Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, a record-setting redshirt freshman, finished as the leader in today’s final weekly 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 seven of 10 first-place votes from members of the voting panel. The other three first-place votes went to Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o.
Manziel, Te’o and Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein _ who finished third in today’s final poll _ are the three finalists who have been invited to New York for Saturday’s live announcement of the Heisman Trophy winner.
Although no freshman has ever won the Heisman in the award’s 77-year history, Manziel has some level of history on his side by finishing as the frontrunner in today’s poll. 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 (7).
2. LB Manti Te'o, Notre Dame, 103 tackles, 7 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered, 1.5 sacks, 36 (3).
3. QB Collin Klein, Kansas State, 2,490 passing yards, 66.2 completion pct., 15 TDs, 7 interceptions, 890 rushing yards, 22 TDs, 32.
4. WR Marqise Lee, USC, 112 receptions, 1,680 yards, 14 TDs, 8.
5. QB Braxton Miller, Ohio State, 2,039 passing yards, 58.3 completion pct., 15 TDs, 6 ints., 1,271 rushing yards, 13 TDs, 8
Others receiving votes: Oregon RB Kenjon Barner, 3, Georgia LB Jarvis Jones 3, Clemson QB Tajh Boyd 2, South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney 2, Northern Illinois QB Jordan Lynch 2, Alabama QB A.J. McCarron 2, Wisconsin RB Montee Ball 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. LB Manti Te'o, Notre Dame, 36 (2).
3. QB Collin Klein, Kansas State, 32.
4. RB Kenjon Barner, Oregon, 12.
5. QB Braxton Miller, Ohio State, 6
Voters: Kirk Bohls, Austin American-Statesman; Randy Beard, Evansville Courier & 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, Mlive.com; Todd Jones, Columbus Dispatch, and Michael C. Lewis.
_ Jimmy Burch
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