COLUMBUS, Ohio – Several Ohio State Buckeyes were named to award lists on Tuesday. None was more meaningful than the honor Braxton Miller earned – making Urban Meyer’s Heisman list.
Asked repeatedly this season, Meyer on Monday for the first time publicly acknowledged his quarterback as a Heisman Trophy contender.
“Do I believe he’s a Heisman candidate? I do. I didn’t say that before,” Meyer said. “But I do believe Braxton is a Heisman candidate. He has to play much better. However, just from sheer production on a team that’s 9-0, it puts him in that category, and that’s without knowing all the other candidates.”
Meyer mentioned Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein and West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith as other contenders. Smith was the early-season favorite, with Klein now the front-runner in national straw polls. But Miller at the very least retains a shot to go to New York as a finalist.
The Heisman Pundit website on Monday listed Miller behind Smith and Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron as the three players with a chance to overtake Klein. But the respected Heisman analyst also wrote “it will take a brilliant last three games for him to get to New York as a finalist.”
Miller ranks 21st in the nation in total offense, while Smith is No. 5, Klein No. 30 and McCarron No. 80.
But McCarron is the No. 1-rated passer in efficiency, with Klein No. 2, Smith No. 5 and Miller No. 55.
And Miller is by far the most dangerous runner among those quarterbacks, with 1,093 rushing yards while Klein has 634 yards, Smith has 56 and McCarron (-)51.
What Meyer liked most about his quarterback in Saturday’s win at Penn State had nothing to do with numbers, but is the kind of thing that can help win awards.
“His competitive spirit is a big reason why we won that game,” Meyer said. “I saw a much more confident player.
“There is another type of player, the one that doesn’t have that competitive spirit. It’s hard to teach a tiger to bite. It’s a little easier to teach it when to bite. … There is nothing else a coach would rather coach than a competitor that you have to cool them out a little bit and say don’t force things and don’t try to win the game every play. I’ve coached guys where you say try to win the game once in a while, and those guys aren’t really the kind of guys you want leading your team.”
Beyond the Heisman blessing, Miller also on Monday was named one of 16 national semifinalists for the Maxwell Award, another award for the nation’s best player.
Cornerback Bradley Roby was named one of 15 national semifinalists for the Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s best defensive back.
Defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins was named one of 16 semifinalists for the Bednarik Award, given to the nation’s best defensive player.
And on a slightly smaller scale, linebacker Ryan Shazier was named the Big Ten’s co-defensive player of the week, after making eight tackles, returning an interception for a touchdown, forcing a fumble and recording two sacks against the Nittany Lions. He’s the fourth Buckeye to win a conference player of the week award, joining Miller and Carlos Hyde on offense and return man Philly Brown on special teams.
“It’s an amazing honor, because I’ve been fighting all my life to be one of the greatest players out there and I’m going to keep grinding and keep trying to do what I can to show everybody how good I am,” Shazier said.
Griffin’s play: Special teamer Adam Griffin disputed the assertion that his defense on Penn State’s fake punt in the third quarter Saturday was the play of the game, even though Meyer was one of the people who believed that about Griffin’s pass breakup.
“It’s a small play,” Griffin said. “I had to just do my job. I was fortunate to make a play and help my team win.”
Griffin was in a bit of a scramble mode when it happened. He was lined up at the end of the line, where he was supposed to take on a blocker to try to free up teammate Cory Brown to block the punt. He also had the chance to make an adjustment before the play if needed.
“To be honest with you, I actually saw the wrong thing,” Griffin said. “I was supposed to get us into a check on defense. But the guy who was supposed to hit Corey just released for a pass, so I turned and ran and covered him. As soon as I saw him free release, I thought, ‘Oh man, they are definitely faking this.’
“I always stay pretty calm out there. I wasn’t panicking. In practice we prepare different things all the time, so I wasn’t shocked by the situation.”
Griffin sprang into action and for the rest of the play turned into a cornerback, getting his hands up as the ball reached the intended receiver.
“It felt great,” said Griffin, who was awarded a scarlet jersey by the coaches, an honor he earned by making the play. “Once you make a play, you get a little rush.”
Healthy Buckeyes: Starting linebacker Etienne Sabino has missed the last three games since breaking a bone in his leg against Nebraska. He was expected to miss three or four games, and Meyer said he is questionable to return for Saturday’s game against Illinois. Other than Sabino and the continuing knee injury for running back Jordan Hall, the Buckeyes, who have been banged up all season, are in pretty good shape.
“Our trainer and doctor say we’re as healthy as we’ve been,” Meyer said.
