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http://www.si.com/college-football/2014/09/22/heisman-watch-week-4-jameis-winston-suspended
The biggest Heisman storyline in Week 4 mightâve surrounded a player who didnât even take the field. Jameis Winstonâs questionable decision-making caused more headaches -- and nearly a loss -- for Florida State last week. Winston probably cost himself a shot at a second straight Heisman, as well.
But Winston was one of the only negative Heisman storylines of the weekend. As for the rest of the field, the Heisman Watch leader held his spot while a couple of new faces emerged as contenders in the race. With conference play underway across college football, true Heisman candidates will soon separate themselves from the pack.
Week 4 Heisman Watch
1. Marcus Mariota, QB Oregon
2. Todd Gurley, RB Georgia
3. Amari Cooper, WR Alabama
4. Kenny Hill, QB Texas A&M
5. Nick Marshall, QB Auburn
6. Ameer Abdullah, RB Nebraska
7. Everett Golson, QB Notre Dame
8. Taysom Hill, QB BYU
9. Blake Sims, QB Alabama
10. Dak Prescott, QB Mississippi State
The Frontrunners
Marcus Mariota, QB Oregon
Todd Gurley, RB Georgia
Amari Cooper, WR Alabama
Kenny Hill, QB Texas A&M
Nick Marshall, QB Auburn
Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall wasnât the Heisman headliner of the Tigersâ run to the BCS title game in 2013. That was tailback Tre Mason, who reached New York as a finalist. But Marshall could be in for his own stardom this season.
Facing Kansas State on the road Thursday night, Auburn held a 20-14 lead with just over two minutes to play. The Tigers needed to convert a third-and-nine at their own 37-yard line to prevent Kansas State from earning one final possession. Marshall fielded the snap, stepped back and tossed a perfect ball to Dâhaquille Williams for a 39-yard gain and a first down.
From there the Tigers ran out the clock from a game in which the Wildcats turned the ball over four times and missed three field goals. It felt like Auburn escaped disaster in Manhattan.
Marshall wasnât the most effective passer in 2013 in part because he didnât need to be. Instead the first-year starter ran for 1,068 yards (6.2 yards per carry) and 12 scores on the ground last fall. His 82.2 rushing yards per game ranked fifth among quarterbacks. But Gus Malzahn spent much of the offseason praising Marshallâs improved ability as a passer, and on Thursday he looked the part.
Marshall completed 17-of-31 passes for 231 yards, two touchdowns and one pick Thursday. That clutch conversion on third down was a throw Marshall might not have made last season. Now the quarterback looks like the kind of dual-threat talent thatâs fared so well in recent Heisman races. If the Tigers successfully navigate a brutal late-season schedule, Marshallâs arm might be a big reason why, and he might earn himself a trip to New York.
Rising contenders
Ameer Abdullah, RB Nebraska
Dak Prescott, QB Mississippi State
Melvin Gordon, RB Wisconsin
Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen did his best to temper expectations surrounding quarterback Dak Prescott during the offseason. The Bulldogs returned 16 starters from last year and expected to contend in the SEC West. Even though Prescott garnered darkhorse Heisman attention, Mullen said that didnât matter to his quarterback.
âI donât think he pays much attention to that,â Mullen told SI.com in May. âHe just wants our team to have the best year we can have. He knows for us to have a great year, heâs going to have to have a great year.â
Mullenâs point certainly proved true Saturday. Prescott led the unranked Bulldogs to a 34-29 upset of No. 8 LSU in Death Valley, Mississippi Stateâs first win in Baton Rouge since 1991. Prescott, a Louisiana native, looked like the best player on the field while ringing up 373 total yards of offense and three touchdowns. That included 105 rushing yards, which placed Prescott in elite company. Per Bulldogsâ sports information director Bill Martin, Prescott leads all quarterbacks in 100-yard rushing games against LSU since 2005 with two. Thatâs more than recent Heisman winners Cam Newton (1) and Johnny Manziel (0).
Saturdayâs win would have to be the first of several upsets in the tough SEC West for Prescott to emerge with the Heisman. But if the Bulldogs can survive Tiger Stadium at night, more surprises could be on the horizon. Like Mullen said, Prescott will be the motor behind this teamâs upset potential. Mississippi Stateâs next two games are home dates with No. 6 Texas A&M and No. 5 Auburn. That gives Prescott a sufficiently large stage to build on his Heisman potential with big outings against the Aggies and Tigers and could eventually make him the SEC Westâs fourth Heisman winner in the last six years.
Falling contenders
Jameis Winston, QB Florida State
Maty Mauk, QB Missouri
When predicting Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston would repeat as Heisman winner back in August, I acknowledged that history wasnât on his side. But a loaded Seminoles roster and a favorable ACC schedule looked like a clear path to a repeat performance from Winston. Still, I did offer one caveat: âPerhaps more important is whether Winston can keep the focus of his Heisman conversation on the field.â
Thatâs exactly what Winston failed to do last week. When the Seminoles suspended the quarterback for the first half of Saturdayâs game against Clemsonafter he made vulgar public comments, Winsonâs hope of reaching New York took a major hit. Those hopes suffered an even bigger blow when the school extended the suspension to a full game after Winston reportedly wasnât entirely truthful or forthcoming in his initial story. Thatâs not exactly a Heisman moment.
Itâs Winstonâs own fault he wasnât there for his teammates in arguably the biggest game of Florida Stateâs season. Thanks to late-game heroics from running backKarlos Williams and an effective start from backup quarterback Sean Maguire, the Seminoles narrowly avoided an upset against Clemson. But had the Tigers won the game, much of the blame would have fallen on Winstonâs shoulders -- and that wouldnât have been entirely unfair. You canât win a game on the sideline, and you certainly canât win a Heisman from there.
Winstonâs antics are almost certainly wearing on Heisman voters. They may even affect voting in future races. John Carvalho, an associate professor of journalism at Auburn, tweeted an interesting question Saturday morning. Is it possible that Winston -- and Johnny Manziel before him -- could make Heisman voters think twice about voting for a freshman again? The sample size is still too small, but character matters to much of the Heisman electorate. Some voters may not take chances on a youngster next time. Winston is just the latest example of a winner doing his best to tarnish the award.
The biggest Heisman storyline in Week 4 mightâve surrounded a player who didnât even take the field. Jameis Winstonâs questionable decision-making caused more headaches -- and nearly a loss -- for Florida State last week. Winston probably cost himself a shot at a second straight Heisman, as well.
But Winston was one of the only negative Heisman storylines of the weekend. As for the rest of the field, the Heisman Watch leader held his spot while a couple of new faces emerged as contenders in the race. With conference play underway across college football, true Heisman candidates will soon separate themselves from the pack.
Week 4 Heisman Watch
1. Marcus Mariota, QB Oregon
2. Todd Gurley, RB Georgia
3. Amari Cooper, WR Alabama
4. Kenny Hill, QB Texas A&M
5. Nick Marshall, QB Auburn
6. Ameer Abdullah, RB Nebraska
7. Everett Golson, QB Notre Dame
8. Taysom Hill, QB BYU
9. Blake Sims, QB Alabama
10. Dak Prescott, QB Mississippi State
The Frontrunners
Marcus Mariota, QB Oregon
Todd Gurley, RB Georgia
Amari Cooper, WR Alabama
Kenny Hill, QB Texas A&M
Nick Marshall, QB Auburn
Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall wasnât the Heisman headliner of the Tigersâ run to the BCS title game in 2013. That was tailback Tre Mason, who reached New York as a finalist. But Marshall could be in for his own stardom this season.
Facing Kansas State on the road Thursday night, Auburn held a 20-14 lead with just over two minutes to play. The Tigers needed to convert a third-and-nine at their own 37-yard line to prevent Kansas State from earning one final possession. Marshall fielded the snap, stepped back and tossed a perfect ball to Dâhaquille Williams for a 39-yard gain and a first down.
From there the Tigers ran out the clock from a game in which the Wildcats turned the ball over four times and missed three field goals. It felt like Auburn escaped disaster in Manhattan.
Marshall wasnât the most effective passer in 2013 in part because he didnât need to be. Instead the first-year starter ran for 1,068 yards (6.2 yards per carry) and 12 scores on the ground last fall. His 82.2 rushing yards per game ranked fifth among quarterbacks. But Gus Malzahn spent much of the offseason praising Marshallâs improved ability as a passer, and on Thursday he looked the part.
Marshall completed 17-of-31 passes for 231 yards, two touchdowns and one pick Thursday. That clutch conversion on third down was a throw Marshall might not have made last season. Now the quarterback looks like the kind of dual-threat talent thatâs fared so well in recent Heisman races. If the Tigers successfully navigate a brutal late-season schedule, Marshallâs arm might be a big reason why, and he might earn himself a trip to New York.
Rising contenders
Ameer Abdullah, RB Nebraska
Dak Prescott, QB Mississippi State
Melvin Gordon, RB Wisconsin
Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen did his best to temper expectations surrounding quarterback Dak Prescott during the offseason. The Bulldogs returned 16 starters from last year and expected to contend in the SEC West. Even though Prescott garnered darkhorse Heisman attention, Mullen said that didnât matter to his quarterback.
âI donât think he pays much attention to that,â Mullen told SI.com in May. âHe just wants our team to have the best year we can have. He knows for us to have a great year, heâs going to have to have a great year.â
Mullenâs point certainly proved true Saturday. Prescott led the unranked Bulldogs to a 34-29 upset of No. 8 LSU in Death Valley, Mississippi Stateâs first win in Baton Rouge since 1991. Prescott, a Louisiana native, looked like the best player on the field while ringing up 373 total yards of offense and three touchdowns. That included 105 rushing yards, which placed Prescott in elite company. Per Bulldogsâ sports information director Bill Martin, Prescott leads all quarterbacks in 100-yard rushing games against LSU since 2005 with two. Thatâs more than recent Heisman winners Cam Newton (1) and Johnny Manziel (0).
Saturdayâs win would have to be the first of several upsets in the tough SEC West for Prescott to emerge with the Heisman. But if the Bulldogs can survive Tiger Stadium at night, more surprises could be on the horizon. Like Mullen said, Prescott will be the motor behind this teamâs upset potential. Mississippi Stateâs next two games are home dates with No. 6 Texas A&M and No. 5 Auburn. That gives Prescott a sufficiently large stage to build on his Heisman potential with big outings against the Aggies and Tigers and could eventually make him the SEC Westâs fourth Heisman winner in the last six years.
Falling contenders
Jameis Winston, QB Florida State
Maty Mauk, QB Missouri
When predicting Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston would repeat as Heisman winner back in August, I acknowledged that history wasnât on his side. But a loaded Seminoles roster and a favorable ACC schedule looked like a clear path to a repeat performance from Winston. Still, I did offer one caveat: âPerhaps more important is whether Winston can keep the focus of his Heisman conversation on the field.â
Thatâs exactly what Winston failed to do last week. When the Seminoles suspended the quarterback for the first half of Saturdayâs game against Clemsonafter he made vulgar public comments, Winsonâs hope of reaching New York took a major hit. Those hopes suffered an even bigger blow when the school extended the suspension to a full game after Winston reportedly wasnât entirely truthful or forthcoming in his initial story. Thatâs not exactly a Heisman moment.
Itâs Winstonâs own fault he wasnât there for his teammates in arguably the biggest game of Florida Stateâs season. Thanks to late-game heroics from running backKarlos Williams and an effective start from backup quarterback Sean Maguire, the Seminoles narrowly avoided an upset against Clemson. But had the Tigers won the game, much of the blame would have fallen on Winstonâs shoulders -- and that wouldnât have been entirely unfair. You canât win a game on the sideline, and you certainly canât win a Heisman from there.
Winstonâs antics are almost certainly wearing on Heisman voters. They may even affect voting in future races. John Carvalho, an associate professor of journalism at Auburn, tweeted an interesting question Saturday morning. Is it possible that Winston -- and Johnny Manziel before him -- could make Heisman voters think twice about voting for a freshman again? The sample size is still too small, but character matters to much of the Heisman electorate. Some voters may not take chances on a youngster next time. Winston is just the latest example of a winner doing his best to tarnish the award.
