Johnny Manziel has a vote in the Heisman Trophy balloting because he is a past winner, but he is not using any favoritism. Manziel told reporters that he did not vote himself first or second on this year’s ballot.
Manziel was in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., for the college football awards show on Thursday when he was asked about his Heisman ballot. He kept part of it a secret, but he did reveal that he voted two others ahead of him.
“I’m going to follow the Heisman Trust on that one and keep it quiet,” Manziel told the media. “I did not vote for myself in first or second place.”
Manziel is one of six players invited to attend the ceremony in New York City on Saturday. The others are quarterbacks Jameis Winston (Florida State), A.J. McCarron (Alabama), Jordan Lynch (Northern Illinois), and running backs Tre Mason (Auburn) and Andre Williams (Boston College). Winston is the extreme favorite to win the award — especially after he was not charged in the sexual assault investigation. My guess is Johnny Football voted for Winston and McCarron ahead of himself.
Winston is an understandable choice, and McCarron would be, too. A.J. threw for 334 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions in Alabama’s thrilling 49-42 win over Texas A&M in September. Plus, Manziel may have fallen into the trap of giving McCarron a life achievement vote for all the success the Bama QB has enjoyed.
Manziel was banged up in a few games and lost his last two games of the season, but he still threw for 3,732 yards, 33 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, while rushing for 686 yards and 8 touchdowns. He still was quite likely the best offensive player in college football for the second year in a row even if he won’t repeat as a Heisman Trophy winner like Archie Griffin.
