Johnny Manziel doesn’t like this one thing missing from Julian Sayin’s Heisman Trophy resume despite odds surge
Ohio State redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Sayin leapfrogged his competition to enter the top spot in Heisman Trophy odds after another jaw-dropping performance this past week. With his third game in four performances with a completion rate higher than 85% completion and more than 315 yards and at least three touchdowns, Sayin has set himself […]
Ohio State redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Sayin leapfrogged his competition to enter the top spot in Heisman Trophy odds after another jaw-dropping performance this past week. With his third game in four performances with a completion rate higher than 85% completion and more than 315 yards and at least three touchdowns, Sayin has set himself up to finish a historic regular season. But that doesn’t mean 2012 Heisman winner Johnny Manziel is ready to crown Sayin.
The Buckeyes are racing toward one of the most dominant regular seasons in recent memory. Their suffocating defense is leading the nation in virtually all key stats, and Sayin has augmented their performance by ranking No. 1 in completion rate, passing efficiency rating, and adjusted yards per attempt. As impressive as Sayin’s 2,188 yards and 23 touchdowns to three interceptions are, though, Manziel needs to see one more thing.
Manziel knows what it’s like to dazzle crowds and was one of the most famous athletes in the world when he ripped off a tremendous two-year stretch at Texas A&M. He’s uniquely qualified to say what Sayin could use as the season comes to its final four regular season games, plus the Big Ten Championship.
Johnny Manziel says Ohio State QB Julian Sayin needs a Heisman moment
Manziel was a human highlight reel with the Aggies, often relying on those big plays to overcome a certain recklessness that ended up ruining his NFL career (in addition to several other very meaningful challenges). While the response from fans to his take on Nightcap with Shannon Sharp and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson was largely questioning his point, Manziel was fair to ask this of Saying.
“He’s playing really, really well going into the final month of the season. Obviously, things change in the Heisman race, but when you look at Ohio State’s picture, the way that they’re playing, the way that he’s playing, you’d think all of us here agree he’s a shoe-in for New York. He’s going to end up as a finalist, for sure.”
Manziel then added the key question for Sayin’s big push for the award.
“Now, it’s kind of, can somebody else… There’s that moment, right? We talk about it all the time. There’s a moment that comes. Has he played stellar enough to get to New York? Absolutely. Do I believe that Marcel Reed has played stellar enough to get to New York? Absolutely…
There’s still time to capture that moment…that sets you apart from the rest. Is Ohio State going to have a game that they’re actually in for him to have something like that? Or are they just going to breeze through undefeated, kick everybody’s ass, be the No. 1? Maybe.”
Ohio State’s upcoming schedule includes Purdue, UCLA, and Rutgers before a trip to Ann Arbor to face Michigan. Ultimately, The Game is a climb this Buckeyes program desperately needs to make. After that, the Buckeyes can likely expect to face Indiana.
The pressure to go undefeated is unfair if that’s the bar for Sayin to win, but the reality is that CJ Stroud lost at least one Heisman against the Wolverines in his two years as a starter. Then, of course, Sayin must outperform Fernando Mendoza against Indiana if the two face off as expected in Indianapolis in December.
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