Brownie’s Not Too Early but Kind of Early Heisman List

By Andrew Brown

1.    Marcus Mariota – QB, Oregon

Mariota has not only lived up to the considerable preseason hype that preceded his redshirt sophomore season, but he has actually surpassed it.

At this point it is difficult to tell whether Oregon is as good as they have looked, or their opponents are just that inferior, or some combination of the two. Regardless, Mariota is abusing the egos of defenses across the board on a weekly basis with his arms and his legs.

Mariota, through three games, has already thrown for 889 yards and seven scores (including an easy 456 yards and four TDs and another rushing score against the Ducks’ toughest opponent to date in Tennessee last week) and run for 262 yards and four more touchdowns.

It certainly helps that he has the best collection of skill talent in the country around him, coupled with a vicious defense, but don’t let that take away from what Mariota has accomplished so far this year.

The game that will decide whether Mariota will win the Heisman remains the showdown with Stanford, but Mariota will be tested in the coming weeks with matchups against Cal this week and at Washington in on October 12.

2.    Teddy Bridgewater – QB, Louisville

Bridgewater, a YHTS favorite, is a touchdown machine who has Louisville steamrolling inferior competition, throwing for 1,002 yards (on 70% completion) and 10 touchdowns vs. only one interception through three weeks.

Granted, Louisville has been beating up on the sisters of the poor, but Bridgewater has proven these numbers are not a farce in previous games against top competition so it is reasonable to expect these numbers to continue to balloon all season as Bridgewater works his way into the top three picks of the upcoming NFL draft.

3.    AJ McCarron – QB, Alabama

Damn you, McCarron

I’ve been a hater of McCarron’s for a long time (although he won me and Brent Musburger over a little bit when he locked down Miss Alabama) but it’s time for the hate to stop.

McCarron showed that he is in 100% full control of Bama’s super high-powered offense with his dazzling performance against the mediocre A&M defense, outdueling the infallible Johnny Football.

McCarron has thrown for 444 yards and five scores in two games this year, but he shined on the biggest stage of the early college football season against JFF, throwing for 334 yards and four scores (on 20 of 29 passing with no picks) against the Aggies.

Big time players shine in the spotlight, and so far McCarron has shined brighter than anyone else. Only the relatively limited body of work is keeping AJ out of the top spot right now.

4.    Tajh Boyd – QB, Clemson

Boyd shredded the unexpectedly subpar Georgia defense in the opening week with 439 yards and three touchdowns.

Boyd has been aided by the reemergence of receiving standout Sammy Watkins, but Boyd is still what makes the Tigers’ electric offense click and will continue to post monster numbers all season.

Boyd will have two more chances to make major statements this season against Florida State (currently ranked No. 8) on October 19, and at South Carolina and Jadeveon Clowney in Clemson’s final game of the season on November 30.

Otherwise Boyd is going to have to hold par and continue to put up huge stats against a pretty easy schedule.

5.    Lache Seastrunk – RB, Baylor

I laughed in the offseason when Seastrunk was talking about his Heisman campaign, but it appears that Seastrunk may actually have the last laugh.

The Baylor bell-cow has fueled the nation’s top offense by running for 261 yards and five scores in two weeks.

Baylor, however, may be posting some highly misleading stats as they have yet to be tested in any facet of the game, beating up on the lowly Wofford’s and Buffalo’s of the world.

Baylor should cruise through a relatively easy schedule in October, meaning that while Seastrunk continues to blow up the stat sheets with his gaudy numbers, he won’t really be tested until 8^th week of the season. Because of that his stock will take a major hit, causing him to lose credibility relative to other, more challenged candidates.

6.    Devin Gardner – QB, Michigan

Gardner earned brownie (punny) points early on this year when he permanently switched his number to 98 for the year in honor of the late Tom Harmon, Michigan’s first Heisman Trophy winner.

Regardless of whether you find that moving or creepy, it’s a nice gesture, and perhaps foreshadowing to a surprise ending to Gardner’s dark-horse Heisman campaign.

The Michigan QB will have a lot to prove following his somewhat disastrous showing against Akron in last weekend’s near-upset, but he has the tools to be a more polished version of his predecessor, Denard “Shoelaces” Robinson.

Gardner has thrown for 704 yards and seven TDs, while also accounting for 237 yards and four scores on the ground this year. His best outing came on his biggest stage in the unnecessarily hyped final showing between Notre Dame and Michigan. Gardner threw for 294 yards and four scores and ran for 82 yards and a touchdown as well.

Gardner will have to fix the turnover bug, but if he can then he could well lead the Wolverines to an unbeaten record in the weakened Big 10 (12).

7.    De'Anthony Thomas – RB, Oregon

Thomas has been every bit as electric as we expected him to be so far this year. Thomas is the fastest player with the ball in his hands and has a second gear that is unmatched by any player in the country.

When this dude is in space you might as well put the points on the board because he can either dance circles around any defender who tries to corral him, or just blow straight past him with his outrageous speed.

His rushing numbers so far are good, 338 yards and six scores, but his receiving totals have been lacking as he only has three catches on the season for a meager 58 yards.

If Thomas has any shot of outshining his backfield partner Mariota, then he will have to come through with sexier numbers in the passing game, as well as getting the job done on special teams.

To date, Thomas has returned 4 kicks for only 89 yards. Good numbers, but below the standards Thomas has set throughout his career thus far.

8.    JFF – Miley Cyrus of football, A&M

Oh Johnny... What are we going to do with you?

JFF’s off the field antics have died down now that he has the damn football season distracting him, but he is still giving the media enough to spend an obnoxious amount of time dissecting and beating to death, with the taunting of several players on Houston-based powerhouse Rice, and the countless money and autograph related celebrations.

Then there was the enormous day against Alabama, throwing for 464 yards and five touchdowns and running for 98 yards. Despite that vintage JFF performance, Johnny learned what every man already knows: there is no winning when the Crimson Tide comes to town.

The fact is that while JFF remains the most entertaining player in the country, the Heisman is likely out of question this season for three reasons:

1)   Johnny will have to outdo his performance last year, by a large margin in fact, if he wants to impress voters all over again. That is a feat that is nearly impossible, just ask guys like Tim Tebow or Matt Leinart. Even though the production is still there, it becomes expected of them and they can’t win the voters hearts all over again. Heisman voters are easily wowed by the new girl at the bar, and are quick to forget about old winners, even if those old winners deserve a second shot.

2)   Johnny’s defense already cost him the Aggies’ biggest game of the year, and could easily have another melt down against a team like LSU or Ole Miss. Despite what every cult member core member will tell you, JFF isn’t superman, and it is unrealistic to think he can lead A&M to victory every game if his defense is surrendering 49 points a game.

3)   The amount of scrutiny and pressure that JFF is under on a daily basis is unlike anything I have ever seen. Sure, he hasn’t helped himself along the way, but every thing he does or says is monitored and twisted in a way that makes him look like a bigger jerk than I believe he actually is. People are quick to overlook stories like this one, where he sent words of encouragement to Devin Gardner following his rough outing against Akron. JFF sympathized with Gardner feeling humiliated on a national level and reached out to him. Regardless, Johnny Manziel is a time bomb if the media doesn’t let up a bit. That amount of press and attention is going to make him lose it at some point, which will directly affect his play and the Aggies’ season.

For what it’s worth if Johnny can keep his composure, as he is kind of figuring out how to do now that the daily grind of the season is in full swing, then I think he will put up Heisman-worthy numbers again.

To win the trophy though, JFF would need to thoroughly best last year’s performance, which I don’t think is physically possible.

9.    Brett Hundley – QB, UCLA

Hundley has played like a grown man so far this year, which is why he is shooting up Heisman boards.

Hundley has thrown for 568 yards and five TDs, while running for 124 yards and two more in two games this year.

The second-year starter led a Bruin comeback against Nebraska that turned into a Bruin blowout against Nebraska, pounding the Huskers 41-21 after trailing big early.

Hundley started slow but finished with 294 yards and three touchdowns and 61 yards rushing.

The Bruins QB will have plenty of chances to improve and impress this year with big games coming on the road in back-to-back weeks next month against Stanford then Oregon. Hundley has the Bruins headed in the right direction though, as UCLA is ranked 13^th and sitting in striking distance of the top 10.

10. Jadeveon Clowney – DE, South Carolina

Clowney is basically here out of respect, because I’m as afraid of him as everyone else. Actually, South Carolina’s opponents this year have been so afraid of him that they are focusing every offensive scheme on avoiding him, which has resulted in a massive decrease in production.

Additionally, Clowney has not looked totally healthy this year, as he played sick through his opening season matchup with North Carolina.

I still expect good things and a few big hits from the future number 1 pick, but right now he hasn’t impressed anybody and if he makes us all keep waiting for too long then he is going to fall off the Heisman map altogether.