Projecting Who the 2013 Heisman Trophy Finalists Will Be

The Heisman Trust surprised the country with only three finalists being selected to attend the award ceremony this year in New York. It was a clear-cut decision that led to Johnny Manziel’s win, but what about next season?

Guys like Kenjon Barner and Braxton Miller joined the Heisman discussion to finish the season. Marqise Lee will be back at USC, and a number of other names will appear from the shadows as the new year approaches. 

No defenders will be in the early discussions, but Manti Te’o proved that a player can come out of nowhere to become a contender—no matter the side of the ball they play on. 

There are a handful of rising stars in the game that could earn invites to the Big Apple next year to sit alongside Manziel during the 2013 award ceremony. This is a look at the possible 2013 Heisman finalists. 

Marqise Lee: Receiver, Southern Cal

Marqise Lee was the key for the USC Trojans offense success through the air this season. Matt Barkley was the most recognizable name, but without the effort of Lee on the outside, the Trojans are worse than 7-5 this year. 

Lee will be a rising junior for the 2013 season and will be the offensive anchor for rising sophomore Max Wittek heading into the new year. 

In 2012, Lee had eight games with over 100 yards receiving and scored a touchdown in nine games this fall. His numbers will continue to rise in the coming year, making him one of the most dangerous outside threats in the country for 2013. 

Key 2012 Stats

Receiving: 122 receptions, 1,680 yards, 14 TDs

Rushing: 12 carries, 106 yards

De’Anthony Thomas: Running Back, Oregon

De’Anthony Thomas was a Heisman mention before the season began, but he shared enough time with Kenjon Barner to keep the national spotlight from focusing on him. 

The Ducks have a unique offensive attack that also leads big numbers for a number of offensive players. That hurts Thomas’ individual appeal, but he is set to separate himself in 2013. Thomas was not the feature back in 2012, he will be in 2013.

Thomas returns to Oregon this fall as the main focus for the Oregon backfield. With Kenjon Barner departing, the Ducks will rely heavily on the playmaking of Thomas.  

Key 2012 Stats

Rushing: 90 carries, 686 yards, 11 TDs

Receiving: 41 receptions, 385 yards, 4 TDs

Tyler Bray: Quarterback, Tennessee

Tyler Bray is one of the best overall quarterbacks in the SEC. Each year under Derek Dooley he seemed to stay the same, failing to progress into his natural skills. 

Butch Jones is now leading the Volunteers program and will look to rebuild his offense before next season. It starts with star quarterback Bray, and helping him reach his potential as a Vols quarterback. 

Bray needs to be in a favorable system and believe in his coaching. Both of those problems should have answers this fall. Bray will complete the transition in his senior season, becoming an elite quarterback in the SEC.

Key 2012 Stats

Passing: 268-of-451 for 3,612 yards, 34 TDs, 12 INTs

Tajh Boyd: Quarterback, Clemson

Tajh Boyd will be a rising senior for the 2013 season, marking his third year as a starter in the Chad Morris offense. Boyd has become an elite signal-caller in the ACC, and will return as a Heisman frontrunner prior to the 2013 season.

Clemson has been a consistent leader in the ACC with Boyd at quarterback. The Tigers return a number of skilled players who will help surround Boyd and create one of the country’s most potent offenses.

With Boyd leading the charge Clemson will challenge for the ACC title again in 2013, helping his name land in the final balloting for the Heisman. 

Key 2012 Stats

Passing: 251-of-377 for 3,550 yards, 34 TDs, 13 INTs

Rushing: 157 carries, 492 yards, 9 TDs

Braxton Miller: Quarterback, Ohio State

Braxton Miller helped the Ohio State Buckeyes achieve the unexpected this year when they went undefeated through their 12-game schedule. Miller was a major part of the success attacking defenses through the air and on the ground all season. 

The Buckeyes return to bowl eligibility in 2013 and Miller will enter the year as a Heisman favorite. A BCS bowl looks to be in the cards for Ohio State in 2013, helping Miller’s Heisman candidacy. 

With another strong year in the Big Ten, Miller will find his name in the early Heisman discussions leading into the new season. His second year in the Urban Meyer offense should be special. 

Key 2012 Stats

Passing: 148-of-254 for 2,039 yards, 15 TDs, 6 INTs

Rushing: 227 carries, 1,271 yards, 13 TDs

Le’Veon Bell: Running Back, Michigan State

Le’Veon Bell was the workhorse for the Spartans this season. He helped settle new quarterback Andrew Maxwell into a starting role, and helped Michigan State finish at 6-6 and land in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.

Bell couldn’t do it all for the Spartans offense, but he did enough to put his name into the 2013 Heisman discussion.

There are few backs that can compare to the efficiency and toughness that Bell brings to the playing field. The Spartans will look for Bell to cornerstone the offense in 2013 leading the team back to the top of the Big Ten. 

Key 2012 Stats

Rushing: 350 carries, 1,648 yards, 11 TDs

Jordan Lynch: Quarterback, Northern Illinois

Jordan Lynch has been one of the most impressive no-name quarterbacks in college football this year. Lynch has led the NIU Huskies to an unexpected BCS bowl bid and has been one of the most impressive dual-threat quarterbacks in the country. 

Lynch has put together one of the best seasons of any quarterback in the country for 2012. His numbers rivaled Heisman winner Johnny Manziel. 

The Huskies have the chance of bringing Lynch to the front of Heisman discussion if they can have a strong showing in the BCS. Lynch will be in elite company heading into the 2013 season.

Key 2012 Stats

Passing: 222-of-353 for 2,962 yards, 24 TDs, 5 INTs

Rushing: 271 carries, 1,771 yards, 19 TDs

Ka'Deem Carey: Running Back, Arizona

Ka’Deem Carey is one of the most explosive unknown running backs in the country heading into the 2013 season. He helped put Arizona on the Pac-12 map this fall, rushing for a ton of yards and scoring 20 touchdowns this year for the Wildcats. 

Arizona is looking to climb back into the Pac-12 discussion again in 2013 and, with Carey in the backfield, the Wildcats could become a contender. 

Carey had nine games with over 100 yards rushing, and he managed an astounding 366 yards and five touchdowns against Colorado. He did all that on only 25 carries. 

Expect Carey’s stock to rise exponentially before the 2013 year. 

Key 2012 Stats

Rushing: 275 carries, 1,757 yards, 20 TDs

Receiving: 33 receptions, 288 yards, 1 TD

Dri Archer: Running Back, Kent State

Dri Archer burst onto the scene for the Golden Flashes this season with his astounding nine yards per carry average. He ended the season with over 150 carries, making his per carry average a legitimate ridiculous video game-like stat. 

He also finished the year No. 5 in the country in total offense per game, accounting for 189.2 yards per contest this season.

Archer will be a rising senior for Kent State in 2013 and will return to one of the premier teams in the MAC. This is a team that challenged for a BCS berth this year with Archer, and they will likely contend for the same honor in the coming season.

This has been an amazing rise for Archer and the Golden Flashes. His stock will be at an all-time high entering next fall. 

Key 2012 Stats

Rushing: 150 carries, 1,352 yards, 15 TDs

Receiving: 35 receptions, 539 yards, 4 TDs

Johnny Manziel: Quarterback, Texas A&M

Johnny Manziel will head into his sophomore season as a leading candidate to repeat for the Heisman. 

Manziel will struggle to top this year’s numbers, but an effort that lands in the same ball park will get him another nod to New York to finish the year. 

Johnny Football has been one of the most electric players in college football this season, capturing the eyes of the country by the end of September. With over 3,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing this season, Manziel will set records by the conclusion of his sophomore campaign. 

It will be fun to watch the next chapter of this amazing quarterback’s story unfold. 

Key 2012 Stats

Passing: 273-of-400 for 3,419 yards, 24 TDs, 8 INTs

Rushing: 184 carries, 1,181 yards, 19 TDs

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