2013 Heisman Trophy: Who Ya Got?

Heading into the 2013 season, University of South Carolina Defensive End Jadeveon Clowney was expected to run away with the most prestigious award in college football. Winning the award would have made him the first-ever “true” defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy. Unfortunately for Clowney however, his production is off to a slow start. The All-American Defensive End has only 13 tackles and two sacks through six games, compared to his 25 tackles and six and a half sacks at the same point last season. Questions about his dedication to South Carolina have also arisen after his surprising scratch from the Gamecocks Week 5 victory over Kentucky.  There is certainly no questioning Clowney’s impact on the defensive side of the ball for South Carolina. However, his individual statistics don’t make him stand out as a Heisman Trophy candidate as was previously expected.

Manziel scored 47 total touchdowns during his historic 2012 campaign, becoming the first freshman ever to win the Heisman Trophy.

With Clowney out of the Heisman spotlight, other players have taken advantage of the opportunity. Players such as Clemson Quarterback Tajh Boyd , Florida State Quarterback “Famous” Jameis Winston  and incumbent Heisman winner Johnny “Football” Manziel all may find themselves headed to New York if they continue their dominant play.

Another player that deserves mentioning in the Heisman conversation is Georgia Quarterback Aaron Murray.  The Bulldogs two early season losses undoubtedly hurt his chances, but Murray has put up sensational numbers thus far through the first half of the season. Moving on to the front-runners.

Louisville Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is having one of the most impressive seasons as a pure-passing quarterback  in recent memory.

Bridgewater is putting up Heisman-like numbers early in the 2013 season. But will inferior competition ultimately keep him from winning the trophy?

The true junior has thrown for 1,872 yards, 18 touchdowns and only two interceptions all while completing a staggering 71 percent of his passes. Halfway through this season, Bridgewater is on pace to blow away his statistics from a season ago.  He has already thrown for 300-plus yards in four of the first six games played by the Cardinals, as well as tossing four or more touchdowns in half of the team’s game. And as impressive as all of that is, Bridgewater may fall victim to playing against inferior competition. His team’s weak schedule will hurt his chances, but Bridewaters Heisman candidacy should not be affected by something he can’t control. He is playing at an extremely high level and should make this Heisman race as compelling as any we’ve seen.

Having said that, if the number-one Heisman candidate continues the pace he is on, this race is not even close.

Halfway through the College Football season, the front-runner for the Heisman Trophy has to be found in Eugene, Oregon.

Mariota is arguably the best player in college football, and by seasons end, he could have the hardware to prove it.

Marcus Mariota is playing under a new head coach for the Ducks, but is up to his old tricks. The redshirt sophomore has not only been the best player on the field in all of his games, but arguably the best player in the country. After throwing for 2,677 yards, 32 touchdowns and only six interceptions during his first season as a starter, Mariota is on pace to have an even better statistical year this season.   During Oregon’s first six games, Mariota has thrown for 1,724 yards and 17 touchdowns. Those statistics are impressive, but more telling are his zero interceptions. Not only is he the catalyst for the Ducks high-octane offense, but more importantly he understands the importance of taking care of the ball. The quarterback has also shown to be a more opportune, and a more productive runner this season. Mariota has already eclipsed his rushing touchdown total from a season ago, finding the endzone eight times compared to only five all of last season. If the Oregon Ducks go undefeated, and Mariota finishes somewhere around 4,500 all-purpose yards and 40-plus total touchdowns, it would be hard to deny this young man the Heisman trophy.

Consider this: The last three Heisman Trophy winners, Johnny Manziel, Robert Griffin III and Cam Newton, all accounted for 4,300-plus all-purpose yards and 45-plus total touchdowns. Mariota is on a similar pace, playing at a consistently dominant level. During the past two weeks, Mariota has accounted for 852 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Also worth noting is the relationship between the three previous winners and the top-three candidates this season. Johnny Manziel is, well Johnny Manziel. Bridgewater compares favorably to Griffin III, playing against sub-par competition but producing at a level that simply cannot be ignored. And Mariota is an under-the-radar version of Cam Newton. While they don’t share the same media attention, they do share similar statistics while playing for National Title contenders. Ultimately, these three will spend the second half of the season battling for Heisman Trophy votes, with memorable performances being turned in week after week.

And while Johnny Manziel has the media hype and Teddy Bridgewater has the number-one-draft-pick hype, at seasons end, Marcus Mariota will have the best-player-in-the-nation hype.

That is just my take on the Heisman Trophy winner. Who ya got taking home the trophy after the 2013 season? Leave your opinions in the comment section below.