Johnny Manziel: Aggies QB Is a Legit Heisman Candidate

The 2012 college football season hasn't been consistently dominated by anyone like Robert Griffin III did last year and Mark Ingram the year before. Every week has provided a new contender for the Heisman trophy and Week 11 is no different.

Johnny Manziel, welcome to the conversation.

Manziel has been efficient with his throws and been getting busy on the ground.

Heading into the showdown with the Alabama Crimson Tide, he had thrown for 16 touchdowns against only six interceptions, and is averaging an impressive 8.3 yards per attempt.

However, those numbers won't get a quarterback invited to New York.

Well, when you add in Manziel's 15 rushing scores while averaging 6.7 yards per carry, those passing numbers are suddenly passable. And the stunning average isn't a case of misleading stats because the quarterback only takes off on broken plays. Manziel has carried the ball consistently as his 138 carries proves.

Those numbers are very similar to a particular Ohio State signal-caller that has been garnering Heisman buzz all season. Braxton Miller, through ten weeks, had accounted for five fewer total touchdowns. Although Miller had rushed for a couple hundred more yards than Manziel, the scores outweigh the yardage.

Detractors will point out that Manziel's Texas A&M team hasn't had enough team success for the freshman to buck tradition and grab the trophy in his first year.

Balderdash.

The Aggies are having just as good of a season as Griffin's Baylor Bears did in 2011. In fact, it's quite easy to argue that A&M is having a better year, especially if the Aggies can finish off the powerful Tide. They've been ranked most of the season and aren't showing any fear in Nick Saban's house. 

Taking his entire season into account, Manziel has the resume to reserve a seat at the presentation ceremony. If he can pull off the upset in Tuscaloosa, he will be returning from the Big Apple with the big trophy.