Heisman Candidates 2012: SEC Yardage Record Seals Award for Johnny Manziel

Johnny Manziel has nothing left to prove to Heisman Trophy voters. 

He already had nine wins and incredible statistics entering Saturday evening's game versus the Missouri Tigers, and now he has a major record to his credit.

Saturday Down South enlightened the Twitter world on Saturday:

"

Johnny Football just broke the SEC's total yards in a season record set by Cam Newton. Give him the #Heisman!

— Saturday Down South (@SDS) November 25, 2012"

How many ways can you say "wow"?

Everyone remembers Newton. His 2010 campaign took the college football world by storm. He used his dynamic dual-threat ability to blaze his way to the country's highest individual honor, asking no questions along the way.

Manziel has done the same.

Saying "he's just a freshman" is no longer an excuse. Why should age and experience matter when you're doing this to opponents?

Putting up 4,327 total yards, and counting, is just absurd. Manziel has over 3,000 of those with his arm, but he's also scrambled his way to 1,000-plus yards. He's proven that there is very little that he can't do—including walk into one of the nation's most hostile stadiums and upset the country's No. 1 team.

This is more than media hysteria. It's more than loving that hot, new product. Manziel is good. He makes all the throws, and he's not necessarily working with a plethora of talent at the skill positions. Mike Evans, Ben Malena and Christine Michael are good, but there are also much better.

Manziel should have been the favorite entering Saturday's record-breaking game, but, just in case he wasn't, this seals the deal. Cam Newton had one of the best individual seasons that college football had ever seen, but Johnny Football just trumped him.

That's really all that must be said, even to his steadfast detractors.

A Heisman Trophy winner must ignite the crowd. He must put up big numbers week-in and week-out, and his team must win. The Aggies do have two losses, but both were to top-10 teams by a combined eight points. 

Manziel is doing things that freshmen shouldn't do, even beyond the obvious individual accomplishments.

He's led the Aggies to a 6-0 road record in Kevin Sumlin's first year as head coach. He makes the rest of his team better, and did I mention that he walked into Tuscaloosa and knocked off the Alabama Crimson Tide?

The Heisman race was close until Collin Klein's Kansas State Wildcats were defeated by Baylor last Saturday. That gave Manziel a lead, but breaking Newton's SEC yardage record seals the deal.

Just like Manziel has made it look all year long, this year's Heisman voting is too easy.