez hurt
Venric Mark hurt
Blake Bell wasn't he benched for Knight?
Logan Thomas
Ka'Deem Carey good back but not uber back
Marqise Lee being on a bad USC team is not getting him any highlights.

On the bubble
Sammy Watkins
Jadeveon Clowney being on national TV and being sick and having the worst game ever did not help him.
Lache Seastrunk and Bryce Petty get back to me once Baylor plays somebody besides Wofford. La Monroe, and Buffalo.

I have watched them play. Not Heisman worthy. Not one game that I have watched them in have I seen anything that says Heisman. Good players? Yes. The Best player? No.