Getty ImagesYesterday, the three Heisman Trophy finalists headed to New York this weekend were announced. Two of those finalists — Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein and Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o — were among the few early postseason award winners Monday.
Klein was presented with the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award, beating out Matt Barkley (USC), EJ Manuel (Florida State), AJ McCarron (Alabama) and Geno Smith (West Virginia). The award goes to a quarterback nearing completion of their college eligibility or be a fourth-year junior on schedule to graduate.
“Collin is not just a tremendous athlete and leader on the field, but an MVP off the field as well, who repeatedly has been recognized for his numerous contributions to the community and to the spirit of sportsmanship,” said John C. Unitas Jr., president of The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation.
Te’o took home Bronko Nagurski Award, given to the nation’s top defensive player. South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones, Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner and Florida State end Bjoern Werner were the other finalists.
“It’s something that you dream of when you’re a little kid,” Te’o said. “You never think it could happen, then it finally hits you in the face and it’s a dream come true.”
The Home Depot College Football Awards Show will be on Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Manuel being considered for a post season award is laughable
You can have the early awards…
Manziel gets the Heisman according to the CBS Heisman poll (a straw poll of actual Heisman voters) which has accurately predicted 1st and 2nd place in the Heisman race the last 5 years running.
I think Teo will be happy with the crystal football…just a hunch.
I may be wrong but I get the feeling from Manziel that he won’t do anything close to this season again. Not sure he will do much of anything in the NFL as well.
I would like to see how the votes breakdown between past winners and media voters.
Manziel will be the next Heisman.
Auburns new Headcoach?
http://www.rantsports.com/ncaa-football/2012/12/04/auburn-reportedly-hires-alabamas-kirby-smart/
kiopta1 says:
Dec 4, 2012 12:24 PM
I may be wrong but I get the feeling from Manziel that he won’t do anything close to this season again. Not sure he will do much of anything in the NFL as well.
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RG3 had multiple seasons like this as did Tim Tebow…
To be honest… Sumlin hasn’t even given him the full playbook yet. I imagine future seasons will be more pass heavy and less rush dependent. A lot ofthis season was just improv..
Manziel had two bad games against Florida and LSU was absoloutley laughable.
They were saying if Johnny Football won it, his LSU game would be the worst single game performance a heisman winner ever had in the history of the award.
Just don’t get how soooooooo many people say defense wins championships …
So why can’t a guy like Teo leading the ONLY undefeated team in the country with countless big stops, int, tackles, leadership and game changing material on a team that needed him to lead until Golson became acclimated at QB… be awarded it?
He is a senior, perseverance? I would say so, he battled thru bad seasons and came back to return ND football to the top….. Manziel? How do you persevere in one season?
Did you see how many close games ND had? How many of those Teo was the driving force in winning them? Especially in the beginning of season when TOMMY REES was QB?! oh god. Teo had to be the guy for that whole team.
Either way Manti Teo is a special player/person and if he can raise the crystal football Jan 7th then thats all that matters.
Last time I checked Manziel and Klien didn’t do enough to have that oppurtunity.
“It’s something that you dream of when you’re a little kid,” Te’o said. “You never think it could happen, then it finally hits you in the face and it’s a dream come true.”
No kid has ever grown up dreaming they’d win the Bronko Nagurski award. The white lie is commendable, though.
Te’o got his defensive award, Klein got his offensive award, now give the kid the Heisman like he deserves.
Don’t matter he is only a freshman which embarrasses the older toothless set, don’t matter he played against the toughest Division in football which embarrasses The ND whiners,don’t matter how he will do next year cause the Award is for THIS year which embarrasses all those thought to be high draft choices cause that’s in the future,
Don’t matter he isn’t an MVP cause that’s not what the Heisman is all about either.
And for all those laughable comments, if you all are so smart why didn’t you all lace ‘em up against Florida and LSU ?
Some say what Johnny does next season or in the pros he may not do as good.Heisman only relates to the best player in the season and nothing more.Johnny Manzeil imo will win the Heisman as he should from stats produced this season.Out of all 3 players not one player had a perfect season so imo Johnny Football will raise the Trophy Saturday.
Florida was his first game as a collegiate FB player going up against a top 5 defense… At half time the comentator said if he continued playing like this he would be in NY for the Heisman Ceremony. Florida adjusted well, as they have against SO many good teams at halftime.
Against LSU, he had 2 TDs brought back on penalty. He also had 2 more drives that should have resulted in points but the kicker missed 2 kicks inside of 40 yds… and A&M lost by 5.
I know… I know… everyone’s got an excuse. But again…. to win an award like the Heisman from the defensive side of the ball, you have to have extraordinary production that can be seen in a box score… voters don’t have time to watch EVERY game… I feel the first true defensive player will be a Clowney type… unstoppable pass rushers with 15+ sacks, 15+ tipped passes, 10+ more TFLs… numbers that make you go WOW!!! Te’o doesn’t have those type of #s.
Giving Te’o the would be like giving Theo Riddick the Heisman. He’s the best offensive player on the only undefeated team. And I can EASILY argue he was more instrumental in beating USC than Te’o was…
@8to8otexansblog
Your manziel defense: shoulda, woulda, coulda.
Clowney: South Carolina is irreleveant in the big picture, one dimensional pass rusher. ILB(teo) is the heart or QB of a defense.
If you were so right, then why is Teo 2nd place in almost every Heisman predictor? Because he sucks? because its ND? Because undefeated?
Watch some film , apparenlty the rest of the country knows of his impact.
So riddick was the only reason ND beat USC? So therefore he should be heisman candidate? wow your lost. Teo blanketed MArquise Lee in back of endzone, Teo, a ILB guarding best WR in country??? also a pick in that game. Golaine stand he made all the pre-snap calls and shifts to get his line and the rush in the right place.
football IQ, go find one.
Wont watse anymore time typing.
@808raiderinparadise
Then give the Heisman to his linemen since they protected his buns on that goal line stand.
@dinklespiel
You clearly are an amazing contributor ….
I think when Manti Teo is rich he will be helping people like you when he is off the field from the NFL…. donating his money to those who need an education.
LoL
Who’s your team? Please riddle me this …. who is your CFB team?
@808raiderinparidise
Well you did more wasted time typing.
I didn’t get my Masters Degree from one of your rabid big schools, so let’s just say I’m an unbiased Independent.
P.S. I do not need Teo’s money, assuming he make any.
I’m already in the top two percent.