Devin Gardner on CBSSports 2013 Heisman Watch List

Submitted by Bodogblog on

This was also referenced in a Detroit News article, but since they didn't provide a link to CBSSports, I will not provide a link there.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/eye-on-college-football/21333357/heisman-2013-an-early-look

Devin is listed in the "Others to Watch" section, behind front-runners like Aaron Murray, Marquise Lee, and /shuddersvomits Braxton Miller.

Of course it's too early and the sample size is ridiculously small.  Still impressive to get named to anyone's list after such a short time.  Other B1G mentions: Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah and Taylor Martinez, and Michigan State's Leveon Bell (just kidding).

Oddly enough, he (Chris Huston) does not include Johnny Football on this list.

snarling wolverine

December 9th, 2012 at 10:10 PM ^

I'd like to see Manziel win it again, because I'm tired of Griffin being the only two-time winner.  Griffin's first Heisman was deserved, but his second (in 1975) was a joke - he scored four TDs all year.   He won that one on reputation.

Ali G Bomaye

December 10th, 2012 at 11:24 AM ^

How does a very good running back on a good football team carry the ball 245 times and only score 4 times?  Even if they gave the ball to Pete Johnson (25 TDs) on every single carry inside the 5 yard line, you would think that Griffin would occasionally score 10+ yard TDs against the Indianas and Northwesterns of the world.

http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/ohio-state/1975.html

Shakey Jake

December 9th, 2012 at 7:46 PM ^

Don't get me wrong. I love the fact that Devin has started 3 games as QB and already his name is being mentioned for Heisman. But isn't a bit premature? Besides, isn't heisman talk typically a curse?

michgoblue

December 9th, 2012 at 7:58 PM ^

All of these lists are premature. That said, I understand why dg was includes - he looked great in his first few games. He is qb for a premier school (historically). He came out with a ton of recruiting hype. And we are generally perceived to be on the rise as a program. Also, it's not like they put him in the first tier - just "others to watch for" which I take to mean "doubtful that they'd guys will win or even make a serious run, but outside of those that are likely, any one of these guys has potential and, you never know, could potentially make a run. What the hell do we know."

GOLBOGM

December 9th, 2012 at 8:55 PM ^

Heisman winners are most likely to be a QB and almost always come from a power conference team- and the historically great teams do have an advantage- so being UM's starting QB puts you in a good starting position.  Since most people expect UM to be a solid team next year and there are no other star players in skill positions he will certainly be a candidate in that sense- but I agree three games is awefully little to go off of.

I think it's incredibly unlikely because that list has some seriously great atheltes on teams that will liekly be better than UM next year.  Plus- if he is a candidate I'd be more excited that it would mean our team nect year greatly overachieved and would be a title contender- no other way he's be in the conversation late in the year if that werent the case.

bronxblue

December 9th, 2012 at 7:49 PM ^

Manziel's career will probably follow that of Tebow, save for the championships.  He's a great story, but he set the bar so high at the beginning of his career that he'll never reach this level again in the nation's eyes.  I think he's a really good QB, but I watched some of those games against better defenses and the kid struggled.  Some of that is on A&M's talent, but he benefitted from a weak crop of contenders and emerging toward the end of the year.  

Farstate

December 9th, 2012 at 8:53 PM ^

A QB struggling against some good defenses? I never thought I'd hear of such a thing. Also, he benefitted from ripping up Alabama's defense. That was his trophy winning moment. You are right in that he will never win another Heisman. Only one guy, who didn't even deserve the second one, has done that because how do you top a Hesiman season?

 

Wolfman

December 9th, 2012 at 8:06 PM ^

Inasmuch as he was the second leading rusher in the Big X that senior season, it was difficult, even then to understand how he could grab the coveted trophy twice. Michigan¨s Gordon(FlASH) lead the conference that year. It was a cool thing for the media to do I guess. I can think of no other reason why the runner-up in the conference would be considered the nations¨ best when he did no duplicate his previous standards.

This, I believe, is one of the reasons it will be most difficult for him to accomplish, speaking of Johny Football, of course. A&M does not carry the cach´e of an OSU and should the team falter a bit -OSU did not- their leader will be considered the reason, be it fair or not.

m typing on my spanish keyboard in mexico so pls forgive any symbols that are incorrect. obviously m not used to all of them as of yet.

Have a great navidad and ano nuevo should i fail to post again prior to.

 

GO BLUE!!!!!

YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

December 9th, 2012 at 8:14 PM ^

This was his first season in Sumlin's offense, TAMU is recruiting well, he puts up crazy stats, he's fun to watch and NFL won't lure him for 2 more years.

DG is top 3 or 4 for boom-or-bust plays, so he has ESPN highlight publicity potential. Other than Lee and Hundley, the rest of the list is boring IMO.

team126

December 9th, 2012 at 8:14 PM ^

Forget all the Sept. Heisman talk. If our OL improves with the last couple of recruiting classes, DG may show the world what he can do.

I hope he works his tail off during the summer and becomes stronger and more accurate. Next year's schedule includes a few away games (Penn State, MSU, NW, Iowa). I would not be surprised if we win them all.

denardogasm

December 10th, 2012 at 1:00 AM ^

This is true but I think much like we are seeing so many rookie QBs tear it up in the nfl and freshmen QBs win the heisman, we'll start seeing young Olinemen play well also because the coaching these kids get from private coaches and clinics is way beyond what it used to be. When kids are coming in at 300 pounds and getting that coaching from ex-nfl guys in high school, I don't think it's a stretch to think well see more redshirt freshmen be at least good not great at that young age. Could be Kalis. With the quality of OL recruits we have comin in I'd bet more than one works out this way.

Magnus

December 10th, 2012 at 8:47 AM ^

I think offensive line is always going to be a late developing position.  It's so much about technique and pure bulk, it doesn't really matter if they get more coaching in high school.  A 300-pounder with three years of college coaching is almost always going to be better than a 280-pounder with zero college coaching.

That's not to say that great high school linemen can't come in and start in their first or second year, but that's always been the case.  Orlando Pace started as a freshman in the mid '90's.  Why?  Because he was huge and awesome.  But he's a rarity.  Kyle Kalis is the most technically sound offensive lineman I've seen come to Michigan, and despite playing on a team with a mediocre offensive line, he's redshirting as a freshman.

umbig11

December 9th, 2012 at 8:21 PM ^

However, the schedule sets up nicely and there are not a lot of playmakers on the roster next year. He could be the one who carries UM on his shoulders.

Perkis-Size Me

December 9th, 2012 at 8:43 PM ^

These lists hardly ever mean anything. There's a good chance that the eventual winner for next year will be someone that no one predicts. I doubt most people took RGIII as a serious Heisman contender before his last year started. Were Newton or Manziel even close to the Heisman radar before their years started?



As far as Gardner winning, he has a chance. The schedule sets up pretty nicely next year with Notre Dame, Nebraska and Ohio all at home. All of those games should be nationally televised. It all just depends on how much he develops in the offseason, as well as how much the weapons around him develop. Will Gallon continue to produce, should he stay? Will Darboh and Chesson step up? Will the offensive line develop enough to give Gardner time to make throws? There are a lot of factors going into this before Gardner's name can even be mentioned in a Heisman conversation.

RedGreene

December 9th, 2012 at 8:56 PM ^

It's funny that every preseason list thread is followed by at least one post that claims the list doesn't mean anything.  Well no shit.

Dutch Ferbert

December 9th, 2012 at 9:00 PM ^

The first exclusively/pure/solely defensive player to win the Heisman. Unless Hoke let's him line up at fullback.

BTW, my autocorrect changed Heisman to He is man. Don't know how I never noticed that Heisman spells this.

JMFR...HE IS MAN.