Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, a record-setting redshirt freshman, maintained a comfortable lead in today’s 10h installment of the Scripps Howard News Service Heisman Trophy Poll.
Manziel, the first freshman in FBS history to throw for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a single season, received eight of 10 first-place votes from members of the voting panel for a second consecutive week. He leads Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o, who moved into second place after receiving the other two first-place votes from members of the voting panel.
Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein, who will be the only Heisman frontrunner in action Saturday, slipped from second to third in this week’s balloting. The Wildcats (10-1) were idle last week but close the regular season Saturday against No. 18 Texas (8-3) in Manhattan, Kan.
A&M (10-2) and Notre Dame (12-0) have completed their regular seasons.
The Scripps poll is the longest-running Heisman Trophy poll in the nation. Since its inception in 1987, it has correctly forecast the Heisman winner in its final weekly installment in 21 of 25 years, including last season. Below is a look at this week’s poll and a list of voters:
This week's top five:
Player, School, Season Stats, Poll Points (first-place votes in parentheses).
1. QB Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M, 3,419 passing yards, 68.3 completion pct., 24 TDs, 8 ints., 1,181 rushing yards, 19 TDs, 47 (8).
2. LB Manti Te'o, Notre Dame, 103 tackles, 7 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered, 1.5 sacks, 36 (2).
3. QB Collin Klein, Kansas State, 2,306 passing yards, 66.7 completion pct., 14 TDs, 6 interceptions, 787 rushing yards, 20 TDs, 32.
4. RB Kenjon Barner, Oregon, 1,624 rushing yards, 21 TDs, 19 receptions, 1 TD, 12.
5. QB Braxton Miller, Ohio State, 2,039 passing yards, 58.3 completion pct., 15 TDs, 6 ints., 1,271 rushing yards, 13 TDs, 6
Others receiving votes: USC WR/KR Marqise Lee 5, Northern Illinois QB Jordan Lynch 4, Wisconsin RB Montee Ball 3, Clemson QB Tajh Boyd 2, Alabama QB A.J. McCarron 2, South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney 1.
Last week's top five:
Player, School, Season Stats, Poll Points (first-place votes in parentheses).
1. QB Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M, 47 (8).
2. QB Collin Klein, Kansas State, 32 (1).
3. LB Manti Te'o, Notre Dame, 27 (1).
4. WR/KR Marqise Lee, USC, 11.
5. RB Kenjon Barner, Oregon, 10.
Voters: Kirk Bohls, Austin American-Statesman; Randy Beard, Evansville Courier and Press; Jimmy Burch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram; Bob Condotta, Seattle Times; Dennis Dodd, CBSSports.com; Vahe Gregorian, St. Louis Post-Dispatch; John Helsley, The Oklahoman; Mike Griffith, Knoxville News-Sentinel, and Todd Jones, Columbus Dispatch.
_ Jimmy Burch
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