Heisman Watch: Week 4

With the season now well underway, talk about the Heisman race can really heat up. No surprises, really, at this point in the season. Besides of course that so far I was spot on in my preseason predictions. Here's a list of top five Heisman candidates, contingent upon not just their current performance but how I see them playing (and thus making their case) in the next couple of weeks. I also tried to spice it up a little, positionally. 

Absolute no doubter

Marcus Mariota is a no doubter at the top of this list. It was a couple of weeks ago when the to date biggest game of the year was on display in Michigan St. vs Oregon, and Mariota did not hurt his case. As I was taught when a wee lad, Heisman moments make Heisman campaigns. Well, Mariota had his moment. Down 24-18 at the half, with the world whispering of an upset in the making and the producers on sports center licking their chops at some "not so mighty ducks" puns, Mariota came out of the locker room and played one of the better halves of football we've seen in a while. He dropped a casual 28 in a half to finish with a resounding 46-27 win over the then 7th ranked Spartans. Suffice it to say this was an awesome game, in which Mariota finished with 318 yards and 3 touchdowns, against one of the better defenses in the country. To top that off, last week he missed a grand total of 4 passes against Wyoming en route to a 48-14 victory, with four total touchdowns, good for an almost perfect performance. Not hurting his chances, certainly. Watch for Mariota to make another statement this week as the Ducks travel to Washington St, a respectable Pac 12 foe. For now, he's miles ahead of the pack. 

Kenny Hill, the sophomore quarterback from Texas A&M is a surprising candidate for the award this year. In this horse race, they're coming around the far turn and he's starting to make his move on the heavy favorite. But the more you think about it, the more it looks like the Heisman is his for the taking. He absolutely has the team for it, (the Aggies are currently ranked sixth and they don't look like they want to stop any time soon) and in the SEC he certainly has the schedule, with the likes of Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Missouri. All those teams are national contenders, and if Hill and the Aggies run the table (I'm not saying that's going to happen) it will be hard to deny that he's the most valuable player in college football. He has already exhibited that uncanny penchant for dazzling, diverse displays of offensive fireworks we see from, for example, the Ducks. The only thing that separates Mariota from Hill is currently Mariota's history; we know Mariota can and will drop video game numbers, because he's been doing it for a while now. Hill, to his credit, has 11 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, and 1,094 yards passing in 3 games this season, with a completion percentage nearing 70%, but the size of his sample size holds him back, for now. Still that's a trend we'd like to see continue. So watch him all season, because we'll see some great games in which he features as prominently as M&M's in trail mix. 

"Johnny Football who?"

Now we drop off a bit, but don't tell Jameis Winston that. Statistically, and unfairly, I don't think Winston has another trip to New York in him. He has of course been effective in two games so far this season, but has passed for only 3 touchdowns compared with 2 interceptions. Not a ratio that will win the award this season, with other outstanding quarterbacks in the mix. 

[Now the horses back here are gasping for breath, and we (the crowd) are vaguely aware that it is the same race, but on some level unsure if they're even viable contenders. We don't spend too much time worrying about them though, preferring the stallions who are something like 40 lengths ahead, for the moment.] 

He does that really, really well

Amari Cooper is the currently sexy Heisman pick, but he's by no one's measure the frontrunner. What he is is an outrageously athletic wideout on a great team, who made his debut a couple of years ago and has been in the back of mind ever since. He is also off to a blazing start, with 33 catches and 454 yards in three games. That's absolutely ridiculous on a team and under a coach that loves to run, against stingy SEC secondaries. He'll stay on my list of top five players until he cools off, and I can't predict when that'll happen. This guy's an animal. 

Todd Gurley is on my list as the best running back in contention. If I had my way, however, he wouldn't be up here. His sixth ranked Bulldogs just lost to rival 24 South Carolina, for starters, and that is a heavy mark against him already. He's averaging over 100 yards a game, and in the SEC that is worth watching of course, with statement performances brewing in the future, but that's a tough hit to take to your chances this early in the season. 

Johnny Manziel College Highlight Video (2012-2014)

Check out our latest highlight video of star college quarterback Johnny Manziel, or "Johnny Football", as he leaves Texas A&M to play for the Cleveland Browns in 2014. Manziel managed to win the 2012 Heisman Trophy for his spectacular play during the regular season, becoming the first freshman in college football history to do so. For more highlight videos of some of football's biggest stars, be sure to check out our channel, The NFL Report.

College Football-NFL Comparisons: Johnny Manziel

        I've been waiting to write this one for a while now, as a good debate surrounding Manziel fires me up like it does any college football enthusiast. Say what you want about Manziel, (and everyone takes this liberty), he is going to play a game for a living and make a lot of money doing it. I am not very interested in the off the field stuff (some NFL scouts reportedly are) but I, like most anyone with even a passing interest in football, am enormously intrigued by Manziel as a player. Because, amazingly, the debate does not stop when Manziel steps on the field. People remain divided about him, even as a player, and many question his NFL success. Jaworski, for one, "wouldn't take Manziel in the first three rounds." But the kid won a Heisman for Pete's sake. So of course there is much debate about his ability to perform, but chances are he will go early, some say fifth overall to the Raiders. I see this happening, easily, and when Manziel goes to the NFL I could see him playing like a Doug Flutie.

        Flutie's career was fragmented and short of stellar, but of course he owns some serious college fame and was a great collegiate player. This can undoubtedly be said about Manziel as well, but taken on its own would be a very weak comparison. There are several reasons I join others (specifically, NFL.com) in drawing this comparison: Flutie was mobile as anyone, shocking defenses with his ability to extend plays, move in and out of the pocket, and throw on the run. Manziel and Flutie are incredibly similar in this regard: They make a great highlight reel, with the occasional truly outstanding play, one that runs on Sportscenter for easily a year. Evading and frustrating defensive lines, showing explosive speed and outstanding athleticism, and capping it off with some sort of ridiculous, off balance throw ten seconds after the ball was snapped. Both also exhibit very solid arm strength, and even in the pocket throw a fairly accurate ball downfield, especially down the sideline. Manziel, of course, hopes to have a more prominent run than Flutie in the NFL, perhaps sans the Canadian stints. It should be fun to watch him play professional football, and I recommend you get used to hearing the talk about him, because sometimes it seems that's all we do.

Top 5 College Football Recruits of 2014

As almost everyone in the college football world settles in to hibernate for 7 months, those happy few who remain desperately interested in the sport must find more obscure sources of entertainment. (see: ode to the BCS)  For many of us, this means turning our attention to the at times murky world of college football recruitment. These young men, after all, are the future. They are what we will be watching next year, the auspicious or even those freshmen who will immediately make an impact. Here are some of the latter crowd, in fact a brief look at the 5 best recruits in this year's class.

Leonard Fournette: RB, 95 (ESPN grade), bound for LSU. This guy will make a difference, obviously. It's exciting to think of a running back as the best player in the country, and most people think he will live up to the hype, even against SEC defenses. The extent of his impact as a freshman remains to be seen, but LSU sure thinks he'll play, and play well.

Ok so that's a man, not a high schooler, and he looks
ready to help LSU win. 

Jabrill Peppers: CB, 95, Michigan. I've heard many a great name, both in the professional and collegiate game. This is up there, I have to say. Michigan is happy to have this guy in their secondary, obviously, but more importantly, what a name. "Hi, I'm Jabrill. Jabrill Peppers." I can't crown it the best, but this is one of the top names I've heard in a while.

Michigan has "signed its big fish" in Peppers,
the second best player in the country  

Cameron Robinson: OT, 95, Alabama. As if the Crimson Tide needed help in their running game… (They don't, they really don't.) But they are definitely getting it in the 330 lb. Robinson. SEC football just got a little bit bigger.

Myles Garret: DE, 95, headed for Texas A&M. We always hear about how a great defensive end is worth almost anything, and can completely change a team. Well we know the defense down in college station needs help, as last year Manziel would do things like drop 42 on Alabama's defense and they would still lose. By the end of the season, the entire defensive unit was, as one analyst put it so poignantly, "floating belly up. Completely." So they need help, and they are getting it in Garret.

Garret will be a big improvement on a defense that bad.
Also, he's worth a google. They all are, but he's jacked
like a Greek god. 

Andrew Brown: DT, 94, Virginia. Virginia is the latest school in the ACC to, out of nowhere it seems, suddenly field a more than respectable football team. They have one of the best recruiting classes in the country this year, and a large part of that is the 300 lb. Brown. Between him and the tenth ranked Quin Blanding, (S), they head up definitely one of the most promising classes in recent memory for the Cavaliers. This means the ACC is improving, if we didn't know that already. (FSU of course, Miami, Clemson, Duke, BC even…)  A stronger conference will be great for college football.

300 lbs. of five star commit, headed to,
 incredibly, an ACC school

Five College Football Games to Watch (Week 13)

Well it's not the best week I've ever seen, but this Saturday in the world of collegiate pigskin deserves your attention for several reasons. As the season comes to a close, every game is an opportunity not to earn a berth, but to lose one. What a twisted world. Anyways, that's the way it goes, so if you're favorite team is in the top 10 right now, hold your breath and cross every appendage of your body that they'll run the table at this point. It's been a great season, with some memorable games, but these next 3 weeks should be the most exciting part, as per usual. Here are 5 games to watch this weekend, in no particular order, with my (humble) predictions:

9 Texas A&M @ 18LSU: The Tigers are coming off a loss to be proud of, while the Aggies look to secure a BCS bid, perhaps. While they are more or less out of the SEC title game running, they can still finish the season well, despite a poor defense. That soft defense has plagued them all season, leading to losses in games where their studly young quarterback puts up 41 (ahem, Alabama.) Speaking of whom,  Johnny Manziel is definitely another reason to watch this one, as all of a sudden some are questioning Jameis Winston's stranglehold on New York glory. I am not one to call for Winston's head just yet, (I reserve judgement, if you were interested) but we will have to see how it plays out. Regardless, the Winston case has thrown a wrinkle into the perfect little Heisman world, and for Johnny Manziel that means hope, if he can do something incredible against LSU and then Missouri next week. Closing out the season with 2 top 10 opponents means 2 oppurtunities to prove his legitimacy. Johnny Football knows this, and you can bet he wants to secure his status as frontrunner. Now is when one wins a Heisman race. I think we'll see Manziel do just that (not win per se, but at least make a good case), and people forget, as good as LSU is, they have lost thrice this season! Zach Mettenberger let me down last week, and though his two big outside threats (Jarvis Landry and Odell Becham) had some big plays, they couldn't finish the game against the Tide. I won't fall for LSU again, and say Texas A&M 31 - LSU 17

BYU @ Notre Dame: Call me a homer, but I've watched every ND game this season, as I'm a big fan. While their season ended with a loss to Pitt a couple of weeks ago, this should prove to be a good one. These are simply two traditionally powerful football teams, and while neither has lived up to potential this year, that doesn't mean we won't see great talent on display. I'll be watching for several reasons: It's Senior Day in Southbend, usually emotional, and BYU plays well against the Irish, every time. Regardless of rankings, or lack thereof, this is a good game without fail, and I go ND 27 - BYU 21

19 Arizona St. @ 14 UCLA: The Bruins have played their best in losses this season, while the Sun Devils have won 5 straight. We should see some great Pac 12 football, especially in the wake of Stanford and Oregon losses. Now these teams have something big to play for. I give this one to a high powered Sun Devil offense, although it should be an excellent matchup against the Bruin defense that contained even the mighty Ducks for a half this season. Arizona St. 24 - UCLA 16

8 Missouri @ 24 Ole Miss: For whatever reason, almost every college football guru has the Rebels in this one. I don't see that, as even with the Rebels at home there is clearly a superior team here. The Tigers have dropped one game all season in the mighty SEC and incredibly they are this close to an SEC title game. I can't see 13 year veteran head coach Gary Pinkel letting his fine Mizzou squad drop a game of this importance. They've stepped up big in some huge games already this year, including wins over Georgia and Florida. So I go against the grain and back the favorite? I guess so. Missouri 31 Ole Miss 20 

Bryce Petty's been doing that a lot this season. 

3 Baylor @ 11 OSU: This is the one to watch this weekend. It could easily be the most fun I have this college football season. I honestly can't begin to say how excited I am for this Big 12 matchup. I have been eyeing (and writing about) this game for three weeks now, as Baylor went into the only tough stretch of the season not having faced a quality opponent up to that point. Now the Bears are on the other side of games against Oklahoma and Texas Tech, and have two nice wins on the record. So this game is it, for Bryce Petty's Heisman hopes (again, we're waiting on Jameis Winston's eligibility) and Baylor's BCS title bid. Granted, even if they win in convincing fashion, they need Alabama or the Seminoles to drop a game to make it, but if, no when the Bears win this one big they can say without a doubt they are for real. This is a team that can score. They do it, early, often, and well. They seem to enjoy it, and now we've seen they can do it against pretty good football teams. The Cowboys qualify as such, so this game is huge. The Bears are now undoubtedly a team of national prominence, and I must say it suits them. It's gonna be great, and I see Baylor 42 OSU 27. 

Seriously, watch that game if no other. If you're a fan of college football, or even just sports, or, nay, just excitement, watch this game. After Winston's semi allegations exploded, Bryce Petty's odds to win the Heisman surged correspondingly. We'll have to wait and see.