by Travis Normand
While Johnny Manziel is considered to be the front-runner to win the Heisman Trophy this season, he is anything but a “lock” to take home the award. Manziel is a red-shirt freshman and no freshman has ever won the Heisman, red-shirt or otherwise.
The lingering question is whether or not the Heisman voters are ready to look past his status as a freshman and vote according to what he accomplished “on the field” this season (like they are suppose to do).
If you are looking for any indications as to whether voters are ready for a freshman to take the award, look no further than the 2012 American Football Coaches’ Association All-American team, which was announced this week.
Here is what the guys over at College Football Talk had to say about it: [emphasis added]
Surprise! Tajh Boyd headlines coaches’ All-American team
Posted by John Taylor on November 28, 2012, 12:54 PM ESTWith all but a handful of games, championship and otherwise, left in the 2012 regular season book, its time for the All-American lists to start rolling out.
One of the first to do so is also one of the most prestigious. Selected annually since 1945, the American Football Coaches’ Association All-American team is the only such squad voted on exclusively by coaches.
The 2012 edition of the AFCA All-American team is headlined by a bit of surprise, with Clemson’s Tajh Boyd named as the squad’s quarterback over the likes of Heisman front-runner Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M, Kansas State’s Collin Klein, Georgia’s Aaron Murray and myriad others. It’s hard to argue with Boyd’s selection, though, as the junior is currently fourth in the country in passing efficiency (168.5), 12th in yards (3,550) and tied for sixth in touchdown passes (34). he’s also tied for 10th in interceptions with 13, so there’s that. . . .
Below is the complete 2012 AFCA All-American team:
OFFENSE
- WR Marqise Lee USC
- WR Terrance Williams Baylor
- TE Zach Ertz Stanford
- OL Chance Warmack Alabama
- OL Luke Joeckel Texas A&M
- C Dalton Freeman Clemson
- OL Jonathan Cooper North Carolina
- OL David Yankey Stanford
- QB Tajh Boyd Clemson
- RB Kenjon Barner Oregon
- RB Montee Ball Wisconsin
To see the original post at College Football Talk, click HERE
Fortunately, I don’t believe that very many of the coaches that vote for this All-American Team actually have a vote for the Heisman. If they did, I am guessing Tajh Boyd would have to be considered a serious threat to win it.
However, if anyone was curious, it is clear that football coaches (in general) are not yet ready to vote for a freshman to win a major college award.
OnePointSafety 
Can’t say that I’ve heard of Boyd until I read this post…
Yeah, he is not one of the “big” names this season. His name was tossed around a lot last year, as Clemson did a little better last year (until they faced WVU in the Orange Bowl….and the wheels fell off the bus).
This season, his name comes up from time to time, but its pretty rare (compared to last year). Oh well, like I keep saying, thank God the coaches don’t decide the Heisman or it would apparently be going to Boyd!
Reblogged this on Superior to Every other Conference.
Thanks for the reblog!
It will be hard to deny him after these accomplishments:
-Broke Archie Manning’s 1969 Record of 540 yards by having 557 total yards . Then he broke his own record 2 weeks later by accomplishing 576 yards
-Broke Cam Newtons 2010 for 4600 yards in two fewer games! WOW!!
-First QB in history of the SEC to pass for 3000 and rush 1000 yards in a season
-Record for highest yards per game season w/avg of 383.3 yards
-Record for single game yards per play with 10.71
-First player in FBS to pass for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards in the same game three times in his career.
And I think this is just the beginning. Yes, all the finalists are talented and have great stats as well as accomplishments but one thing that can’t be denied is how Manziel always tries to make something out of nothing. He is a great play maker and I think the reason why he can make big things happen is because he thinks like a receiver and not just a QB. I think his past experience as a receiver in High School has really helped him redefine the quarterback position as whole. Manziel is the perfect example of what the future quarterbacks will be like. Vick, Romo, Tebow and RGIII may have started the mobile qb movement but Johnny will be the one that really carries on and illustrates where this new breed of a quarterback will go.
Well said.