The Great Debate: Who wins the Heisman?

It sure does help a team out to have a guy named Johnny Football leading them on the field, huh?

Johnny Football's performance against Alabama may help
him run away with the Heisman Trophy.

Texas A&M made its move this season to the SEC, the nation's premier conference in college football, and was expected by most to be a middle-tier team that would play little brother to the big boys of Alabama, Arkansas, LSU, Georgia and Florida. But Johnny Manziel had a different idea, and the redshirt freshman quarterback led his team to a 10-2 record, a top 10 ranking, and an upset win over previously unbeaten Alabama. It was that signature moment, a win on the road against the then top ranked team in country, that propelled Manziel into being the front-runner of the Heisman Trophy race.

He put up impressive numbers this season, too. He threw for 3,419 yards, completing 68.3 percent of his passes. He tossed 24 touchdowns to 8 interceptions. And on top of all that he can run, finishing with 1,181 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground. That's 4,600 total yards and 43 total touchdowns!

He successfully led his team in a new conference, the toughest in the sport. He has the signature moment, the video game numbers, and the catchy nickname.

But does he deserve the Heisman?

In almost any other year I could ignore the two losses against Florida and LSU in a Heisman race. Those are tough games, and even the best of teams need each and every player to be firing on all cylinders in order to take them down. They were even close losses, losing by a combined total of eight points.

This year though, I can't look past that. Johnny Football is projected to win the Heisman. But it shouldn't happen. My vote, if they would give me a vote, belongs to someone who has come about as close to football perfection as humanly possible this year.

Manti Te'o has been the best player in college football from start to finish this season.

In a game that proved Notre Dame was for real, Manti Te'o
proved he can be a dominant force on the biggest stage.

You want a signature moment? What do you think of two interceptions against number 18 Michigan? Or the leader of a goal line stand to end the overtime game against now number six and Rose Bowl bound Stanford? How about a diving, fingertip interception that all but sealed the team's signature win against eighth ranked Oklahoma?  And then there was the 12 tackle, two pass breakup performance against the then top 10 Michigan State, just days after his grandmother and girlfriend passed away. It's been a truly remarkable season from Te'o, and he seems to thrive on the pressure and big moments.

You want numbers? Try 103 tackles and 9 takeaways, including 7 interceptions. From the linebacker position. 7 interceptions was second in the country, and tops for a linebacker, and it is a Notre Dame linebacker record. Throw in his two fumble recoveries and you have a guy tied for the nation's most takeaways.

He is lacking that catchy nickname, but do you really need one when your name is Manti Te'o?

Te'o has remained a dominant force week in and week out. He has exemplified leadership, character, honor, and skill, all of which are attributes the Heisman Trophy winner is supposed to possess.

I don't care if there hasn't been a strictly defensive player that has won the trophy before, that does not mean this is an offensive player's award. The award goes to the most outstanding player in college football, and that has been Manti Te'o all year long.

Put aside the emotional story lines. Put aside the fact that I want so badly for a defensive player to take home the trophy. Now just look at them side by side. Manziel versus Te'o. Dethroned a top ranked team versus leading the current top ranked team. It's a tough call, certainly. But Te'o hasn't let up for even a second. He has dominated on the field this year, and he deserves to take home the most prestigious award in college football.

Is Johnny Football a deserving candidate? Absolutely. But in my mind, Te'o is more deserving winner. We'll see if those Heisman voters agree with me.